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
The Joey Pizzano Memorial Fund’s ongoing workforce program
High school club is revitalizing relationships with elders
Theresa Fruet spends years making afghans to donate
TJ Club helps increase special needs students communication
Local senior centers organize donation drive to keep community warm
An open heart symbol adorning shirts, charms, and wooden signs is the icon of the Vienna-based Rustic Love organization. What started as a pandemic project to embrace the community has amassed a life of its own and stretched across the county. Now an official 501c3 nonprofit, Rustic Love has…
Chelsea Hu has been the head of an innovative art non-profit that stretches across the globe in participation and impact, for nearly three years; all of it accomplished while under the age of 18. Hu’s idea was born from an abiding love for art and was conjured up at a leadership camp hosted …
Female entrepreneurs join in a shared workspace to collaborate on common issues
Northern Virginia’s chapter has served nearly 2,000 cakes since 2019
Astudia gives students opportunity to get involved, with focus on mental health
Thousands in gift cards collected for those displaced by fire
Aaron Letteri’s latest project involved collecting coats to donate to those enduring homelessness
The nonprofit isn’t just making dog treats this holiday season
The “kidpreneur” works to grow his business and spread the joy of candles this holiday season
Florida resident James Pistole honored with vehicle through Mobility is Freedom program
Thomas A. Edison High School teacher brings reward-for-effort system to the classroom
The high schoolers from across the county band together to help those in need
Natasha Magrath runs cleaning company after coming from Lebanon in 1999
Sarah Yuhas-Schiltz is helping stray dogs from across the country
Vienna woman provides meals for Afghan refugees, others in Northern Virginia
Kristy Edlefsen works with Open FCPS to find resources for parents and students
LaPearl Smith helps bring employment to those with disabilities
Melissa Weiner received a $25,000 from the AbbVie Scholarship Program
Sergio Andrade connects with people through Hispanic culture
Being an au pair is something that made sense for Max Kaus, who has always been surrounded by children. He grew up with three younger siblings, as well as coached soccer — noting that watching kids grow and learn something new has always been really rewarding.
Kozmo Rhyu raised money for FCCGW through fencing
Joe Pisciotta is the president of Still Standing-Still Free, an organization which has hosted a free annual exhibit every year since 2010 to commemorate the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. With 2021 marking the 20th anniversary of the attacks, the exhibit this year is th…
Michael Astudillo began kindergarten at Columbia Elementary in Annandale in 1982. Fast forward 39 years, and Astudillo is now beginning his first year as the principal of the school. While Astudillo has certainly changed over the years, his fondness for the school has not.
Catalyst.org reports that in the automotive industry, women made up the majority of office and clerical workers in 2018 at 78.4 percent but were underrepresented among higher level positions like managers, which was only 18.1 percent, and executive and senior level officials and managers whi…
Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA) was founded in 1973 by Anne Lewis of Loudoun County, after she found stray dogs on her property and could not find anywhere to take the dogs without the possibility of them being euthanized. So she started her own no-kill shelter and created FOHA.
Sophia Brown is a rising junior at James Madison High School in Vienna, and despite being only half-way through her high school career, she is making major strides in helping communities across the world. Brown’s parents met in the Peace Corps, and their unwavering dedication to foreign serv…
Rebecca Cousins has worked at West Springfield High School as the school’s employment and transition representative for six years. In this role, Cousins helps special education students prepare for the transition from high school to life after. She assists them with career and college explor…
Sixteen-year-old Prasidha Padmanabhan is a rising junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. She recently founded the Women for Education, Advocacy and Rights (WEAR) organization which is a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for the rights, equality and representation …
Lauren Kinne has been teaching AP and freshman biology at W.T. Woodson High School for six years and in Fairfax County for 15. Kinne is the Environmental Club sponsor and faculty advisor at Woodson, a club which allows students to get hands-on experience working in nature.
Rising eighth graders Veda Murthy of Rachel Carson Middle School and Varsha Gunda of Nysmith School knew that climate change was a critical issue. Armed with their passion about the environment and knowledge of biology, the students were ready to create a solution.
Renee Gorman has been an FCPS elementary guidance counselor for more than 20 years. And while she loves her job, she knew more needed to be done for the kids in Fairfax County.
Vienna native Allan Sidley likes to make a room laugh. Despite his stage fright, Sidley got into stand-up comedy seven years ago, and has been bringing laughter to people’s lives ever since. Sidley likes to look at life with the perspective of laughing makes things better.
Chelsea Hu is a rising high school sophomore at the BASIS Independent McLean school on a scholarship. At just 15, Hu has a long resume of successes. Most recently, she presented her research about combating bank erosion at multiple high level science competitions locally and globally.
Lucian Acuff of Chantilly is a retired Navy veteran, and four years ago, found another way to give his time back to others.
Every seventeen years, the Brood X cicadas emerge from underground in the billions to swarm across many Eastern states, including Virginia, of course. While many people may fear their beady red eyes or dread their loud songs, Fairfax County insect biologist Andy Lima is here to remind us of …
Mohammed Saffouri loves film, but was expected to pursue a career in computer science. Halfway through his studies at George Mason University Saffouri decided to turn to that love in spite of a lack of support from family and friends. The results of that turn have gotten him experience direc…
Thank you to the whole community for helping me to tell the heartwarming stories of the people of this community
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