Kelly Grant made it happen.
On Tuesday, Grant, the chief operating officer of the ALX Community coworking office in Old Town, received Volunteer Alexandria‘s business philanthropist of the year award.
Last year, after five months of an exhausting pandemic, Grant struck oil after launching the Alexandria Drive-In. The effort raised more than $100,000, with more than 12,000 people safely seeing movies on the big screen again. Proceeds from the films went to ACT for Alexandria, the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria and Athena Rapid Response.
“It’s incredibly moving to watch the power of community make lasting impacts in our city,” Grant said. “Keep an eye out for ALX Community’s future community initiatives, as we continue to serve and support the wonderful people, small businesses, and communities that make Alexandria the place we love and call home.”
The Drive-In has since gone into its second season.
Volunteer Alexandria presented the following awards:
The Joan White Volunteer Service Award
- Cynthia Chin – Mentor and Creative Director volunteer with Space of her Own. Cynthia has used her creativity and passion to empower and inspire girls and her experience as an Asian-American woman to spread a message of acceptance; from mentor to board member, co-program manager, and creative director, her volunteer service has been instrumental in enhancing and expanding youth programs in Alexandria
- Phyllis and Anthony Johnson – Volunteers for the West End Food pantry. Both volunteers replaced senior volunteers during COVID and worked every Monday night so the pantry can stay open during the pandemic and hungry families could be fed
- John Perlman – Volunteers for the food program and delivers groceries and serves on the Early Childhood committee for ALIVE!
- Charlotte Martinsson – Serves on ALIVE!’s executive board, volunteers for several programs – Food, Family Assistance, and for the Quarantine Food Program.
Emergency Preparedness Volunteer Service Award
- Bridget Donohue – Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteer for the Alexandria Health Department; answered Information Line Call Center
- Paul Mazzuca – Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) for the Alexandria Health Department
Above & Beyond Recognition During a Time of COVID Award
- Allen Brooks, The Garden and Building Momentum – Co-founder of the drive-in movies, which allowed families to enjoy movies and agencies to receive unrestricted money
- Holly Batal – Volunteered for Safehouse and hotline for the Alexandria Domestic Violence Program. Holly is passionate, committed, and driven about assisting victims experiencing violence
- Kobi Carter – Teacher, tutor, translator, interpreter, registration assistant, and Zoom coach for the Literacy Council of NoVa
- Elyse Demaray – Writer and researcher for grants and the newsletter that help tell the story for Community Lodgings
- Haywon Kim – Volunteered with Learn & PlayGroup as co-facilitator for the group of children with the Center for Alexandria’s Children
- Mike Mixon – RSVP Northern Virginia volunteer who works with the American Red Cross to assist with disasters
- Maria Sanchez-Carlo – Volunteered with the Groceries to Go and Friendly Visitor program with Senior Services of Alexandria
- Kenneth Tieu – Mentor for high school students with the Dream Project
- Mike Zito – Mentor for high school students
Recent Stories
Monarch Montessori School located in the heart of Del Ray is enrolling children 6 weeks to 6 years of age for our half day and full day program.
Our hours of operation are 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday-Friday. Monarch Montessori School is open year round, with intermittent breaks.
Children engage in self-directed, self-initiated activities under the guidance of a trained Montessori teacher. Classroom sizes range from 8-12 students. Our robust curriculum includes botany, sensorial activities, the social graces, culture, math, science, practical life, geography, music appreciation and language arts.
You’ll get half off of the registration fee when you register and begin care with us before April 30, 2023.

Press Release:
EDBS Dental Billing Solutions is pleased to announce that it has achieved compliance with the federally mandated standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) through the use of Compliancy Group’s proprietary HIPAA methodology, The Guard® compliance tracking software, and HIPAA Seal of Compliance®.
The HIPAA Seal of Compliance is issued to organizations that have implemented an effective HIPAA compliance program through the use of The Guard, Compliancy Group’s proprietary compliance tracking solution.
Clients and patients are becoming more aware of the requirements of HIPAA compliance and how the regulation protects their personal information. Forward-thinking providers like EDBS Dental Billing Solutions choose the HIPAA Seal of Compliance to differentiate their services.
Del Ray Dog Fest & Yappy Hour
The 1st Annual Del Ray Dog Fest is a fun outdoor event that will include dog-centered activities, dog menu items, live music, vendors and food on Sunday, April 2 from 11am- 3pm at the George Washington Middle School parking lot.