Senior Services of Alexandria will pay tribute to individuals who have helped make Alexandria a caring and compassionate community for everyone, and will continue its history of honoring a family who has passed down a tradition of community service at its 2019 Annual Gala on Saturday, March 16 at the Westin Alexandria in Old Town. The evening’s honorees are: U.S. Rep. Don Beyer and his daughter Stephanie Beyer Kirby, Lynnwood Campbell, and Jen Walker.
“SSA is proud to honor those who have helped make Alexandria a great community for all ages,” said Jack Fannon, board chair of Senior Services of Alexandria. “We will also honor Alexandria’s seniors who rely on the programs and services that SSA provides in order for them to age with dignity.”
Congressman Don Beyer is serving his second term as the U.S. representative from Virginia’s 8th District, representing Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and parts of Fairfax County. He serves on the Joint Economic Committee, the House Committee on Natural Resources, is Vice Ranking Member of the Science Space and Technology Committee, Ranking Member on the Oversight Subcommittee, and a member of the New Democrat Coalition. He was the lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1990 to 1998, and was ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein under President Obama. Congressman Beyer’s signature work as lieutenant governor included advocacy for Virginians with disabilities and ensuring protections for Virginia’s most vulnerable populations as the Commonwealth reformed its welfare system in the mid-1990s. He was Virginia’s Democratic nominee for governor in 1997. After leaving office, Congressman Beyer spent 14 years as chair of Jobs for Virginia Graduates, a highly successful high school dropout prevention program, and was active for a decade on the board of the D.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. As chair of the Virginia Economic Recovery Commission, he helped pass permanent pro-business reforms and was co-founder of the Northern Virginia Technology Council. Congressman Beyer has spent four decades building his family business in Northern Virginia after a summer job at a car dealership in 1974. He is a graduate of Williams College and Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. He was named a Presidential Scholar by President Lyndon Johnson. Congressman Beyer has four children and two grandchildren. He and his wife Megan reside in Alexandria.
Stephanie Beyer Kirby is a vice president with Beyer Auto Group family of dealerships. The Beyer Auto Group owns a collection of franchise dealerships including Subaru, Land Rover, Volvo, Kia Mazda and Volkswagen in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area. Stephanie is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and primarily focuses on Operations and Strategic Initiatives. Prior to this she served as a general manager and held positions overseeing real estate development, service operations, marketing, and internet sales. Beyer Subaru repeatedly gives back to nonprofits in the city through their Share the Love campaign. She sits on the Quality Board of Inova Alexandria Hospital and local nonprofit RunningBrooke.
Stephanie is serving in her third year as a member of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. Her Alexandria Chamber involvement also includes chairing the Chamber’s Young Leader’s Network, which highlights emerging business leaders through its 40 Under 40 Awards Celebration. She recently led the event planning and fundraising efforts for Maury Elementary's 10th Anniversary PTA Gala.
Prior to joining the family business, Stephanie was a deputy finance director of the Kaine for Governor Campaign (VA) where she was responsible for Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. Stephanie holds a degree in communications and commerce from the University of Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the General Management and Leadership Program with the National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA.) Her crowning achievement is being a wife to her husband Trey and mother to her two children Ava and Will.
Lynnwood Campbell is a life-long resident of Alexandria and has had a major impact on Alexandria’s public schools and policies toward children, seniors, human rights, the city budget, and charitable giving. Lynnwood attended school in Alexandria and entered 8th grade at St. Mary’s Elementary School where he was the first African American student. He attended Western High School in Washington D.C., where he met his future wife, Deborah, who attended the arch-rival Wilson High School. They have a daughter Robin. Lynnwood is a graduate of Howard University with a degree in accounting and business administration.
He was working at Price Waterhouse when he was called to active duty assigned to the Military District of Washington as the deputy finance and accounting officer. After completing his Army obligations at the rank of captain, Lynnwood returned to Price Waterhouse.
He later retired from the Department of Treasury following 32 years of service. He began as a policy accountant and progressed to several director positions: Director of Accounting, Director of Employee and Workplace Principles and Director of Internal Review and Quality Assurance.
He served two terms on the Alexandria Human Rights Commission and three terms on the Alexandria School Board where he helped implement the Early Childhood Development program, all-day kindergarten, the C-Average rule requiring better grades for high school athletes, the Junior ROTC program at T.C. Williams High School and the Minority Achievement Committee. He has served on numerous not-for-profit boards including chairman of the United Way of the National Capital Area, chairman of Neighborhood Health, chairman of Senior Services of Alexandria, chairman of the Alexandria Executive Committee of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and Treasurer of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. He also served as a board member of ACT, The Northern Virginia Urban League, The Washington Urban League, The Alexandria NAACP and the Washington Society for CPAs.
In 2011, Lynnwood was named as a Living Legend of Alexandria. Of his contributions, Lynnwood says simply, “People asked me to serve, and I served.”
In Jen Walker’s world, few pursuits top volunteering. She says it “costs nothing but time, yet it can make a huge difference in people’s lives.”
Jen has found the time repeatedly while managing a full-time career with McEnearney Associates Realtors, Inc. She has been actively involved with: Del Ray Business Association; Alexandria YMCA; Alexandria Chamber of Commerce; Mount Vernon Community School; Maury Elementary School; Cora Kelly Elementary School, George Washington Middle School; Rebuilding Together Alexandria, youth sports teams including Alexandria Little League and the Alexandria Wahoos; Blessings in a BackPack; Campagna Center; Meals on Wheels; Volunteer Alexandria Snow Buddies; Leadership Alexandria; City of Alexandria Wayfinding Committee; ACPS 2020 Stakeholders Committee; First Thursdays; Del Ray Home tours and many more.
Jen has long provided critical support for wide range of events, organizations, and entities. They include Art on the Avenue, First Night Alexandria, Alive!, Senior Services of Alexandria, Alexandria Police Foundation, Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services, Northern Virginia Aids Ministries, National Rebuilding Day, Kelly Cares, and the Miracle Field.
For more than 20 years, Jen has made significant contributions to Alexandria communities and beyond. Jen Walker’s name is synonymous with community, and she has earned incredible respect from her peers and Alexandria residents for her generosity. From starting Cinema Del Ray to mysteriously spreading a message of kindness throughout Alexandria with her signs, it is simply natural for Jen to give back. Jen Walker is first a philanthropist and community leader, and second a homes specialist. Jen has been involved in countless charitable community organizations and leadership roles in Alexandria all while helping clients buy or sell their homes.
SSA’s Annual Gala takes place Saturday, March 16 at the Westin Alexandria beginning at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception, silent auction and raffle followed by dinner and dancing until 10 p.m. To purchase tickets go to seniorservicesalex.org or for more information about the Gala call Cassie Chesson, SSA’s Development Director at 703-836-4414, ext. 114 or email development@seniorservicesalex.org.