More
Post Content

Spring2ACTion eclipses goal and raises $2.9 million for Alexandria nonprofits

(Photo via Runningbrooke/Facebook)

Alexandria’s biggest giving day has done it again. On Wednesday, ACT for Alexandria raised $2.9 million for 188 nonprofits.

The final tally will keep changing as donations will continue on the Spring2ACTion website until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 28.

Spring2ACTion is the main annual fundraiser for most of the participating nonprofits. It’s also the second straight year that ACT for Alexandria eclipsed their $2.5 million goal by collecting $2.9 million.

The top three recipients are Move2Learn with $152,086, Carpenter’s Shelter with $150,214 and Casa Chirilagua with $89,610. It’s the second straight year that Move2Learn won the top spot.

“We are so grateful for all of the 7,325 donors, 188 nonprofits, 67 businesses, and 33 sponsors that participated in this year’s incredible event,” said Heather Peeler, President and CEO of ACT for Alexandria. “Alexandria’s nonprofits do so much for our community and today’s outpouring of support means that they can continue to provide critical programs and services in the months to come.”

Peeler said that 67 Alexandria businesses donated a portion of their proceeds toward the effort. She also said that, after working to collect millions, her staff of seven employees will be taking the next two days off to collect themselves.

“It takes a lot of planning and preparation, even though it seems like it all happened in one day,” Peeler said. “Every year feels a little different for different reasons… What hasn’t changed is that deep commitment to serving our nonprofit community. It’s astounding.”

Spring2ACTion has raised more than $23 million over the last 14 years.

Spring2ACTion Top 10:

  1. Move2Learn | Powered by Runningbrooke raised $152,286 from 157 donors
  2. Carpenter’s Shelter raised $150,214 from 272 donors
  3. Casa Chirilagua raised $89,610 from 270 donors
  4. ALIVE! raised $80,804 from 352 donors
  5. Alexandria Tutoring Consortium raised $79,440 from 204 donors
  6. Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia raised 76,527 from 102 donors
  7. The Campagna Center raised $63,229 from 86 donors
  8. King Street Cats raised $60,101 from 460 donors
  9. Space of Her Own, Inc. raised $59,400 from 164 donors
  10. Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association raised $57,098 from 122 donors

2 Comment

With $2.5 million goal, early giving for Alexandria’s Spring2ACTion fundraiser is about to start

(Photo via Runningbrooke/Facebook)

Spring2ACTion, the biggest single-day fundraiser for the city’s nonprofits, is just around the corner, and so is early giving.

After raising a record-setting $2.9 million for 186 local nonprofits from 8,331 donors last year, ACT For Alexandria has, for the second-straight year, set the upcoming fundraising goal at $2.5 million. ACT also wants 10,000 donors for what will be their 14th annual fundraising bonanza.

Spring2ACTion is the main annual fundraiser for most of the participating nonprofits. The top three recipients last year were Move2Learn with $170,400, Casa Chirilagua with $167,994 and Carpenter’s Shelter with $91,938.

Spring2ACTion will run from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24. Early giving starts next Wednesday, April 10.

Donations can be made on www.Spring2ACTion.org, where donors can search for and donate to their preferred nonprofits.

According to ACT for Alexandria:

All donations are tax deductible and irrevocable. (Donations will not be refunded). Donors will receive a receipt for their gift. The nonprofit will receive contact information for each donor, unless the donor elects to remain anonymous. Leaderboards will add a sense of competition and excitement during the build-up and event day. Additional cash grants will be awarded to the top winners in each leaderboard category for the day:

  • Nonprofits that have the Most Donors – We will award prizes based on operational budget size broken down into three categories — small – $0-$100K, medium – $100K-$500K, and large – $500K+
  • Free Agent Fundraisers that have the Most Donors – these prizes will be awarded to the organization designated by the Free Agent Fundraiser

Via Running Brooke/Facebook

0 Comments

Nonprofit donating $50K scoreboard to Alexandria baseball diamond for players with special needs

The proposed scoreboard at the Kelley Cares Miracle Field outside the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center at 1108 Jefferson Street (via City of Alexandria)

A local nonprofit is donating a $50,000 scoreboard at the Kelley Cares Miracle Field outside the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center in Old Town.

