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.
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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.