Volunteers are the Heart of Alexandria Awardees

Arianna has participated in 2–3-hour training sessions before co-leading a cleanup event in northern Virginia. Since she became a member of Potomac Conservancy volunteer leadership team, Arianna have recruited other young leaders and co-hosts community-based trash cleanup event with NPS and Potomac Conservancy's assistance. She leads community cleanup events, hosts events, and engages her classmates into a trash cleanup event during events like earth day and world water day event.Arianna has gone from a very shy and uncertain to now leading her community confidently without a need of assistance from other leaders. Her leadership skills have accelerated, and she understands the importance of community-based leadership.

Dante Freeland volunteers with the Dunbar Alexandria Olympic Boys & Girls Club. Dante spends his time on STEM for the Club and is planning to combine health and technology by implementing digital soil meters, cameras and an irrigation system to the garden. He plans to create a health/harden corner inside the Club which will consist of a tv monitor and IPad that will have 24/7 monitoring of the garden and allow for students to understand why gardening and good health are important. This will increase learning and engagement while our members are in the garden and when they return into the building. He teaches them how to be able to feed themselves and others. Dante selfless teaching the club’s members about gardening and STEM using his own resources. All of the members are excited about what the learn and are capable of doing.

Anthony (Tony) Norwood has taken on a leadership role at ALIVE! Del Ray Food Hub and regularly comes during high volume client shifts. These food hubs operate like mini-grocery stores for people in Alexandria who need food assistance. He helps restock the shelves, refrigerators, and freezer when the ALIVE! truck resupplies the Food Hub. He also assists clients one on one in selecting the essential food that they need for their families. Visits to the food hub are limited to once a month but Tony makes strong connections and returning clients often ask for him by name. Tony has volunteers 122 hours in 2024 and has been with ALIVE for 1 year and 6 months. He also serves on the Board of the Friends of Duncan Library.

Anthony is very well known in the community, and Food Hub staff and co-volunteers have reported that it is Tony they ask for when they come in, because he is there to greet them with a smile. This is very important because the hub is a place where people can feel safe and welcome and Tony always shows his welcoming spirit. On average, the Del Ray food hub serves roughly 700 households each month, and during peak hours of operation volunteers like Tony are vital to ensuring our clients get the essential food and services they need in a welcoming environment. Tony is a deep listener and problem solver. He heard that a client couldn't select canned items because she did not have a can opener. Tony took initiative and brought can openers to help this woman and communicated this need to staff to help others who might be in the same situation.

Antione Barksdale, Heads Up Barber Shop has given young boys and even dads hair cuts for those who can't afford hair cuts or trims once a month. He also mentors every young man that comes in for hair cuts. The Boys & Girls Club is to help boys and girls of all backgrounds, especially those who need us most, build confidence, develop character and acquire the skills needed to become productive, civic-minded and responsible adults. Antoine engages his business and provides in-kind services to help young boys. By doing so, he supports the mission of the club.Antoine himself donates 15-20 a month.

Betsy Stires assists the staff at the Dunbar Boys and Girls Club with programming, engaging members in games, reading or homework, as well as assist their leadership groups by helping with speeches and judging. She advocates for the staff and members when the Club needs maintenance (items not working properly) and she is the voice to communicate to the department heads. Betsy also donates money for special items needed in the Club, she is a designer by trade, and has designed several of their rooms within the Club. Betsy has been with the club for over 6 years. Betsy is a very humble and giving person, she is always available to the Club, through her observance she may just come in to check to make sure that maintenance items has been taken care of, always thinking about our members and and the staff assisting in anyway possible.

Carter Hailey has been with the Boys & Girls Club volunteering her time to help children that need individual attention in reading. She provides resources for the parents whose children need special attention in reading. She comes to the Club five days a week and she spends an hour with each younger age child who has reading needs. She prepares sight words and has them reading on their individual level. What she does is valuable to the parent and mostly the child. Every child she spends time with is now reading on level and loves to read. Carter is also their library person, she devotes countless time in the library organizing the books and chosing books for the kids she works with to read. She has served over 650 hours and has been with the club for more than five years.

