Oakton,
Va., April 9, 2007-Healthy Families
Alexandria (HFA) announced that it will host
a fundraising event at MetroStage to benefit
the children and families it serves. HFA is
a program of Northern Virginia Family Service
(NVFS), an organization dedicated to empowering
and strengthening families and the community.
This will be the sixth year for the benefit
for HFA.
"We are excited about the
upcoming benefit at MetroStage. Funds raised
at this event directly support the well-being
of children and families in the City of Alexandria,"
said Janet von Sternberg, chair of the Healthy
Families Alexandria Resource Development Committee.
The benefit event will be held on Monday,
May 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at MetroStage,
1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria, VA. It will
include a reception and feature performing
artist, Chris Ullman, the four-time national
and international whistling champion. Virginia
Senator Patricia Ticer, who has been a long
time supporter of the program and who was
the mayor of Alexandria when the program began
in 1993, is the Honorary Chair.
This year, NVFS and HFA will present the second
annual “Spirit of Synergy Award”
to the National Association of Children’s
Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI).
Founded in 1968 NACHRI is a not-for-profit,
membership organization of more than 200 children’s
hospitals committed to excellence in providing
health care to children. NACHRI works to ensure
all children’s access to health care
and the continuing ability of children’s
hospitals to provide services needed by children.
NACHRI has been actively involved with Healthy
Families Alexandria for ten years. Lawrence
A. McAndrews, NACHRI’s president and
CEO, has been a member of the Healthy Families
Alexandria Resource Development Committee
since 1997. NACHRI has chosen Healthy Families
Alexandria as its local charity, and staff
actively participate in several functions
including the annual holiday party and annual
picnic for families. NACHRI is also a sponsor
of the MetroStage fundraiser. “Healthy
Families Alexandria helps local mothers and
fathers make positive choices that create
a safe and healthy home environment for their
children,” said McAndrews.
"Synergy is a recurring theme for Healthy
Families Alexandria,” Janet von Sternberg.
“HFA staff and client families must
share information and ideas about ways parents
can be more effective. Because of our work
together, the children in this program will
have opportunities to go further than any
of us can even imagine!”
Healthy Families Alexandria is a voluntary
home visiting program that supports new parents
and their young children ages 0-5 during a
child's most rapid and significant phase of
development. Started in 1993, the program
improves parenting, encourages child health
and development and prevents child abuse and
neglect. In FY 2006, the program served 212
families.
Affiliated with Healthy Families America,
a national initiative of Prevent Child Abuse
America, the program is a public/private partnership
funded at the local and state level. Thirty-eight
communities in Virginia have chosen Healthy
Families as a cost-effective way to strengthen
families, because Healthy Families works.
Outcomes studies show that families who participate
have children who are safe, healthy and ready
to learn when they start school.
HFA would like to thank the in-kind sponsors
of the MetroStage event: Carolyn Griffin,
Producing Artistic Director of MetroStage;
Helen McNeil at Studio A; Katherine Pritchett
at Whole Foods Market in Alexandria; Helen
Olivia Florist; Hollin Hall Pastry Shop; and
the Old Town Safeway.
To purchase tickets, or for complimentary
media registration, please contact Sara Skees,
703.219.2120.
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 23,000 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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