Honoring our Volunteers: An Evening in the Heart of Alexandria

Once again it is time to recognize and honor our volunteers and Volunteer Alexandria would like you to be a part of it! Honoring Our Volunteers – An Evening in the Heart of Alexandria recognizes Allen Lomax, Seena Foster, Scott Kahler, and Emma West, who have served our community consistently over their lifetime or have helped an organization to further its mission.

Volunteer Alexandria has a 33 year legacy of caring for Alexandrians – its people and its nonprofits and we particularly care about the Heart of Alexandria volunteers who give from the heart. In this day and age, we like to think that Volunteer Alexandria is a matchmaker between the passion in people’s hearts and the reward of volunteer service. Please join us and Co-Chairs Cyndi Lake and Frank Fannon as we honor our wonderful volunteers on Friday, October 25th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the American Legion Post #24’s Ballroom at 400 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tickets are $60 per person and $100 for two and can be purchased HERE.

Sponsored By:

Award Recipients

Allen Lomax will receive the Marian Van Landingham Lifetime Achievement Service Award. Allen, who is also a Living Legend of Alexandria, has been an active volunteer and leader advocating for policies and community change to promote the well-being, growth, and development of youth in Alexandria for over 22 years. He believes strongly in community service, leading by example and encouraging others to join him in his efforts. Allen urrently serves on the boards and committees of the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria, United Way National Capital Area, Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria, Homeless Services Coordinating Committee, Economic Opportunities Commission, Alexandria Collaborators, Alexandria Democratic Committee, and Youth Master Plan Design Team. Allen has, more importantly, inspired many other community members and groups to advocate for youth and to join together to preserve and promote a healthy Alexandria community.

Scott Kahler will receive the Joan White Grass Roots Service Award. For the past seven years, Scott has served as a critical member of the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT), responding to emergencies such as residential and commercial fires. Scott proactively responds to events by monitoring scanner radios and is among the most reliable volunteers on the DAT. Scott shows his commitment by serving as a role model for other volunteers and is a leader for others in a variety of areas, including shelter management, client casework and driving the emergency response vehicle (ERV). Scott demonstrates true grass roots efforts by working together with his community partners on shared concerns to affect change.

Seena Foster will receive the Joan White Grass Roots Service Award. Seena has been an excellent volunteer and advocate for the homeless and low income individuals through her direct service work and fundraising for Carpenter’s Shelter. For the past five years, Seena has provided over 1,000 hours to the shelter, including working directly with shelter clients and supporting staff in operations. Seena also serves on the Economic Opportunities Commission for the City of Alexandria which develops and recommends programs which provide outreach and assistance to low income individuals. Seena is dedicated to committing her time and effort working to improve the lives of the homeless as well as advocating their needs and the mission of Carpenter’s Shelter in the community.

Emma West will receive the Youth Volunteer Service Award. Emma is a T.C. Williams High School student and a devoted volunteer for the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Center of Alexandria (SAPCA). She has supported the agency’s efforts by sharing with her peers the harms associated with smoking. Emma led the SAPCA club in creating a logic model and action plan that contains specific strategies and activities to decrease marijuana use among her peers. Emma helped plan and lead several activities during lunch times at the school. She co-wrote an op-ed piece highlighting Alcohol Awareness Month and SAPCA’s work. She is the founder of the T.C. Williams’ Breast Cancer Awareness Club, served as the president, and raised nearly $4,000 towards this effort. In addition, Emma is a member of Alexandria’s Children, Youth, and Families Collaborative Commission and participated in Alexandria’s Youth Master Plan. Emma is a wonderful role model to her peers who dedicates a lot of her time to create a better environment for youth in Alexandria.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Please join Capital One, BB&T, the Agriculture Federal Credit Union, JBG Construction, Giant Food, Suntrust Mortgage, the The United States Senate Federal Credit Union, Simpson Properties, Ltd., the State Department Federal Credit Union, Lisa and Paul Kaplowitz, Cyndi Lake, and “Porter for Commonwealth’s Attorney” in celebrating these great people by attending the event or becoming a Sponsor. The benefits and different levels are outlined HERE. We hope you will join us. Individual tickets are $60 and $100 for two persons, and can be purchased ONLINE.

Proceeds will benefit the community and Volunteer Alexandria’s year round programming to mobilize and deploy volunteers. Your sponsorship will assist seniors looking for volunteer work; youth who are in need of community service; unemployed who are looking for volunteer work to stay involved; and volunteers to assist all of the agencies in need to help deliver meals, sit with the elderly who are alone, repair homes for our veterans, read to children, foster animals, prepare lunches for the homeless, and much more.

Your support will help Volunteer Alexandria to HELP OTHERS!