Carter has worked with reading, parents and teachers notice the difference and the child is happier for it. She sets them up for success and they love reading. Ms Carter never waivers, she is dependable, faithful and consistent. She is always here reading and practicing sight words with the members who are struggling or not reading at all.

Cathryn Summers volunteers at the West End Food Hub run by ALIVE!. Cathryn has emerged as one of the most dedicated and responsible volunteers who is a part of the Food Hub team. Not only does she help restock the shelves when the ALIVE! truck resupplies the Food Hub, but she works one on one with clients to select the appropriate food items, jumps in to keep our hub clean, and trains new volunteers at each workstation in the hub. She has donated over 270 hours and is one of the most proactive and dedicated volunteers working at the Hub. She’s the first person on the list being called when there’s last minute volunteer cancellation that needs filled and she’s the person most likely to ask, “are you going to be okay or do you want me to stay longer to help?” when her shift is about to end. They see the highest volume of clients ALIVE! West End Hub where each month about 900 households visit to seek support. Cathryn’s consistent presence and commitment to service is an inspiration to everyone who works alongside her and to the hundreds of people she helps.

She is part of the core team of volunteers that work every week to help ALIVE!’s West End Food Hub operate at a high-level during times of stress or increased clients volumes while bringing a joyful kind-hearted attitude.

Celia Grove is the social media guru for the Alexandria Choral Society.  She posts regularly on various platforms to promote upcoming concerts, fundraisers, and other events to patrons, members, and the general public.  She can be seen taking videos while we practice or pulling singers aside to get their opinions, then these show up on Instagram or Facebook or Bluesky.  In addition, she is a member of the board, a member of the ADEI/Scholarship committee, which works to make to the chorale accessible to all talented singers, and the development committee, which works at finding community support for the chorale.

Celia put in about 45 hours since August, when she started. She has taken the agency to a whole new level, increasing membership and volunteer support. Her interested in staying on top of what is current, for example, moving to Bluesky. Celia has brought interest and enthusiasm to a job that is often overlooked but is extremely important.

Cienna Breen is on the board of Alexandria Choral Society.  She sends out a newsletter twice a week to members keeping them up to date with what is happening and how to practice in between weekly rehearsals.  She also sends out a newsletter every week or two to Friends of ACS, letting them know what is happening with the chorus.  When a concert is approaching, she contacts the local media, such the Zebra, Patch, the community calendar, etc., to have the concert information listed.  Each week, she is also the person responsible for setting up streaming the rehearsal on Zoom for people who have to stay home.  Finally, as a member of the board, she is on two committees, the ADEI/scholarship committee, which works to make membership in the choir available to every talented singer, regardless of background, and the Sing-Off committee, which awards a grant to one middle school or high school choir each year.  In the past, Cienna has been President and a member of the Grants committee. She has been with the Sociey for over 10 years. She does many things, some very specialized, to help keep ACS going, and she has been doing this for a long time.

Don MacDonald volunteers for ALIVE!’s last Saturday of each month, food distribution. Roughly 100 volunteers are involved in distributing fresh bread, eggs, frozen meat, produce, and shelf stable groceries to residents in these early morning events and Don plays two critical leadership roles in the operation of these events. Each month, Don arrives at the warehouse at 6:30am on Saturday morning to drive the truck to collect and transport thousands of pounds of food to the grocery distribution sites. This is the critical logistical role that allows all the event’s activity to happen. Don works with volunteers to unload the truck and provides instructions to the volunteers working with him at one of the food stations where food is later distributed to clients.

Don is also one of the most dedicated drivers of delivery trucks. He regularly transports food in a 16-foot truck to distribution sites and often volunteers to drive one of the large trucks collecting and delivering furniture donations on Saturdays. Don is also a member of ALIVE! Food Program Committee. He plays a significant role in helping at our Last Saturday Distribution as “Captain Cold” to help train new volunteers distributing groceries each month.

