Woodson High School junior Michael Gouin is quite the natural at what he picks up. When he was younger, “it would not take him very long to become good at things,” his mother Denise Gouin said. “He always manages to figure it out.”
Rebecca Toronto heard about the New Jersey-based student-led project Letters for Rose through her friend Daliya Rizvi. Rizvi knew, with how much Toronto gets involved in the community, the organization would be right up her alley.
The International Day of Forests is this coming Tuesday and Earth Hour will be next Saturday night. Nature seems to command attention when the seasons change. What better way to celebrate our planet than with a hike in the Shenandoah mountains in the height of winter?
Women are making history every day, it’s enough material for an eon of annual observances. From Susan B. Anthony to Simone Biles and, locally Mildred Waller.
“We all come from different stages of life,” Melissa Alba said about her class at George Mason University. Alba is pursuing a master’s in social work after spending years working with diverse populations.
“There’s a confidence with it. There’s a sense of accomplishment,” said Girls on the Run Coach Erin Anderson about the program. Anderson started a team at Hollin Meadows Elementary School in Alexandria six years ago.
The spirit of Valentine’s Day isn’t only in saturated red roses and heart shapes, it’s also alive in the community when we see, hear, and support our neighbors. The nonprofit Food for Others delivered that spirit with their new market that adds more than 10,000 square feet to their food bank…
When Edward Zhang started experiencing complications with his rare retinal disease retinoschisis in elementary school, he “had to [find] new solutions to new problems,” he said. From navigating the bus aisle to what activities he could do, Zhang ultimately had to relearn how to understand wi…
Fairfax resident Millette Wardell was a coach at Curves, a women’s health and fitness club when a pair of Zumba instructors came in to demonstrate how Zumba could fit into a Curves’ workout. “That’s what I want to do,” she said after seeing them dance.
Kids all over the nation in families struggling to stay afloat are finding their need for graduation dues, dream instruments, extracurricular registration fees, and even prescription glasses met. It’s the result of a communication chain that starts with their teacher or social worker who tur…
A bright yellow truck, dubbed the Coastal Beach Truck, has been making the rounds in Northern Virginia. While other trucks queue at hot spots and events, their food truck is out visiting food-insecure neighborhoods six days a week, according to Amanda Norton..
“I had just graduated from [George Mason University] and was looking for a volunteer opportunity,” said Chantilly resident Nancy Portee. “I was looking for something that I thought would make an impact. I love children so I researched and found the BeFriend-A-Child program.”
The new year rises with rethinking and resolutions, or ins and outs. The generations we tease change with the technology we use and clothes we wear. Some things continue, like the motivation behind this column and the stories that fill it.
“When you come to us, we’re not only going to try to help you, we’re going to try to help you help yourself,” said Community Empowerment of Northern Virginia (CENV) Business Development Director Lauren McCreary.
Some of us are dreaming of snow for the holidays, or at least anticipating it. While climate change snowballs into unexpected droughts or sweeping storms, one environmental nonprofit reminds us of what we can do to help our home.
“If you try hard, strive, and have some grit you can honestly accomplish anything you want to,” said Erdem Dulguun. The eighth grader attends Kilmer Middle School during the week and organizes groundbreaking educational opportunities on weekends–namely the first Mongolian-American student s…
When you think about getting involved with nature, it’s natural to imagine sunshine giving way to lush forests. Instead, the Plant NOVA Trees Coordinators Margaret Fisher and Heidi Allen say that winter is the best time to get out with the trees.
The seasonal chills encourage us to huddle close to those we care about. As November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, it’s also about the gift of today.
As the last leaves fall and the holidays rise, it’s the season for home.
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“So many people know there’s a problem, they want to help, but they don’t know what way will be most effective,” said Oakton Pantry Founder Cathy Jaquette. When Jaquette founded the Pantry at Oakton High School, she built a way for the community to help each other.
“Every day we are innovating,” Naina Narayana Chernoff said as co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit trade school Inclusive Pathways to Success (IPS). IPS welcomed its first cohort of students in October as part of a four-week pilot carpentry program.
Rounding out Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Side-Out Foundation Executive Director and Founder Rick Dunetz focuses on advocacy over awareness. “We’re aware. It’s not good,” he said.
“I’ve learned to trust… When people know there’s a problem, they can be very generous,” said LINK Food Pantry Manager Bob Ashdown. That generosity is why the large organization celebrated their 50-year anniversary in Herndon on Oct. 16.
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Ronald and Lisa Suddarth are celebrating their 35th anniversary this month in the comfort of their Fairfax home. The home isn’t new–it was built in 1979 and they’ve lived there since 2006–but the comfort is since they’ve ended their four-year stint without heating or air conditioning.
"I was tired of holding it in my mind and I just had to get it out and build it together and, if nothing else, see what would happen,” said Lorton resident Tiffany Hamilton. Hamilton launched the activewear brand Victor Wear with her son Isaiah this past April.
Fairfax County Police 2nd Lt. Roger Henriquez has been friends with Armstrong Elementary Kindergartener Vivienne (Vivy) since she was 18 months old. Henriquez caught Vivy’s attention while filling in as a crossing guard at the school when they were short-staffed.
Kevin Koerner is a 23-year-old high school math teacher from Elkton, Md. who is “really good friends” with Colton Higgins, a 9-year-old Springfield resident. Koerner met Higgins and his family for the first time at halftime during the match between Nashville Soccer Club and Austin FC at GEOD…
Among pandemic passion projects, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) seniors Jaya Gupta and Thrisha Sakamuri co-founded Girls and Literature (GAL) to drive female literacy worldwide and at home.
Stephen Markle is one of two recipients of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board’s 2022 Elly Doyle Park Service Award. The award goes to volunteers who left a positive mark on county parks. Part of the reason Markle is being recognized is for leading invasive plant management.
Vienna resident Holly Seibold can recall an article she read in early 2015. It was about an organization helping women seek independence from domestic violence by preparing them for job interviews.
The mission of the nonprofit Growth and Inspiration through Volunteering and Education (GIVE) is “to provide an opportunity for students to reach their fullest potential by breaking down the economic and social barriers [to education],” said Executive Director of Outreach Hana Choi.
“When I was visiting my grandfather during his chemo, I remember that … I specifically disliked the color white,” McLean High rising senior Olivia Zhang said, recalling the time she spent at the hospital with her grandfather.
Helping Kids Worldwide combats the separation of children from their families
When the Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV) began to partition their grant money into smaller awards years ago, it was about augmenting their scope.
Earlier this year, Troop 160 Life Scout Nicholas Flanigan aimed to become an Eagle Scout–a rank that has all the qualities of a scout with perseverance and leadership.
High schooler’s partnership with Shoes That Fit donates to Cora Kelly
Nonprofit Kids Give Back teaches kids about volunteering
After Meredith Hedrick got her degree in international relations, she volunteered with the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan. It has been 24 years since she returned from being a Peace Corps volunteer, but the influence remains to this day–both intentional and coincidental.
Deidra Reid offers financial help no matter the circumstance
Passion for Community builds relationships while helping people build a home
Local fraternity chapter has roots in mentorship, social action, and education
Community of women donating time and necessities
The Arc of Nova President Mark Albert reminisces on the organization
Michael Kimlick’s philosophy on baseball with the challenger division
GMU graduate’s experience in Best Buddies programs
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