The scoreboard is a gift to the city from the Miracle League of Alexandria and it will be presented to City Council for approval on April 2. Additionally, the $3,000 installation for the scoreboard’s support beams is being donated by the Simpson Development Company.

MLA built the synthetic baseball diamond in partnership with the Kelley Cares Foundation in 2012. The field is next to the Ruthanne Lodato Memorial Playground for people with special needs.

Kelley Cares Miracle Field is named in honor of Kelley Swanson, a T.C. Williams High School student who died after a graduation trip in 2005.

The scoreboard was paid for by Sheri and Mark Jessell in honor of their 18-year-old son, Dan, who loved baseball and died in 2018, and Sheri Jessell’s sister, Loey Seligman, who died in 2020.

“The scoreboard will enhance the experience for players in the Miracle League, as well as for others who use the field,” MLA Board Chair Mac Slover wrote in a letter to the city. “The scoreboard will be installed beyond the right field fence and will be 10-feet-wide and 16-feet-tall. It will be raised another six feet so that it can be above the sightlines of the existing fence.”

The Jessell family lives in Florida and were inspired to donate to the Alexandria nonprofit after seeing an MLA video. At first, MLA received a $50 donation from the Jessell family in last year’s Spring2ACTion fundraiser, and after corresponding with the family, Slover was informed months later that the family wanted to make a substantial donation.

“In 2020, we had done a video about how much we missed our players because of Covid, and it brought her (Sheri Jessell) to tears,” Slover said. “She and her family wanted to donate $50,000, and we were able to get the scoreboard, which has been a dream of mine since we built the field in 2012.”

Slover wants to install the scoreboard in August and dedicate it in early September.

3 Comments

Businesses across Alexandria are donating proceeds to Wednesday’s Spring2ACTion fundraiser

Fibre space at 1319 Prince Street

A number of Alexandria businesses are donating a percentage of proceeds to local charities and nonprofits for this Wednesday’s Spring2ACTion fundraiser.

ACT for Alexandria’s goal this year is to raise $2.5 million from 10,000 donors for 185 participating nonprofits and charities.

Today, Piece Out Del Ray (2419 Mount Vernon Avenue) will conduct a bingo night from 7 to 9 p.m., with proceeds from $10 tickets benefiting Volunteer Alexandria.

“Come out for a fun night of BINGO and beer from Two Roads Brewing,” Piece Out Del Ray posted. “$5 drafts, food specials, beer swag and fun prizes. We will play 8 rounds of Bingo, so you have plenty of chances to win… Doors open at 5, and the first ball drops at 7.”

fibre space (1319 Prince Street) is extending its sample sale through Wednesday, and all proceeds will benefit Friends of Guest House, a nonprofit that helps women reenter society after prison.

“We do this once a year and it’s become a big hit since people always want to buy our shop samples and they aren’t usually for sale,” owner Danielle Romanetti told ALXnow.

Homegrown Restaurant Group has participated in the fundraiser since it began 13 years ago. Its six Alexandria restaurants will donate 10% of all sales to a number of charities and nonprofits.

“The HomeGrown Restaurant Group has been supporting ACT for Alexandria since the first year when John Porter strong-armed us into participating,” HRG co-owner “Mango” Mike Anderson told ALXnow. “Which has been the right move for us in supporting Alexandria. We encourage all Alexandrians to get on board this year and let’s make it a record year for ACT for Alexandria.”

HRG will donate 10% to from these locations to the following organizations:

Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap (401 E. Braddock Road) is also donating 15% of its proceeds Wednesday to AWLA.

Last year, ACT for Alexandria raised $2.65 million from 7,700 donors for 172 nonprofits. The top recipients last year were RunningBrooke, which took in $157,000 from 197 donors, Casa Chirilagua with $114,000 from 313 donors and Friends of Guest House with $112,000 from 180 donors.

Spring2ACTion officially starts at midnight on Wednesday (April 26).