Elizabeth Mc Burney volunteers with the English Empowerment Center. Her unwavering commitment to adult education and literacy has transformed countless lives. Her first placement was at the Arlington County Detention Center, where she took on the challenge of teaching literacy-level inmates. Her dedication and compassion were evident from the start as she tailored her teaching to meet the unique needs of her students. Over time, her focus evolved from basic adult literacy to teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), where she continues to make a profound impact today.  In the past few years, she has taken on the role of lead teacher at multiple class sites, including Rising Hope Mission Church in Alexandria. As an ESOL teacher, she dedicates many hours each week to lesson-planning and delivering high-quality, engaging instruction. Her classrooms are more than just learning spaces; they are vibrant communities of support and encouragement. Her warm and welcoming presence helps immigrants and refugees feel valued and inspired as they work to learn English, support their families, and integrate into American culture. Her efforts have been essential in providing ESOL classes to marginalized communities in Alexandria. 

One of the most remarkable aspects of Elizabeth’s teaching is her focus on building confidence and fostering a sense of community among her students. She understands that learning a new language is not just about mastering vocabulary and grammar – it’s about empowering individuals to reach their potential. She finds immense satisfaction in witnessing her students’ transformation as their sense of self-worth rises alongside their reading skills. A student wrote the following about Teacher Elizabeth: “I like that my teacher is dynamic and understandable and very creative. I like her way of teaching….I felt confused and scared but then I decided to go to school [at EEC]. In class I have learned to practice speaking more, vocabulary and listening. In the future, I want to get a house and get a good job to pay for it.”

Elizabeth’s exceptional commitment, leadership, and long-standing service in advancing ESOL education have made a profound and lasting impact on both the English Empowerment Center, the Alexandria community and most importantly, Alexandria learners in need. She has been with the agency since 1998.

Iris Garay dedicated over 30 hours of direct support for the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington’s (POB) community eye clinics in Alexandria, and countless hours of indirect support in planning, outreach, and bridge building for our team. Each year, POB impacts more than 13,000 community members through our evidence-based programs for children, adults, and people with vision impairment.

At the community clinics, she is the first point of contact for clients, handling our client intake. She makes clients feel comfortable and prepared for their eye exams.

Iris has gone above and beyond in her service, frequently stepping in at the last minute when the agency faced unexpected cancellations. Her willingness to help on short notice is a testament to her dedication and reliability. Without hesitation, she has ensured that the clinics run smoothly, allowing them to continue delivering vital vision screenings and care to those who need it most.

At the clinics, Iris eases tensions between immigrant clients and local Police to ensure the safety of clients was not in jeopardy.

Iris never comes alone and always brings members of her family or her team to volunteer with her. She has an incredible passion for volunteerism and instills it in everyone around her. Her unwavering dedication, stepping in on short notice to support community clinics, bringing warmth and kindness to underserved clients, and consistently recruiting additional volunteers to enhance impact are outstanding.

Julie Chapman volunteers at the Dunbar Alexandria Olympic Boys & Girl Club helping boys and girls of all backgrounds build confidence, develop character and acquire the skills needed to become productive, civic-minded, responsible adults. Ms Julie has been with the organization for 2 years as the Arts & Crafts Volunteer. She comes to the Club every Tuesday and takes the 7 & 8 year olds for arts & crafts. Julie donated materials and funds for te activities. She enables the youth to grow their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts & crafts. Her loving disposition, she genuinely loves the children in those four age groups. Ms. Julie recruited other volunteer groups to renovate the arts and crafts room. She is Authentic, devoted and loving.

