ACT for Alexandria did it again.
Wednesday’s Spring2ACTion fundraiser — the largest single day of giving in Alexandria — broke the record set two years ago by collecting $2.9 million for 182 local nonprofits. The 13th annual event received more than 7,700 individual donations and ACT for Alexandria exceeded its goal of $2.5 million.
“Alexandria is an incredibly generous community,” ACT for Alexandria CEO Heather Peeler told ALXnow shortly after midnight. “People really want to give back and see our community thrive.”
The final tally keeps changing, as stragglers are allowed to donate on the Spring2ACTion website until Sunday, April 30.
Spring2ACTion is the main annual fundraiser for most of the participating nonprofits. The top three recipients are Move2Learn with $170,400, Casa Chirilagua with $167,994 and Carpenter’s Shelter with $91,938.
“They’re not doing the galas or the big events,” she said. “They’re using Spring2ACTion as a way to promote their organization, connect with donors, connect with local businesses, and raise critical funds.”
Peeler said that 75 Alexandria businesses also donated a portion of their proceeds toward the effort.
“It shows that Alexandra’s business community is is very connected to and supportive of the nonprofit community,” she said.
Peeler said that her staff of six employees are tired.
“We’re a little tired, to be honest, but we are super excited,” she said. “We have a tremendous sense of responsibility, because so many nonprofits really depend on Spring2ACTion for those donations to support their work. It doesn’t happen overnight, even though it seems it all happens on one day. It’s many months of preparation in terms of connecting with potential donors, and providing training and opportunities for nonprofits to learn what they can do to have the best Spring2ACTion possible.”
Spring2ACTion has raised more than $20 million over the last 13 years.
Spring2ACTion Top 10:
- Move2Learn | Powered by Runningbrooke raised $170,400 from 174 donors
- Casa Chirilagua raised $167,994.79 from 327 donors
- Carpenter’s Shelter raised $91,938.53 from 289 donors
- Art League raised $83,214.50 from 205 donors
- The Alexandria Harmonizers raised $77,674 from 319 donors
- ALIVE! raised $74,756 from 423 donors
- Alexandria Tutoring Consortium raised $72,952 from 206 donors
- Alexandria Seaport Foundation raised $66,602 from 101 donors
- Friends of Guest House raised $62,833 from 141 donors
- Together We Bake raised $62,683 from 138 donors
Thank you for supporting #Spring2ACTion! We've raised over $2.8 million for Alexandria's nonprofits! pic.twitter.com/v9FecwydDU
— ACT for Alexandria (@ACTforAlex) April 27, 2023
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! For your amazing support of our ACPS students this Spring2ACTion! We're honored and grateful so many in our community chose to give to Move2Learn to bring movement to classrooms to help kids feel and learn their best. You're the best!💗 pic.twitter.com/tcJNbSp2Xq
— Move2Learn (@move2learnkids) April 27, 2023
I just donated to a list of Alexandria non-profits who are addressing critical needs in our City.
Join me in contributing to your favorites today as part of #Spring2ACTion !https://t.co/CZZlDEUERM
— Justin Wilson (@justindotnet) April 26, 2023
Image via Running Brooke/Facebook
After two years in limbo, the Alexandria Seaport Foundation’s request to open a second floating Seaport Center on the waterfront is going back to City Council for approval next week.
The project was supposed to go to the Planning Commission in April 2020, but got sidelined by the pandemic. On Tuesday, March 8, Council will vote on the second center, which would be adjacent to its current location — the 1,200-square-foot McIlhenny Seaport Center at 0 Thompsons Alley.
Since 1992, the Seaport Foundation has trained hundreds of 16-to-22-year-old at-risk youngsters to become experienced woodworkers, boat builders and carpenters. The expansion would double the number of apprentices, from 15 to 30, and make up for losing its second location with the sale of Robinson Terminal South nearly a decade ago. Apprentices also have to earn their high school equivalency and take outside coursework. They’re paid between $8-$12 an hour for working Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The plan for the 1,740 square-foot facility has also gotten the endorsement of the Waterfront Commission.
“The Commission recognizes the significant contribution the Seaport Foundation provides to the community,” the Commission wrote in a letter of support to Council. “The addition of a second educational seaport center will provide the needed space to meet the increased demand to serve the City’s most vulnerable youth.”
These winter mornings on the waterfront might be freezing, but at least Kaleb doesn’t have far to go. The 22-year-old wakes up early in his basement apartment in Old Town, throws on his green Alexandria Seaport Foundation uniform, runs down to the waterfront and clocks in every day at 8 a.m.
“It’s hard to grasp for me, but I’ve changed my life around. I don’t do anything now,” Kaleb told ALXnow. “I just be chillin’.”
