NVFS and SERVE Finalize Merger

(Oakton, VA—Nov. 1, 2009)  The boards of Securing Emergency Resources through Volunteer Efforts (SERVE) and Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) announce the merger of the two organizations. Out of a desire to advance the missions of both organizations in the community, this merger will create a continuum of integrated human services designed to move families out of homelessness and poverty and onto paths of greater independence and brighter futures.

The SERVE Campus and programs have retained their names in recognition of their longstanding tradition of service to the community. All SERVE staff have been brought onto the payroll of NVFS.

“We want our clients, staff, volunteers and donors to know their will be no disruption in the quality or availability of services that we provide,” commented Rob Sturm, SERVE’s Board Chair. “In fact, we will get a tremendous amount of leverage from the combination, and will be bringing a number of NVFS’s quality programs such as early childhood education, healthcare access, affordable housing, and job skills training to our clients.”

“During this period of economic downturn, it is becoming increasingly important to find innovative ways to deliver quality care and assistance to our region’s poor and under-served,” said NVFS president and CEO Mary Agee. “With the degree of commonality between the services and client-bases of both organizations, we expect to be able to continue to deliver the same services and even expand our efforts in certain programs.”

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SERVE, Inc. was founded in 1975 by a group of concerned volunteers who desired to meet the emergency needs of families in Prince William County. Since that time, it has anchored the movement to provide emergency shelter, rental, housing, and utility assistance, and has provided countless meals and other donated goods and services to the Prince William community.