In Summer's Final Month, A Lot Happening at CFNC

Welcome to the August edition of The Network News! The final full month of summer brought exciting visitors, new affiliations and the press to CFNC-each showcasing CFNC's good work to make a positive change in our community. CFNC's summer program was a hit, with nearly 50 students in attendance and, as we gear up for the new school year, wait lists are up to 96. To meet the stunning need of so many, we rely on your generosity. This fall, look for even more ways to connect and support us and scroll down to read about some. Better yet, stop by for a tour. We guarantee you'll be moved.

Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!

CFNC on GuideStar

CFNC is thrilled to now be a part of GuideStar.org! GuideStar is a "one stop shop" for donors, funders, researchers, educators, professional service providers, governing agencies, and the media to gain quality information on nonprofit organizations.

You can access CFNC's information on GuideStar here. You may notice that CFNC's page includes the GuideStar Exchange seal. This indicates that CFNC has provided GuideStar with the most up to date reports and has shared information to the fullest-including documentation, photos, and video. This makes CFNC even more visible to GuideStar's vast on-line audience of grantmakers and individual donors.

CFNC in the News

CFNC's Executive Director, Margaret Patterson, was the subject of an article in the Thursday, August 4 edition of the . Margaret was interviewed by the Gazette's Edison Russ on what challenges she faces, the needs of the preschool and her visionAlexandria Gazette Packet for CFNC's future.

"I think working with kids is fulfilling," Patterson said. "A lot of kids don't have a voice, and with the Child Abuse [Prevention] Center, I was able to give a voice to a lot of kids, and I feel I'm going to have that sort of path [at CFNC]." Read the full article, and other CFNC news stories, here.

CFNC greatly appreciates Mr. Russ for the time he spent learning about CFNC by meeting our students and speaking with our staff.

The DreamDog Foundation Visits CFNC, Empowering Children to Believe in Their Dreams

CFNC summer school children enjoyed an exciting visit from The DreamDog Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering kids to believe in themselves and their dreams.

The DreamDog Foundation's founder Rainey (aka Lorraine Friedman, JD) brought campers from her "Do the Write Right Thing" Summer Camp, "Jazz" the DreamDog as well as a host of songs, dances and children's books-all of which she wrote and produced for the DreamDog program. Their positive energy and enthusiasm inspired both CFNC preschool students and teachers to get up and dance, sing and play along with the DreamDog visitors.

With songs like "You can do anything" and the motto "the magic is in you!" the DreamDog team taught our preschoolers living in poverty how much potential they have to solve problems and succeed in school and beyond. "It was just great," noted Sharon Shackelford, CFNC's Director of Education. "I was thrilled that our students had the opportunity to meet The DreamDog Foundation and learn the important lesson that they teach. It was evident from the children's faces just how much fun they were having, too. We welcome the opportunity to see Rainey and Jazz at CFNC again."

The Alexandria News ran the story of DreamDog's visit to CFNC. Check it (and other stories) out here.

CFNC Joins The Del Ray Business Association

This month, CFNC joined the Del Ray Business
Association (DRBA)! The DRBA is an organization of business owners and professionals that strive for growth, visibility and members success.

As a new member, we were excited to participate in the DRBA's August First Thursday neighborhood festival on Thursday, August 4. CFNC staff members set up a booth on Mount Vernon Avenue, outside of The Dairy Godmother and in the heart of the First Thursday action. We distributed information on our programs and hosted an exciting raffle for two tricycles. Passersby signed-up for our monthly e-newsletter to learn more. We made many connections with community members and other organizations and enjoyed the festivities.
,

The highlight of the evening was the raffle drawing for the pink tricycle. It was won by a little girl who had been eyeing it all evening. When her name was called the joy on her face was priceless. Her mother was very grateful and told us that she has not experienced such kindness since moving to the United States not long ago. It was a moment to remember for CFNC staff.

Join us for September's First Thursday --the last one of the summer--on Thursday, September 1 from 6PM to 9PM on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray.

Additional Ways to Stay Engaged with CFNC

Did you know that there are many quick and easy ways to stay engaged with CFNC throughout school year while benefiting our students? Here are a few:

(1) Link your Harris Teeter VIC card to CFNC for a portion of the price of participating items to benefit CFNC. Register your card online here and link to CFNC's "Together in Education" number: 6467. You must link your card each year, so if you did so last year, please re-link!

