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.
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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.