Spring 2008 Neighborhood Newsletter

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Neighborhood Newsletter Spring 2008

Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

5th Annual Casino Night a Fantastic Success!!! by: Jill Shumann, Director of Development, Shelter House, Inc.

Shelter House’s Fifth Annual Casino Night and Silent Auction was held on March 1 at the Grand Atrium in Vienna, VA. Casino Night is our signature fundraising event and was especially important this year because for the first time we were raising funds for both the Patrick Henry Family Shelter as well as the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter in Fairfax. By all accounts the event was a huge success. Here are just a few highlights:

Katherine K. Hanley, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia and Jewell Mikula, Shelter House, Inc. Executive Director enjoying the evening’s festivities. Photo courtesy: Maggie Szymanek, Uncommon Photography

• More than 150 people attended; • About 95 retailers & individuals contributed items for our Silent Auction, Casino Prizes, and Give Aways; • We were honored by the presence of Katherine Hanley herself, as well as Linda Smyth of the Fairfax County Board of All proceeds from the evening will go to ­support Supervisors and Police Chief David Rohrer; Shelter House, Inc.’s direct client services. • The event raised over $65,000 for Shelter House programs Photo courtesy: Maggie Szymanek, Uncommon Photography and services; • For the first time ever, we auctioned off the opportunity to provide SPECIFIC items to our families.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this the best Casino Night in Shelter House history. We could not have done it without our sponsors, community partners, volunteers, board members and staff. Thank you!!!

A Special Thanks to our Sponsors for Making our 5th Annual Casino Night Possible!

Debbie and Steven Cohen

Bob Kelley & April Young Chris and Robin Steis Rabbi Amy and Gary Perlin

Bruce and Jane Ryan Donna Fleming Family Priority, LLC Cheryl Taylor

Thomas and Susan Sheridan

Thanks Also to All of the Businesses and Individuals Who Contributed to Our Event! Adventure Wellness Falls Church

Campbell and Ferrara Outdoor Living

Comerica Bank April Young

Friends of the National Zoo

Maggianos Little Italy Restaurant

Annie Cream Cheese Mayda Sakawat Arbonne International

The Capitol Steps Caps Care, The Washington Capitals

Costco - Sterling Crabtree and Evelyn Tysons Corner

GOLFDOM, McLean Great American Restaurants

Marrakesh Restaurant McCormick & Schmick’s Restaurant

Arena Stage Argia’s Restaurant Arrowine, McLean The Artful Quilter Centreville

Champps Americana Rock Cartwright Chiropractic Family Health Center

Curves, McLean Dance Factory Gloria Freund Dahn Yoga, McLean DC United Victor Dooley Eclips Kids Fairfax Chiropractic Center, Fairfax

H.E.L.P. Foundation Hard Times Café Laurel Hausler Helzberg Diamonds Impulsive Gallery Ingleside Vineyards Karin’s Florist Keith Lipert Gallery Lansdowne Resort Luray Caverns Macy’s

McLean Orchestra Metro Run and Walk Mystique Nails and Spa Naked Mountain Vineyard Natalia’s Elegant Creations Pastry Shop

Baltimore Ravens BB&T Terri and Larry Beam Briar Patch Bed and Breakfast Burke Lake Golf Center

Clare and Don’s Beach Shack Restaurant Clay Café Studios Clyde’s Restaurant Group Steve Cohen Collectable Treasures Cards and Gifts

Flemings Prime Steak House and Wine Bar Les Francis Photography

Neiman Marcus Tysons Corner OKYO Salon, Georgetown Old Hickory Golf Club The Palm Restaurant McLean

Pets-n-Plants Paint Your Own Pottery Fairfax City Panera Bread, Centreville Pleasant Valley Golf Club Red Fox Inn Raspberry Falls Golf and Hunt Club Reston Limousine Rosemary’s Thyme Bistro Ruth’s Chris Steak House Salon Michel and Spa South Riding Golf Club Southwest Airlines The Studio Theatre The Schultz Family Shacklee, Sharon Bliss

Elisa Sugden Sweet Christina’s Tate, Bywater and Fuller, Ltd Tiffany and Co. Trader Joe’s, Falls Church The Vineyard, LLC Virginia Gold Cup Association The Washington Redskins The Washington Wizards Wegmans, Fairfax The Well Dressed Home Wildfire, Tysons Corner Wintergreen Resort Washington Wizards Arlene Wusterbach

About Us...

Shelter House Kids at the Theatre! by: Christin Durham, Program Manager, Patrick Henry Family Shelter

Shelter House, Inc. is a community-based 501(c)(3) organization in Fairfax County serving homeless families.

