The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria raised a record-breaking pledge total of more than $103,000 at its 10th Annual Comcast/Scholarship Fund Telethon on Sunday.
The Telethon featured hosts Kerry Donley, honorary Telethon chair; Julie Carey of NBC-4; Earl Cooke, a T.C. Williams alumnus and deputy chief of police; Suzanna Kang, a former scholarship recipient and Scholarship Fund board member, Jack Taylor of Alexandria Toyota; and David Speck of Wachovia Securities. Mayor William Euille pledged his continued support of the Fund, which awards scholarships to academically qualified graduates of the Alexandria City Public Schools to attend college or vocational school.
A major factor contributing to the Telethon’s success was the contribution of more than $50,000 through industry-specific challenges.
The “Power Women” Challenge, organized by Scholarship Fund treasurer Lynn Hampton, led the challenge total with more than $15,000 in pledges. Power Women were closely followed by the Alumni Challenge, led by Mike Porterfield, and the Real Estate Challenge, led by Sherry and Charles York. Other successful challenges included a Developers Challenge led by Randy Kell, a Financial Brokers Challenge led by Mike Hart, a Lacrosse Boosters Challenge led by Peter Smeallie, a Lawyers Challenge led by Joe Bowman, a Teachers Challenge led by Michael Diggins, and a Technology Firms Challenge led by Laura Machanic, the chair of the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
“We showed what this Alexandria community can achieve by working together,” said Fund director Susan Yowell. “The real beneficiaries are our bright and motivated youth.”