Children of Sallie Mae employees celebrate and take part in decorating the blankets. Photo Contributed
More than forty children learned about debits and credits, examined a legal document and employment application, checked out the inside of a computer and took a tour of the facilities during the "Take Your Child to Work Day" event at Sallie Mae in Reston.
The boys and girls, aged 5 to 15, also learned about community involvement and volunteerism by decorating quilts and pillows that will be donated to the local Ronald McDonald House and Inova Fairfax Hospital, in partnership with Soaringwords, a non-profit organization that connects seriously ill children and their families to local caring communities. In addition, a $5,000 grant was given to Soaringwords from the Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae.
This year’s Take Your Child to Work national theme was "Build Opportunity: 20 Years of Education, Empowerment, Experience" and as such, the day’s agenda focused on Sallie Mae experiences and the importance of education. In Reston, Sallie Mae first celebrated this event more than ten years ago.
Brianna Ayoub, whose mother, Sheri Ayoub works in Sallie Mae’s purchasing department, said that her favorite part of the day was "making quilts for sick children." She also stated that she "liked learning what the accounting department does" and now understands how important college is so that "you can get a good education and a good job."