(2) Link your Safeway Club Card to CFNC for a portion of the price of participating items to benefit CFNC. Register your card online here and search for CFNC's Group Number: 500004246. You must link your card each year, so if you did so last year, please re-link!

(3) Shop all year at iGive.com and up to 26% of purchases at participating stores (like Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, William Sonoma, DSW, Gap, Eddie Bauer, J.Crew-- 823 in total!) will go to your charity of choice. Join iGive.com and select The Child & Family Network Centers.

And don't forget...

"Like" us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter @CFNCpreschool

And support us through workplace giving campaigns: CFNC's United Way # is 8401 and CFC# is 86801.

Thank you for your support!

CFNC Opens Its Doors for a Summer Program

For the first time in nearly ten years, CFNC has opened its doors for a Summer School Program!

The program runs Monday through Friday from 9 AM-3 PM with extended aftercare until 5PM and serves children ages three to five years old. Two classrooms are operating at CFNC's Birchmere location in Alexandria and one classroom is operating at CFNC's Virginia Gardens location in Arlington, with a total of 46 children enrolled. The great response from the community for our Summer Program indicates the stunning need for quality activities for preschool age children during the summer months.

Assistant Teacher Brittany Jones face paints a CFNC Summer Program student.

Our Summer Program is carefully designed to blend a summer of fun and excitement with rich learning experiences. The activities include arts and crafts, music, dramatic play, stories, physical fitness, expressive art, and games. Every Wednesday is "water day"-a crowd favorite.

CFNC is thrilled to offer its high-quality, award winning program to children this summer and is excited by the success of the program. Staff have commented on how much fun it has been to see and hear CFNC students over the summer months, months that are typically very quiet in the administrative offices, as classrooms have been closed.

Children enjoy a nutritious breakfast at CFNC's Summer Program.

And students share our excitement: One of our students is so thrilled to be in the program that every time his mother comes to pick him up at the end of the day, he runs and hides.

We hope that your summer is just as fun-filled and we invite you to join us anytime!

GTS Group Donates Truckloads

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the GTS Group, CFNC was the recipient of two truckloads of donated items.

All new and unopened, the donated items include: strollers, bikes, patio furniture, baby monitors, bottle warmers, and a variety of household items. Items will be used to support CFNC's children and families.

Eileen Williams, Director of Operations Support at the GTS Group; Jacob Nguyen, GTS Operations; and Mr. B.K. Nehme, who drove the delivery truck, worked together to coordinate the delivery of goods to CFNC's Birchmere site and we greatly appreciate their kindness!


GTS Group and CFNC staff unload items from the trucks.

Wanted: Social Media Guru

CFNC is looking to increase its visibility and presence on the web through Facebook and Twitter and we're seeking the help of a Social Media Intern.


The ideal candidate would be a recent high school graduate or current college student who is looking to put his or her social media skills and interests to work for an award-winning non-profit organization serving at-risk children and their families in Northern Virginia. The social media intern at CFNC will be instrumental in increasing CFNC's social media presence and gaining visibility for our brand. Please click here to see the full job description.

If you or someone you know may be interested or if you simply have questions about the position, please contact Anna Berke with questions at 703.836.0214 ext. 238 or via email.

We look forward to hearing from you!

HAIRSPRAY Tickets Selling Out Fast!

ONLY 40 TICKETS REMAIN FOR THE RUNNINGBROOKE EXCLUSIVE SHOWING OF HAIRSPAY!

Brooke Curran, Alexandria resident, runner extraordinaire and founder of the RunningBrooke Fund, invites you hang up your sneakers & get our your hairspray! Brooke has bought out the The Little Theatre of Alexandria on August 2, 2011 for an 8 PM showing of Hairspray to support the RunningBrooke Fund which helps local Alexandria charities, including CFNC! This event is not open to the public. With back stage tours, photo ops with the cast and a pre-show soiree, it is an event you will not want to miss! Learn more and purchase tickets here.


Brooke runs marathons around the world (7 continents, 50 states + DC too + the 5 world marathon majors) -- a marathon a month -- to raise awareness and raise money for 5 vital Alexandria-based charities serving the at-risk kids and families in Alexandria/Arlington (including CFNC). Brooke pays all travel expenses and associated fees so every dollar she raises, goes to those who need it. Since May of 2009, Brooke's raised over $65K for Alexandria. Learn more about Brooke by visiting runningbrooke.com and don't forget to purchase your Hairspray tickets today!