It wasn’t that long ago that things couldn’t get any worse. When he was 19, Kaleb had already been kicked out of two high schools and even his own house. He recalls spending part of that first homeless night on the curb in the rain outside of a Fredericksburg church until someone called the police on him. The church ended up getting him a hotel room for a couple of nights, and then he spent the next two years moving from shelter to shelter and couch surfing with old high school friends.
A little more than a year ago, Kaleb joined the Seaport Foundation as an apprentice and things slowly started to look up.
“I’ve grown as a person because I feel like I’m not as angry,” Kaleb said. “Angry in general, just because of life, just stuff that’s happened. So, it’s just like learning to let things go and just let things be.”
Since 1992, the Seaport Foundation has trained hundreds of 16-to-22-year-old at-risk youngsters to become experienced woodworkers, boat builders and carpenters. Kaleb, who likes to make music on his computer with his co-workers after hours, became part of a team of a dozen apprentices who spend up to two years learning carpentry and woodworking, personal finance and budgeting, resume writing and interviewing, and other life skills.
Apprentices also have to earn their high school equivalency and take outside coursework. They’re paid between $8-$12 an hour for working Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Last month, the foundation filed a special use permit with the city to build a second facility that would allow for more staff to work on-site. It would also double the number of apprenticeships. The foundation currently operates in the 1,200-square-foot McIlhenny Seaport Center (0 Thompson’s Alley), and was dealt a blow seven years ago when it lost its second location with the sale of Robinson Terminal South.
The city is looking at waterfront locations for the new, 1,740 square-foot facility, and a public hearing is expected before the Planning Commission in April.
“We’re doing this so that we can serve more kids and also have our whole staff on site,” said Seaport Foundation Executive Director Kathy Seifert. “I think it’s important to have all the staff, all the volunteers and everybody together.”
Former School Board member Helen Morris has been chair of the Seaport Foundation board for the last two years.
“Seaport can be a home, and can be that cocoon where kids can find out who they are and can have people who really believe in them. With every single one, somehow the system failed them,” Morris said. “The new location, it’s a beautiful kind of replica of what we already have… It has a big vaulted ceiling so that we will be able to do larger projects.”
New Environmental Academy in Alexandria — “‘It’s that time of year again – Academy Time and there is a brand new Academy this Spring, the Eco-City Academy (promoting sustainability in the City), bringing the total to seven academies,’ exclaims Elaine Scott, Senior Community Liaison in the City’s Office of Communications and Public Relations.” [Zebra]
Seaport Foundation Looking to Expand — “The small, timber-frame building along Alexandria’s waterfront is noticeable — and it may be joined by another building as the Alexandria Seaport Foundation looks at expanding its space and services…Â The foundation wants to build a second waterfront building on the north side of the pier near their current location, allowing it to serve more youth and have space for larger projects.” [Alexandria Living]
Community Fire Academy Applications Open — “Apply to participate in our Spring 2020 Community Fire Academy program and get an inside look at how your fire department operates. Applications are now open through Friday, Jan. 31.” [City of Alexandria, Twitter]
Port City Hiring Local Sales Rep — “This is a unique opportunity to work for a dynamic, entrepreneurial company to maintain and expand our market presence to more locations in Northern Virginia. The Northern Virginia Territory Manager is responsible for sales of Port City Brewing Company’s products in Northern Virginia for on/off premise accounts. We have over 1000 existing accounts in the Northern Virginia area and with your help, will see this number grow exponentially.” [Brewbound]
A festival celebrating Alexandria’s maritime history is planned for this Saturday (Oct. 12) at Waterfront Park (1 King Street).
The Portside in Old Town Fall Festival, hosted by Visit Alexandria, is scheduled to run from 1-7 p.m., rain or shine. The event is free to attend and has a variety of maritime activities, live music and more lined up.
One of the main features of the event are boats crafted by the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, a local organization that teaches shipbuilding and mentors people between the ages of 16-22
There are a few educational opportunities as well, with the Office of Historic Alexandria offering lessons about the waterfront’s history and the ships discovered there.
A team from the tall ship Providence, a reproduction of nautical legend John Paul Jones’ first American command, will also be on hand to teach knot tying ahead of the ship becomes a permanent feature of the waterfront this fall.
A few activities at the festival require a fee to participate, with proceeds going to the Alexandria Seaport Foundation. Paid activities include an “Anything that Floats Race” — where participants test their engineering skills as they try to design seaworthy contraptions and put them to the test, and “splash golf” — where players practice their golf swing by hitting biodegradable fish-food golf balls into the Potomac.
There are also a variety of food and drink vendors expected at the event, including:
- Port City Brewing Company
- Riverside Taco Company
- Dolci Gelati
- The Italian Place
- Red Hook Lobster Pound
Photo via Visit Alexandria
