The Center for Alexandria’s Children, a pubic-private partnership focused on the elimination of child abuse in the City of Alexandria, rolled out the red carpet for the inaugural Oscar Night Gala benefit held at Belle Haven Country Club February 25.
The stars of the evening were the recipients of the CAC’s highest honors: Laurie Meyer, an Alexandria Community Services Board team leader, and Peyton Jones, the Alexandria police department’s youth services coordinator, each received the first Outstanding Dedication to Alexandria’s Children award.
Retired district court judge Stephen W. Rideout, a long-time advocate for children throughout his career, was presented with the first Champion for Children award.
“The Center for Alexandria’s Children is thrilled at the success of our inaugural Oscar Night event and the number of community members who joined us to celebrate the children in our community and the individuals who work with them,” said CAC Executive Director Giselle Pelaez. “I believe that the event served as a great introduction to many of the attendees on the work that we do within the community to protect children and strengthen families.”
Among the 225 attendees at the Academy Award-themed event, which raised more than $75,000 for the CAC, were Rep. Jim Moran (D-8), Mayor Bill Euille, City Councilmen Paul Smedburg and Frank Fannon and Alexandria Police Chief Earl Cook.
Choral Society raises funds for childhood brain cancer research
The Alexandria Choral Society, now celebrating its 40th year in the community, raised more than $20,000 during the inaugural Annual Gift of Giving benefit held February 20 at Belle Haven Country Club.
The funds will be donated to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University in Durham, N.C. and designated for research on childhood brain cancer. Attendees to the event learned about advancements in the treatment of childhood brain tumors by Dr. Sri Gurrurangan, the director of pediatric clinical services at Duke University. Each year 13,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States.