Jutta Shoots is one of the cat scholar volunteers at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.  Jutta works with cats new to a shelter environment or has very little socialization experience. She spends one day a week to work with dogs and better her experience with them in order to share behavioral updates with staff that can be shared with potential adopters.  Jutta helps mentor new volunteers as they progress through the onboarding process.  She occasionally fosters young teenage kittens to help with their socialization skills. This time away helps create a less stressful environment for them and allows them to progress faster before they are made available for adoption. There are times when the agency is desperate for cat fosters due to limited space, and Jutta is always ready to help.

Jutta is a bright star within this organization and does many things to help this organization to be better, not only for the animals but for staff and volunteers as well. She is very vocal about how much she appreciates us, and her willingness to treat AWLA as if it were her job speaks for itself. In a space that's already high in stress, she makes this place enjoyable for everyone.

Kathie Fricke donated her time with At Home Alexandria (AHA) and is the kind of volunteer who steps in wherever she’s needed and gives 110 percent. Kathie drives AHA members to appointments and to yoga class, she has provided friendly visits and emotional support, and she served as a Board member and volunteer treasurer. Going forward she will provide needed support in the office, taking calls from members requesting services.

Kathie provided excellent leadership to our organization when she served as Board Treasurer for four years. She was key in transition to a new accounting system, the selection of a professional bookkeeping service and the selection of a firm to do financial audits. She has always been a calming and level-headed presence–and her attention to detail has served us well in countless ways.  As a volunteer driver, Kathie has provided two of our high-need members (both of whom have mobility issues) regular transportation to important health appointments. These rides with Kathie provide a key opportunity each week for these socially isolated older adults to have social interactions, which are very important to social-emotional wellbeing. Kathie has led social events and has made herself available to AHA in so many ways.

Kathie is kind, compassionate, and dedicated. She always has a positive attitude and approaches volunteering with a deep joy. Her technical expertise as Board Treasurer was truly invaluable and her ability to connect with anyone she meets puts members at ease. Kathie is herself an older adult and continues to volunteer with great passion and energy.

Kathie’s commitment to helping older adults over a span of many years in whichever way she’s most needed has been a true gift to the organization and those they serve. 

Laura Funes Quinones volunteers with Alexandria City Public School’s Youth in Progress (YIP) program. Laura has made a profound impact on the lives of the young men in YIP, helping them navigate academic challenges, personal growth, and community engagement. She has been instrumental in the success of YIP, particularly in coordinating and leading the tutoring program. She ensures that students receive the academic support they need, fostering an environment where they feel encouraged and motivated to succeed. Her leadership in this initiative has helped students not only improve academically but also build confidence in their abilities. Laura provides mentorship and emotional support, creating a safe and nurturing space for students to share their struggles and aspirations. She actively seeks innovative strategies and best practices to enhance the program’s impact, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and growth.  She built strong relationships with students, families, and community members to ensure holistic support for YIP participants. Her ability to connect with students on a personal level and advocate for their needs has made her an indispensable part of the program.  

In every aspect of her work, Ms. Laura embodies the spirit of grassroots volunteerism—giving selflessly, leading with compassion, and making a lasting difference in the lives of young people. Her dedication to the mission of Youth in Progress is truly inspiring, and I wholeheartedly believe she is a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.

Laurie Fink is a CASA for the Alexandria/Arlington CASA program. As a CASA, Laurie advocates for the best interest of children involved in the Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court process. Laurie’s responsibilities are to monitor and observe whether the child’s essential needs are being met and whether the Court’s orders are being followed;  Maintain complete written records about the case, interviews, and information;  Interview all parties involved in the case; Determine if a permanency plan has been created for the child and if the family and child have received appropriate services;  Advocate for the child’s best interests and present a written report with recommendation to the Court as to what decision is best for the child;  Attend all court hearings;  Monitor the case for court order compliance;  Participate in planning and treatment team meetings in order to keep informed of the child’s permanency plan;  Remain actively involved in the case until formally relieved of responsibility by the Court; and  report any incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to the CASA Program staff and appropriate authorities as required by law. Laurie donated 290 hours in 2024 and has been a CASA for the past 5.5 years.

