Contact: Tara Nadel
703-879-7637
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Continues
To Help Hungry Families in Manassas
$32,000 Grant Supports the Capital Area Food Bank’s Family Market Program
for the Second Year
Oakton, VA (July 5, 2016) – The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia secured $32,000
to fully support the Capital Area Food Bank’s (CAFB) Family Market Program at Manassas Park
High School for the second year in a row – through the 2016-2017 school year. This grant
provides 6,000 pounds of food to over 200 families in need throughout the year.
The donors supporting this grant include the J.O.Y. Charitable Fund and the Nolan Family Fund
– donor advised funds at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia – and QMT
Windchimes, a member of the Prince William County Chamber of Commerce committed to
supporting the local community. “Jamie [Baisden] and I are honored to be able to help meet
the needs of families in Manassas Park through our business QMT Windchimes,” said Patty
Baisden, QMT’s Vice President. “The Family Market serves a vital role increasing the quality of
life for our local families. We salute Manassas Park Schools for seeing the need and reaching
out to the Capital Area Food Bank and the Community Foundation for support. We are happy to
be a part of this mission.”
The Capital Area Food Bank uses a “Family Market” model that combines food distribution with
parent-teacher interactions and nutrition education. Each family takes between 28 and 30
pounds of non-perishable food and fresh produce during a market day. The families learn how
to prepare their food through cooking demonstrations, receive recipe cards in Spanish and
English, and are exposed to new and innovative technologies like a green smoothie bike to
make the experience fun for all ages. This year, the Capital Area Food Bank is offering pop-up
grocery stores to educate families on how to navigate stores and read nutritional labels.
“We are so thankful to the Community Foundation and the Manassas Community for coming
together to make this project possible,” said Cecelia Vergaretti of the Capital Area Food Bank.
“Another year of support means that we can make healthy eating accessible and fun for the
whole Manassas Park school system.”
Dr. Bruce McDade, Superintendent of Manassas Park Schools, said, “To receive a grant of this
magnitude is overwhelming and so very much appreciated. We are pleased to be part of a
wonderful, caring team who works hard to assist the families in our community.”
By partnering with donors and aligning donors’ philanthropic goals with local organizations
needing assistance, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia strives to make personal
connections such as these to grow local philanthropy. “Supporting the Capital Area Food
Bank’s Manassas Family Market for the second year in a row will truly help meet the most
critical needs in Manassas Park for many families,” says Eileen Ellsworth, President of the
Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.
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The J.O.Y. Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia supports
education, job training, community improvement, the environment and organizations that
further the work of nonprofits.
The Nolan Family Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation supports child and youth
development, poverty relief, education, health and aging, military personnel and their families
and community improvement.
QMT Windchimes manufactures high quality hand-tuned wind chimes in Manassas Park,
Virginia. We sell primarily to small retailers across the country, supporting local economies by
purchasing supplies within the United States and providing a high quality product for small
businesses to retail. People who purchase our chimes enjoy their soothing sounds for years and
are proud to own a QMT Windchime. Our best selling line, Corinthian Bells, are sold by
discriminating retailers. In the past year, Arabesque and Kromatix have entered the
market. Arabesque takes the Corinthian Bells to a new level with new detailed finishes and
etching on the tubes and windsail. Kromatix brand lets the wind ring wild with bright colors
and a contemporary look.
About the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia:
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia grows philanthropy to help meet the most
critical needs of the region. Comprised of giving circles, donor advised funds, and other
charitable endowments, it helps connect donors to community, meet community needs with
community resources, and strengthen Northern Virginia. During 2015, the Community
Foundation awarded more than $4.2 million in grants and scholarships and reported $36.7
million in managed assets.
Find more information at www.cfnova.org and on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/CommunityFoundationforNOVA or Twitter at @CFNova.
About the Capital Area Food Bank:
The Capital Area Food Bank is the largest hunger relief organization in the Washington metro
area serving over 530,000 people through direct food distribution programs and a network of
500 partner agencies. This year, the Capital Area Food Bank distributed 42 million pounds of
food – the equivalent of 35 million meals – including 17.5 million pounds of fresh fruits and
vegetables. A member of Feeding America, CAFB takes a comprehensive approach to
addressing hunger by increasing access to nutritious food, initiating change through skillbuilding and advocacy, and creating sustainability with outreach and training for those at risk of
hunger. To learn more, visit: www.capitalareafoodbank.org, or find the Capital Area Food Bank
on Facebook at facebook.com/ CapitalAreaFoodBank, and Twitter at @foodbankmetrodc.
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