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.