2 Comments

With $2.5 million goal, early giving for Alexandria’s Spring2ACTion fundraiser starts today

The biggest single-day fundraiser for Alexandria nonprofits  is around the corner, and early giving starts today.

ACT for Alexandria’s annual Spring2ACTion fundraiser is on April 26, and this year’s goal is to raise $2.5 million from 10,000 donors.

“I know our community will once again rise to the challenge to make sure all of our neighbors thrive,” said Heather Peeler, president and CEO of ACT for Alexandria (ACT). “Spring2ACTion is an opportunity for all Alexandrians to come together and support the nonprofits that are essential to our city.”

Nearly $19 million has been raised since the fundraiser was launched 13 years ago. There are 185 nonprofits participating this year, an increase of 13 organizations.

“We anticipate another incredible year where generous Alexandrians will come together and support the organizations that serve our community in the best of times and during challenging times,” Peeler said.

A number of nonprofits and residents are still struggling to recover from the pandemic, according to ACT for Alexandria.

Donors can also give to the Alexandria Resilience Fund, which helps families facing financial difficulties from the pandemic. Since the beginning of the year, there have been 467 households that have received a writ of eviction — a 372% increase compared to 2022.

“Now that eviction moratoriums and state rent relief programs have ended, low-income families have few options for managing the region’s high cost of living,” ACT for Alexandria said in a release.

Last year, ACT for Alexandria raised $2.65 million from 7,700 donors for 172 nonprofits. The top recipients last year were RunningBrooke, which took in $157,000 from 197 donors, Casa Chirilagua with $114,000 from 313 donors and Friends of Guest House with $112,000 from 180 donors.

Via Running Brooke/Facebook

0 Comments

ACT for Alexandria asking donors to establish their ‘legacy’ in new fundraising campaign

Got space in your will for an Alexandria nonprofit?

ACT for Alexandria and Senior Services of Alexandria just launched Think Ahead Alexandria, the city’s new legacy giving campaign.

“Legacy giving, sometimes referred to as planned giving, legacy planning, or estate giving, is a donation made by an individual through a will or other formal designation​ and provides a way for donors to make a substantial gift because it leverages their net wealth through their estate,” ACT for Alexandria said in a statement. “While these gifts are often realized in the future (typically upon someone’s death), legacy gifts can involve a range of complex structures, from bequests, to endowments, to trusts and annuities​.”

ACT for Alexandria raises millions for nonprofits every year in its Spring2ACTion fundraiser.

“It’s an extremely important part of modern philanthropy and helps create a strong foundation for nonprofits as they look to tomorrow,” ACT CEO Heather Peeler said. “With so much passion for philanthropy here in the city, we have an incredible opportunity to make sure that both donors and nonprofits in Alexandria are connected through legacy giving, focusing on what they’re passionate about, and making sure that their support is set from today to far into the future.”

2 Comments

City and ACT for Alexandria partnering for after school needs study

The City of Alexandria is planning to work with a local non-profit to quantify the demand for after-school activities.

At an upcoming City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 28, the Council is docketed to consider a $60,000 transfer to local non-profit ACT for Alexandria.

According to the docket, the funding is part of an effort to “explore how to expand academic, social, and emotional services and physical supports to all youth during the out-of-school time hours.”

The new study would examine the levels of demand for after-school programming around Alexandria, including a look at where programs are or aren’t available or being utilized.

“The scope of work includes a survey to all Alexandria City Public School (ACPS) parents to determine where children are currently going after the school day ends, the frequency of after school support needed, and the type of support needed,” the memo said. “It also includes follow up focus groups in areas of the city with lower utilization rates of after school programs to better understand barriers, including cost and cultural understanding around childcare.”

The study is itself a follow-up on work the group did to survey after-school providers and needs specifically for middle school students. If the funding for the new report goes through, the memo said staff will return with more data on where the city should direct the rest of the $340,000 set aside to support local youth and families.

0 Comments

Spring2ACTion fundraiser raises $2.5 million for Alexandria charities and nonprofits

ACT for Alexandria raised $2.5 million for 172 local nonprofits in its 12th annual Spring2ACTion fundraiser on Wednesday (April 27). The fundraiser is the largest single day of giving in Alexandria, and came just short of matching the amount raised last year, ACT CEO Heather Peeler told ALXnow.

