Oakton,
Va., Oct. 6, 2006- More than 50 people
attended a breakfast on Oct. 4 to celebrate
the success of the Georgetown South Community
and Child Development Center in Manassas and
to honor community members who have generously
supported it. A joint effort of Northern Virginia
Family Service (NVFS) and the Georgetown South
Community Council, the center was developed
to enhance the quality of life for local families.
"We
would like to thank all of the supporters
who have helped to make the center a tremendous
success during the past two years. We are
especially grateful to Sen. Chuck Colgan and
the late Del. Harry Parrish for their leadership
of the Business Leaders for Georgetown South,
their personal financial support and their
efforts in securing a $400,000 grant from
the commonwealth," said NVFS President
and CEO Mary Agee.
Services
offered at the Georgetown South center include
the Early Head Start Child Development Center,
operated by Northern Virginia Family Service;
a meeting area for residents; a health clinic;
a community policing unit; a read-and-return
library; community watch; an after-school
program for middle school students; and ESL/adult
learning classes.
During
the breakfast celebration, Mike Vanderpool,
a member of the Business Leaders for Georgetown
South, spoke about the value of the center
and noted that more than 12,000 people used
the center this past year. Mattie Parrish,
wife of the late Del. Harry Parrish, said
she knew he would have been honored to have
a room at the community center named for them.
This important project was very dear to him.
Additionally,
some of the top-level supporters were honored
with room designations at the center, including
Sen. Chuck Colgan, Mary & Phil Agee, Synergy
One Federal Credit Union, Dominion Virginia
Power, Lake Ridge Rotary, Jim Oliver, Lockheed
Martin, Christopher DeChene, Potomac News,
All Saints Catholic Church, Mr. & Mrs.
Harry Parrish, Eli Lilly and Company, John
& Jane Elkin, Philip Graham Fund, Ric
& Suzanne Perez and Grace United Methodist
Church.
Established
in 1924, Northern Virginia Family Service
is a private, non-profit community service
resource dedicated to helping individuals
and families find new paths to self-reliance
and brighter futures. Each year, NVFS helps
more than 20,000 people find affordable housing,
counseling and child care; access to low-cost
medical and dental services; foster and respite
care, job training; trauma recovery; and much
more. For more information, visit www.nvfs.org.
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