Laurie has dedicated her time and efforts to supporting a diverse group of 10 children and 6 families. She approaches each case with enthusiasm and a deep commitment to making a positive impact. Laurie's ability to build strong, trusting relationships with both the children and their families enables her to gather crucial information quickly and effectively. By immersing herself in their lives and demonstrating genuine care and empathy, Laurie creates a safe environment where children feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. This connection not only facilitates open communication but also empowers families to engage in the process, fostering a collaborative atmosphere aimed at achieving the best outcomes for the children involved.

Laurie is the kind of volunteer that every child deserves.

Madelyn Giblin volunteers for ALIVE! at one of the monthly food distribution sites, Ramsay Recreation Center, one of the most important distribution sites. Madelyn plays a leadership role and is likely the first person you’ll see if you are volunteering or seeking food assistance on the last Saturday of the month. She helps to orient new volunteers, coordinates set up, assists community partners offering support services, and ensures that clients have a welcoming experience while they collect essential grocery items. Working with the Community in Schools Initiative at Francis Hammond Middle School Madelyn has been a key part of the team providing additional food at the monthly distribution. Madelyn started five years ago and became a member of the ALIVE! Food Program Committee in 2022.

The position of “Welcome Captain” held by Madelyn is important for Last Saturday because it’s critical to ensuring what we do to help is done so in a way that encourages trust, validity and dignity for clients and volunteers alike—her attitude is the difference many need just to feel safe walking through our doors.

Mary Katherine Hawryluk volunteers for Casa Chirilagua, a faith based nonprofit that provides after school programs for students in 1st-12th grade. Mary Katherine donates her time to the Kids Club program and is an amazing volunteer who is very intentional in her volunteering. She uses her experience and background in educations to further help students with their homework & reading.

Mary Katherine is a very engaging volunteer not only engaging with the students but with staff as well. She is extremely kind, caring, and respectful. She is always willing to help out however she can.

She uses her education knowledge to help students read, shares specific games or ideas that she believes could be effective for students, as well as helps clean up after programs. She is such a wonderful person inside and out! Always arrives to Casa Chirilagua with a positive attitude and ready to volunteer!

Mike Hart volunteers for ALIVE! ‘s Family Assistance Program. In order for this program to operate it requires the dedication of dozens of volunteers each month. Mike plays a vital role in this program packing groceries for home delivery, recording data about the referrals so that ALIVE! can better source food, and unloading food donation deliveries in their Warehouse. This program provides financial assistance to people in need and the data entry Mike does helps track funds and ensure people get what they need on-time.

Mike works two days a week with the Family Assistance Program in a leadership role and has donated more than 260 hours. This program delivered essential groceries to 155 homebound clients last year. These are households that have been referred to ALIVE! because they are not able to visit the Food Hubs or our other grocery distribution events often because of a limiting factor such as disability. Mike takes the time to ensure food is properly packed according to client dietary needs and also spends time managing our data collection to ensure we report back to funders about our food distribution. Without his help, ALIVE! would need additional staff or volunteers to do what he does. He is extremely efficient and willing to take on any type of task.

Mike brings a joyful attitude to everything he does. From unloading a truck filled with donated food from a local grocery store, to distributing frozen turkeys in the rain to volunteer delivery drivers, to packing hundreds of pounds of essential groceries each month for home deliveries, to working with ALIVE! client database to ensure all the financial assistance or grocery requests are logged accurately. He has a great sense of humor and a friendly welcoming attitude.

Nina Lawrence is one of the Center for Alexandria's Children’s Learn&PlayGroupTM volunteer assistants, helping with set up, conduct and clean up after playgroups. She plays an important role of modeling appropriate engagement with the child as she helps show the parent how to play with their child. Nina is ready to go and engages with the children.  Nina jumps in when needed and her familiarity with the playgroup program and methodical attention to detail has truly eased the burden of running the playgroup.  She knows how activities need to be set up and when/how materials need to be replenished.  The parents and children look forward to seeing her as well and children who shy away from other adults, gravitate to her. The fact that the agency can count on Nina is truly wonderful.