“I’m almost speechless in terms of thinking about how to describe just the care and love that people show for our community,” Peeler said shortly after midnight. “This is really about the entire community coming together. It’s about the nonprofits that are doing incredible work that people want to support, the donors who are feeling really generous and the local businesses who see giving back as core to their business. It’s really an all-hands-on-deck effort from across the city.”

The final numbers keep changing, as stragglers will be allowed to donate on the Spring2ACTion website until Sunday, May 1.

The top three recipients were the same as last year: RunningBrooke took in $157,000 from 197 donors, followed by Casa Chirilagua with $114,000 from 313 donors and Friends of Guest House with $112,000 from 180 donors.

Spring2ACTion has raised nearly $19 million over the last 12 years, and awarded $28,000 in prizes to the organizations with the most donors.

The Del Ray Business Association also raised the most of the five competing business associations, raising $20,525 from 90 donors, and final tallies are still be made for participating businesses that contributed 10% of proceeds toward Spring2ACTion.

Spring2ACTion Top 10:

 

 

2 Comment

Spring2ACTion aims for $2.5 million single-day fundraising goal for Alexandria charities and nonprofits

Spring2ACTion has broken Alexandria’s single-day fundraising record two years in a row, but can ACT for Alexandria do it again?

The nonprofit wants to raise $2.5 million from 10,000 donors for 171 Alexandria nonprofits and charities — essentially matching the amount raised last year.

While the pandemic might be winding down, the need is greater than ever, told ALXnow.

“There are still so many families struggling to meet their basic needs, whether it’s paying rent, having food or accessing childcare,” Peeler said. “These are all still critical day-to-day needs for our neighbors and Alexandria, and the work that Alexandria nonprofits are doing is as essential now as it was during the height of Covid.”

Giving is set to begin at midnight (Wednesday, April 27) and last for 24 hours.

Last year, the Del Ray Business Association beat the Old Town Business Association, raising $18,466 to Old Town’s $16,272. This year, Peeler and her staff have expanded outreach to the city’s five business associations, which have competed against each other all month by donating portions of sales toward the cause.

The Del Ray Business Association will also hold spontaneous raffles all day Wednesday at Piece Out Del Ray, Taquera Pablano, Pork Barrel BBQ, Holy Cow and The Tiki Bar.

“The outpouring of support from Alexandria’s small business community has been unprecedented,” Peeler said. “They’ve been phenomenal.”

There are also 15 more nonprofits participating this year, Peeler said.

“If there’s a cause you’re interested in, chances are there’s not just one but probably a couple of nonprofits working on that cause,” she said.

The top three recipients last year were RunningBrooke with $165,053.60, followed by Casa Chirilagua with $106,247.34 and Friends of Guest House with $100,715. RunningBrooke and Casa Chirilagua have been in the top three of the leaderboard for two years in a row.

Spring2ACTion has raised $15 million for local nonprofits and charities since its founding 12 years ago. Donations can be as little as $5, are tax deductible and irrevocable.

Via Running Brooke/Facebook

0 Comments

Nonprofits partner with health department and ACT for Alexandria for vaccine information campaign

A number of local nonprofits are rolling up their sleeves to increase outreach for COVID-19 vaccines for children with families ages 5-11.

The “Sleeves Up, ALX: COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership Program” is a collaboration between ACT for Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department, which dispersed $145,657 in grant funding to increase awareness of booster shots with populations disproportionately affected by the virus and provide information for young families.

“These organizations bring that critical message to our underserved communities by meeting people where they are and in the language they prefer,” said Natalie Talis, AHD’s population health manager. “Our residents deserve access to life-saving information and vaccines.”

The following nonprofits received grant funds:

“These organizations have the trusted relationships, innovative ideas and know how that will enable us to reach neighbors who are most at-risk,” said ACT’s President and CEO Heather Peeler.

The program started last month and will run until March 2022.

0 Comments
View More Stories
×

Subscribe to our mailing list