2011

Holiday Store Contributions

Thank you to everyone that contributed gifts for the Holiday Store. Donations were delivered on Friday and the store is now open to distribute the items to individuals in need.

Golf Fore Gift

Golf Fore GIFT, a golf outing and fundraiser was hosted by GIFT on Wednesday, August 17^th at Pleasant Valley Golf Club.  GIFT raised over $200 from this event.  It is hoped that this was the 1^st annual golf event.

Komen Global Race for the Cure

ACR supported participation in the Komen Global Race for the Cure that took place Saturday June 4^th in Washington, D.C.  Up to 75 percent of the Komen Global Race’s net income stays in the Washington, D.C. area to fund breast cancer screening, treatment and education programs through the National Capital Area Grants Program. The remaining 25 percent supports the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund, a program dedicated to sharing knowledge and experience, and to funding education and breast health services in regions where few exist.

Pizza and Soda Fundraiser

GIFT sponsored a pizza sale on-site at 1891 on Friday, June 3^rd. Pizza was provided by Armand’s Pizza and made fresh on-site. Slices sold for $2.50 each and entire pies for $20. Gift received $5 for each pie sold. GIFT raised almost $200 from this event.

Relay for Life

The Reston Relay for Life, an overnight event that supports the American Cancer Society took place Saturday May 14^th through Sunday, May 15^th at South Lakes High School.

Lunches for Hypothermia Center

GIFT board members and ACR staff members packed lunches in support of the Western Fairfax County Hypothermia Center. Approximately 60 lunches were packed to include sandwiches, fruit cups, granola bars, water, and juice. Through the Hypothermia Center individuals are able to get a hot dinner, a warm place to sleep, and a bagged lunch to carry them through the day. Thanks to all who donated food and/or time to making this event a success.

Additionally, GIFT also donated much needed items to the Center including deodorant, disposable razors, toothpaste, sunscreen, lip balm, athletic socks and underwear, diapers, baby wipes, backpacks, pencils, pens, markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue and glue sticks, loose leaf paper, and spiral notebooks.

Cuddle Clouds

Cuddle Clouds, which were available with the words Faith, Love or Joy, were sold by the GIFT Board for $10 each. The proceeds from these sales went go the GIFT fund as well as to the Haiti Radiology Relief Fund.

2010

GIFT Supported a Fundraiser for Rachel Kramer

GIFT supported a fundraiser in November for former ACR employee Rachel Kramer and her family.  Ms. Kramer’s baby, Elena, has SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency).  SCID is commonly known as the bubble boy disease and requires significant medical expenses to treat.  Elena is being treated at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.  Donations are still being accepted and can be made payable to “GIFT”, and sent to Brad Short, 1891 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA  20191.

Warm Coat Drive

GIFT collected well-conditioned, clean used coats throughout the winter.  GIFT has been one of the largest contributors of used coats in the area. 

Thanksgiving Food Drive

GIFT participated in the Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit Loudoun County’s Interfaith Relief.  Non-perishable food items will be collected through Nov 11^th in all of the Virginia-based ACR offices. Boxes were placed on each floor at 1891 (1^st floor lobby, 2^nd floor lunchroom, 3^rd floor kitchen) and in the lunchroom at 1892.

Adopt-a-Family Homeless Shelter

GIFT adopted a family through Homestretch, a transitional homeless shelter located in Falls Church, VA.  Homestretch provides temporary shelter and job training to area homeless

Holiday Store Drive

GIFT participated in the Loudoun County Holiday Store.  The “store” is set-up in Sterling, VA and provides those in need locally (as determined by income) an opportunity to select items for the upcoming holidays. All unwrapped new “gifts” were dropped off in Brad Short’s office.

Hypothermia Shelter

In July GIFT once again made bag lunches in support of the Western Fairfax County Hypothermia Center and the area’s homeless this fall.  The hypothermia center opens in November and stays open through March providing excess warm sleeping space for some homeless in the area.  The hypothermia shelter is located in the basement of a local government building.  The shelter opens when the building closes in the evening.  The homeless receive a hot dinner and a place to sleep during the evening then are sent out the following morning with a bag lunch. 

Send a Kid to Camp Program

GIFT provided its support to Family Matters of the Greater Washington which supports the Send a Kid to Camp Program.  The money supports inner city DC youth with a summer camp experience at Camp Moss Hollow located in Front Royal, Virginia. 

2009

• GIFT collected well-conditioned and clean used coats.
• GIFT made a donation to the family of Maris Wilkerson, an ACR employee for 9 years who died tragically June 25.
• GIFT donated money to send a kid to camp.
• GIFT participated in the 1st Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure (formerly known as the National Race for the Cure) Nearly 70 ACR employees, friends and family signed up for the event.
• Annual Yard Sale - Brad Short sponsored a garage sale on May 23 to help GIFT raise money for the ACS Relay for Life.
• GIFT Board supported the American Cancer Society Relay for Life May 30 and 31st at South Lakes High School in Reston, VA.  The ACS Relay for Life assists in raising funds for cancer research.  The event ran about 22 fun filled hours with music and entertainment. 
• GIFT participated in the MS Walk on Sunday, April 26th, at 8:00 AM in Reston.  It was a 4.5 mile walk.  The GIFT Team raised in excess of $1,300 for the event.
• Susan B. Komen Walk Trina Zeberlein teamed with her mother to walk 60 miles in support of breast cancer research through the Susan B. Komen 3-day event. Trina and her mom raised $5,525.

2008

• GIFT sponsored a team which participated in the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk this past Saturday at the Reston Town Center. Proceeds from the event went to assist families dealing with blood borne cancers and to help fund research to find a cure. Thus far, the GIFT Team has raised nearly $400.

2007

• GIFT Board member Tala Qashu took her goodwill abroad donating nearly 3 weeks of volunteer time for a summer camp outside of Johannesburg, South Africa in 2007. The camp, which provides typical summer camp activities (e.g. swimming, arts and crafts, games, etc.) for children recently orphaned as a result of HIV-AIDS, is run through Global Camps Africa by its founder Phil Lilienthal of Reston. Tala used the experience as part of a maternal-child health program she is enrolled in through George Washington University.