In a situation when others would have stopped their volunteer activity, they have been able to count on Nina to be there, to be engaged and to be part of our team.

Noreen Veltan is one of the vital volunteers for the Domestic Violence Program (DVP), a program that provides free services to battered women and their children and operates the Alexandria Battered Women's Shelter. The shelter offers emergency housing, food and counseling in a comfortable house at a confidential location. Volunteers are a vital part of the Domestic Violence Program. After comprehensive training, volunteers in the shelter provide support and referrals to clients and answer the domestic violence hotline. Volunteers answer the hotlines on-site, weekend evenings, overnights, and holidays.

After comprehensive training, volunteers in the shelter provide support and referrals to clients and answer the domestic violence hotline. Volunteers answer the hotlines on-site, weekend evenings, overnights, and holidays. Noreen has volunteered over 360 and works for overnight shift 10pm-7am weekend, holiday and sometimes during the week.  This is shift that is not easy to find volunteer for but she does more then the required 2 shift per month. Working in a safehouse Noreen is good with the clients, willing to have conversations and engage them. She is a dedicated and committed volunteer.

Patrick (Ron) Edwards has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to volunteer service through his role as Chair of the Alexandria Commission on Employment (ACE) for over six years. In this capacity, he has played a critical role in shaping workforce development initiatives that support Alexandria’s most vulnerable residents.

The commission connects employment and training programs within the city school system to those led by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce and collaborates with the city council to develop strategies that strengthen workforce opportunities. This work is critical, as it ensures that Alexandria has a skilled and prepared workforce for in-demand jobs while also expanding access to living-wage careers with sustainable pathways. During these challenging economic times, this mission is more important than ever.  Ron has been a fierce advocate for the programs, leading the commission in its support of Alexandria’s most vulnerable residents. He has played a key role in advocating for an increased minimum wage in Virginia and was instrumental in securing additional funding for the City's Summer Youth Employment Program, which allowed us to serve more youth last year through a one-time funding opportunity. Additionally, Ron regularly engages with key decision-makers in the city, tirelessly advocating for and amplifying the important work we do at WDC.

Ron qualifies for this award because of his unwavering dedication, hands-on support, and advocacy for workforce development, including his leadership on the Alexandria Commission on Employment, efforts to secure funding for youth programs, and invaluable expertise in statistical analysis to strengthen program impact.

Paul Boroughs is the head chef of a weekly breakfast served through the Old Town Community Church - Open Table Breakfast. Brekfast is served for anyone in the community who is hungry. Paul arrives first, around 4:30 a.m., every single Wednesday and starts cooking to feed 60+ people in the 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. window. Paul gets out of the kitchen and connects with guests, knowing many by name and remembering their birthdays. He has done this for the past eight years, and always makes the breakfast communal rather than transactional. While cooking he simultaneously greets guests coming into the building who pass the kitchen. His enthusiasm attracts other volunteers to the effort.

In addition to handling cooking, Paul works to pursue grants to fund the purchasing of food. Paul sets a tone between volunteers and guests of equality. The breakfast is less church volunteers serving people in need of food and more so like a family meal, thanks in large part to Paul's care for the community.

Paul has consistently, week in and week out for eight years and counting, given his time to cook breakfast for people in the community who need food while also making a genuine effort to know people's names and backgrounds to ensure people are aware of their worth as they come to our space.

Rafael Hernandez Dubon volunteers for Casa Chirilagua, a faith based nonprofit that provides after school programs for students in 1st-12th grade, Kids Club, an after-school program that provides 1st-5th graders with homework and reading assistance. Rafael continuously supports the Friday programming and helps families by listening to their stories and writing about them in his PhD Studies so their voices are heard. He is very active, and all of the kids are very excited to see him each week.