Oakton, Va., April 9, 2007– Healthy Families Alexandria (HFA) announced that it will host a fundraising event at MetroStage to benefit the children and families it serves. HFA is a program of Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), an organization dedicated to empowering and strengthening families and the community. This will be the sixth year for the benefit for HFA.
“We are excited about the upcoming benefit at MetroStage. Funds raised at this event directly support the well-being of children and families in the City of Alexandria,” said Janet von Sternberg, chair of the Healthy Families Alexandria Resource Development Committee.
The benefit event will be held on Monday, May 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at MetroStage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria, VA. It will include a reception and feature performing artist, Chris Ullman, the four-time national and international whistling champion. Virginia Senator Patricia Ticer, who has been a long time supporter of the program and who was the mayor of Alexandria when the program began in 1993, is the Honorary Chair.
This year, NVFS and HFA will present the second annual “Spirit of Synergy Award” to the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI). Founded in 1968 NACHRI is a not-for-profit, membership organization of more than 200 children’s hospitals committed to excellence in providing health care to children. NACHRI works to ensure all children’s access to health care and the continuing ability of children’s hospitals to provide services needed by children.
NACHRI has been actively involved with Healthy Families Alexandria for ten years. Lawrence A. McAndrews, NACHRI’s president and CEO, has been a member of the Healthy Families Alexandria Resource Development Committee since 1997. NACHRI has chosen Healthy Families Alexandria as its local charity, and staff actively participate in several functions including the annual holiday party and annual picnic for families. NACHRI is also a sponsor of the MetroStage fundraiser. “Healthy Families Alexandria helps local mothers and fathers make positive choices that create a safe and healthy home environment for their children,” said McAndrews.
“Synergy is a recurring theme for Healthy Families Alexandria,” Janet von Sternberg. “HFA staff and client families must share information and ideas about ways parents can be more effective. Because of our work together, the children in this program will have opportunities to go further than any of us can even imagine!”
Healthy Families Alexandria is a voluntary home visiting program that supports new parents and their young children ages 0-5 during a child’s most rapid and significant phase of development. Started in 1993, the program improves parenting, encourages child health and development and prevents child abuse and neglect. In FY 2006, the program served 212 families.
Affiliated with Healthy Families America, a national initiative of Prevent Child Abuse America, the program is a public/private partnership funded at the local and state level. Thirty-eight communities in Virginia have chosen Healthy Families as a cost-effective way to strengthen families, because Healthy Families works. Outcomes studies show that families who participate have children who are safe, healthy and ready to learn when they start school.
HFA would like to thank the in-kind sponsors of the MetroStage event: Carolyn Griffin, Producing Artistic Director of MetroStage; Helen McNeil at Studio A; Katherine Pritchett at Whole Foods Market in Alexandria; Helen Olivia Florist; Hollin Hall Pastry Shop; and the Old Town Safeway.
