Burke and Springfield: Community Joins Together to Bid for a Cause
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Burke and Springfield: Community Joins Together to Bid for a Cause

Pat Thompson, president of Assistance League of Northern Virginia, an all-volunteer nonprofit, hosts the Annual Spring Event, Luncheon and Silent Auction on April 29.

Pat Thompson, president of Assistance League of Northern Virginia, an all-volunteer nonprofit, hosts the Annual Spring Event, Luncheon and Silent Auction on April 29. Photo courtesy of Mary Spense

Thursday, May 5, 2016

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Photo courtesy of Mary Spense

Pat Thompson (right), president of Assistance League of Northern Virginia and Linda Shilts, vice president of resource development, recognize member volunteers, sponsors and donors during the Annual Spring Event, Luncheon and Silent Auction, on April 29.

Nearly 100 people gathered to raise money for community-based children’s programs on April 29 at Assistance League of Northern Virginia’s “Annual Spring Event, Luncheon and Silent Auction.”

Programs benefiting from event’s proceeds were Weekend Food for Kids, Reading Express and New Clothing for Kids. Member volunteers and their guests, representatives from recipient schools, corporate and individual donors, event sponsors and community volunteers joined together to bid on a wide variety of items and services donated by generous businesses in the community.

From tickets to the theatre, golf outings, wine tastings and dinners-for-two to jewelry, photography sessions, teeth whitening packages and tickets to D.C. sporting events, the silent auction offered something for everyone and led to a few friendly bidding wars. For the fifth year, Auctioneer Danial Sanders, the owner of Four Sales Estate Sales in Alexandria, donated his services in support of the live auction and special appeal.

Pat Thompson, president, Assistance League of Northern Virginia, hosted the spring event which took place at International Country Club in Fairfax for the second year. Sheehy Nissan/Manassas and ShounBach, a family law firm based in Fairfax were sponsors for this fundraiser which featured a presentation by Master Police Officer, Wayne Twombly, FCPD on Personal Safety.

Claudia McDowell, social Worker, and Maggie Perez-Rives, Parent Liaison at Lynbrook Elementary School in Springfield spoke about how Assistance League programs, which provide essential food and clothing to children living in food insecure households, help their students focus on learning. Lynbrook Elementary is one of ten Title I schools in the Counties of Fairfax and Prince William and the City of Alexandria served by the nonprofit.

Tables were decorated with red roses and handwritten thank you notes from students receiving support from the all-volunteer 501(c)(3). Funds raised during the “Annual Spring Event” will enable Assistance League to sustain and expand programs which feed, clothe and educate children in need.

For more information about Operation School Bell programs and sponsorship opportunities, contact VP Resource Development Linda Shilts: lindamshilts@gmail.com.

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