Our Mission Shelter House, Inc. helps break the cycle of homelessness by providing crisis intervention, temporary housing, training, counseling, and programs to promote selfsufficiency.

Our Vision Shelter House, Inc.’s vision is to be the premier organization in eliminating homelessness by empowering families to reach their full potential.

Our History Shelter House was formed in 1981 when several ecumenical groups came together to better serve Fairfax County’s low income population. In 1985, Shelter House’s facility was moved to its first permanent location in Falls Church. In 2007, Shelter House was awarded Fairfax County’s contract to operate the new Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter (KHFS). This shelter is the first in Fairfax County to operate using the “Housing First” model, which emphasizes shorter shelter stays and continued support once families move into permanent housing. Shelter House assumed operations of this new facility in July 2007 and families began moving into the shelter in August. By October 2007, the shelter reached its capacity of 20 families. Across the two shelters and the transitional housing program, Shelter House currently serves about 42 families every day. To find out more about Shelter House, Inc. and Housing First , please visit our website: www.shelterhouse.org

Our Board of Directors Debbie Cohen...................................President Nanci Schimizzi........................Vice President Lou Van Pham..................................Treasurer Alice Tucker......................................Secretary Jeff Scannell.............................Past President Scott Harper

Tonya Cridland

Cheryl Taylor

Robin Steis

Stuart Seidner

Telah Jackson

Anne Stockbridge Deirdre Thao Vo Patricia C. Anderson Neighborhood Newsletter © 2008 Shelter House, Inc.

Photo courtesy: Brett Ashley Crawford, Director of Education Marketing, Imagination Stage

Our Child Services Coordinator, Elisa Sugden, and Program Manager, Christin Durham, recently had the pleasure of accompanying five young residents on our first Kids Theater Trip: a Saturday matinee performance of Lost and Foundling at the Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Maryland. Lost and Foundling is the mythical story of a little girl named Pryce who is discovered in the aisles of a fictional mega-mart and subsequently raised by several employees. Pryce grows up living and working in the mega-mart until she gets old enough to question her identity and purpose. As Pryce sets out on her journey to the lost and found booth, she is waylaid by the Slasher, the Demanding Shopper, and pathological personalities waiting stubbornly in a line that doesn’t move. The play presents a social commentary on growing up and letting go, as well as America’s culture of compulsive bargain shopping. The children, all girls aged 6, 7, or 8, enjoyed the play immensely. Reactions included hysterical laughter, awestruck silence, and spontaneous dancing. Over snacks in the van on the way home, the girls discussed their favorite characters and scenes while frequently asking when the next theater trip would be. One child commented, “This is one of the funnest days of my life.” Imagination Stage is a family arts center whose mission is to nurture young people of all abilities through participation in professional theatre and arts education experiences. The facility offers an exciting, kid-friendly atmosphere with patient, helpful staff that made our girls feel welcome and relaxed. The performance and the venue’s creative atmosphere provided a very special educational and self-esteem boosting experience for these very special kids. Shelter House would like to thank Richard Steacy and everyone else at Imagination Stage for making this memorable event possible. You can find out more about Imagination Stage or purchase tickets on their website:­

www.imaginationstation.org or by calling their Box Office at 301.280.1660.

Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD!! Shelter House, Inc. is looking forward to our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Tysons Corner on May 1st 2008. This event, held every year as part of National Volunteer Week, celebrates the accomplishments that Shelter House, Inc. has acheived with the help of our caring community and our tireless volunteers. For more information please contact Victor Dooley, Community Coordinator at 703.538.7105 or [email protected].

Volunteer Spotlight

2007 Adopt-A-Family by: Victor Dooley, Community Coordinator, Patrick Henry Family Shelter

In December, Shelter House, Inc. once again celebrated the holidays with our Annual Adopt-A-Family Program. With the addition of the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter, it was the biggest year yet! Dozens of Community Partners from all over the Metro Region joined us in providing gifts to each family. Both shelters held festive parties that included a meal, games, holiday theme activities and movies. With the help of our donors, we were able to provide the families with an estimated $11,500 worth of gifts, saving them money and the worry that they would be unable to provide a holiday celebration for their families. We thank everyone who helped make this holiday our most successful yet. Extra special thanks to: Ginger Mahon, Capital One, Merritt Academy, Pack 657, Bonnie Brae Elementary School, the Montessori School of Holmes Run, Maria DeBacco, Emily Kempfer, Alpha Delta Kappa - Gamma Nu Chapter, Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, EDS, H.E.L.P. Foundation, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., Morgan Stanley, Betsy Norman, Northrop Grumman, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Weichert Realtors and DOZENS of other donors who contributed money, gifts and time to our families!!

