Nonprofit Serving People With Disabilities Benefits From Vienna Pancake Breakfast

VIENNA, VA — Residents can feast on pancakes while supporting programs for people with disabilities Saturday in Vienna.

The nonprofit SPARC will host its second annual Pancake Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 2351 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna, VA. The event is a fundraiser for SPARC program serving adults with disabilities who have aged out of K-12 schools but are not eligible for community programs for people with severe disabilities.

"SPARC provides outstanding programming for people who are isolated due to severe disabilities," said SPARC Executive Director Debi Alexander. "We rely on fundraising to ensure that our clients who have limited resources have ongoing access to our engaging and educational programs. Our Pancake Breakfast helps us fund our work while raising awareness of our clients’ needs, dreams, and potential."

SPARC has centers in Fairfax and Arlington counties offering day programs five days a week. Programs include a curriculum based on daily living activities like continued education, skill building, exercise, outings, cooking, music, art, lectures, discussion groups and more. The annual cost for each participant is $9,000, compared to an average $39,000 per year publicly-funded cost for a program through Medicaid, according to SPARC. SPARC has based its office at Church of the Good Shepherd in Vienna since 2021.

The Pancake Breakfast helps the nonprofit defray the costs of running the centers and provide scholarships. The event will feature a silent auction, games, and food, while Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn will present Volunteers of the Year awards. During the event, retiring State Sen. Janet Howell will receive SPARC’s Hero Award for her support of SPARC and its clients, and retiring Del. Ken Plum will receive a distinguished service award for his many years of service to Fairfax County.

The Honorary Host Pancake Breakfast Committee includes Howell, Plum, Alcorn, Del. Patrick Hope, Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, and Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw.

Sponsors include The Washington Group, AARP Virginia, Coldwell Banker Dave & JoAnne Adams Group, Law Offices of Michael E. Toobin, America Services Group, Silverado Printing, Exterior Medics, Giant, Jim and Ellen Dyke, the Goldbranson family, Irsfield and Associates, Bill and Debi Alexander, Casey Margenau Fine Homes & Estates, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Ed Herbst, CPA, Five Stair Painting, Our Stomping Ground, State Farm Ahn Nguyen Agency, InclUSion Consultants, Nancy Lu, the Coles family, Jane Karpick,

The cost to attend is $10 for an adult pancake breakfast, $5 for a child pancake breakfast or $25 for two adults and two children.