Abilene Christian University by: Victor Dooley, Community Coordinator, Patrick Henry Family Shelter

For the past 5 years, student groups from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas have been organizing Spring Break trips across the country to participate in service opportunities helping many different causes. One of the groups always travels to the D.C. Metro Region with the help of the Church of Christ in Falls Church, and for the past two years, that group has helped Shelter House, Inc. on a variety of projects. This year, the group helped the Patrick Henry Family Shelter relocate our linen closet to a newer, more accessible space, they reorganized our pantry and sorted donations and cleaned up our playground. This group of young people sets an amazing example for college students across the country, organizing and planning these trips themselves. I would like to congratulate this group on their amazing initiative and personally thank them for the work they’ve done to improve Shelter House, Inc.’s ability to serve Fairfax County families. t Fas ! t a F c

62% of all individuals in homeless families in Fairfax County are ­under the age of 18.* *Source: Fairfax-Falls Church Continuum of Care 2007 Point in Time Survey Summary Report http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/2007_homeless_point_in_time_report.pdf

Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter News Corner Success Story!!

Community Partner Highlight

by: Christine Hacherl, Assistant Director, Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter

The Campos family came to the Katherine K. Hanley family shelter when the family breadwinner lost his job and they were unable to pay rent. During their brief two month stay, the family was able to secure employment, save enough money for a security deposit, begin GED classes and learn some financial management skills. By meeting with their family Case Manager and Housing Resource Coordinator on a regular basis, the Campos family gained the necessary skills to maintain a household on their own. The Campos family was able to successfully move into an affordable basement apartment with the money they saved from their new income. The Campos family continues to stay in contact with their case manager in order to ensure they have the necessary resources to maintain their housing. DISCLAIMER: To protect the identity and security of this family and our facilites, the names in this story have been changed.

Our friends from EDS enjoying their trip to the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter and the opportunity to show the families there a great time! Photo courtesy Kristen Lenz, Community Coordinator, Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter

Electronic Data Systems by: Kristen Lenz, Community Coordinator, Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter

Last fall, Electronic Data Systems (EDS) Global Women’s Network DC Metro Chapter hosted the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter’s very first Family Fun Day! Nearly 40 volunteers including EDS employees, their families and their friends staffed this wonderful house-warming party not to mention the countless people involved in collecting donations and preparing the facility for the event. Family Fun Day included pumpkin-decorating, games, face-painting, crafts, a huge lunch and even a moon bounce! In response to the photo booth EDS employees provided, one resident told us that the picture she received was the first family photo she had ever had. Thank you EDS for making Family Fun Day a reality! Since this event, EDS has also helped with our Adopt-A-Family Program by wrapping over 100 gifts and organizing activities during the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter Holiday Party, including photos with Santa, decorating picture frames, making gingerbread houses, serving punch and cookies, and ensuring fun was had by all! To find out more about Electronic Data Systems’ global technology services and IT and business solutions, please visit: www.eds.com

How You Can Help... Make a Financial Contribution

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Volunteer Get involved in your community by offering your time! There are a multitude of ways to join the Shelter House, Inc. crew as a volunteer. To find out more please contact the appropriate Community Coordinator: Victor Dooley Patrick Henry Family Shelter P.O. Box 4081 Falls Church, VA 22044 703.538.7105 [email protected]

Kristen Lenz Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter 13000 Lee Highway Fairfax, VA 22030 571.522.6815 [email protected]

Sponsor an Event Join in the celebration by sponsoring a Shelter House, Inc. event. Options include: The Annual Casino Night and Silent Auction, The Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, The Help the Homeless Walkathon and other events. Sponsorships decrease costs and provide funds for direct services. Plus, you or your company will receive GREAT benefits. For more information contact: Jill Shumann Director of Development 703.532.2167 [email protected]

Your financial contributions help support a wide array of DIRECT services, which we offer to the families of Shelter House, Inc. Contributions can be mailed to: Director of Development P.O. Box 4081 Falls Church, VA 22044

or donate online at

www.shelterhouse.org

Donate Items Give food, clothing, toys and household goods directly to families who are beginning to rebuild their lives. A list of specific need items are available from the Community Coordinators of each Shelter House, Inc. shelter.

Make a Planned Gift Planned giving, or donating as part of a will, bequest or other charitable trust, is a great way to contribute and leave a lasting legacy to families in Fairfax County. For more information please contact: Jill Shumann Director of Development 703.532.2167 [email protected]

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P.O. Box 4081 Falls Church, VA 22044

CFC #56516

United Way #8699

CVC #8153

Neighbors Helping Neighbors.