Virginia Commerce Bank has been practicing a philosophy of Making the Difference throughout Northern Virginia since its first branch opened on May 16, 1988.
 
For this 20th anniversary, the Banks employees gave up cake and balloons in favor of a different kind of celebration: each branch identified local charities to help hands-on in a real and meaningful way in order to thank the communities that have contributed to Virginia Commerce Banks success.
 
Since April, employees have dedicated a total of 275 hours on weekends and evenings, with more hours of dedication to come. Photos, heart-warming stories and quotations from branch managers, non-profit directors and employees are available for each of the initiative mentioned below.

• Rebuilding Together Alexandria 15 volunteers from VCBs operations center and the Vienna and Alexandria branches came together to repair and renovate a 76-year-old womans home in Alexandria, where she raised her 5 children. This will be an ongoing outreach for these volunteers throughout the year. www.rebuildingtogetheralex.org, Contact Katharine Medina, Exec. Director, (703) 836-1021, km@rebuildingtogetheralex.org. 
• Christmas in May 47 employees from VCBs operations center and the Cameron Station and Newington branches assisted a single mother with 4 children move into an apartment and helped supply their new home with necessities. The family was selected by the Alexandria Department of Human Services. Employees gathered $100 in gift certificates; 23 sets of linens, including bed sheets, blankets and towels; a twin size bed with mattress and box spring; numerous school supplies, including books, backpacks and writing materials; complete wardrobes for all family members, personal care products, several kitchen appliances, and a home computer. A very touching story about the ice-cream truck and a quote from the familys little boy are available. Contact Suzanne Kratzok, Coordinator of Community Resources, (703) 519-3318×206, Suzanne.kratzok@alexandriava.gov. 
• Annual Pet Adoption Day with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria On April 19, 2008, VCBs Del Ray branch in Alexandria hosted its second Annual Pet Adoption day with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, assisted by volunteers from VCBs Prince Street Branch. 4 dogs have been adopted so far, with several more applications pending. www.alexandriaanimals.org, Contact Abbie Hubbard, Adoptions Project Coordinator, (703) 838-4774, ahubbard@alexandriaanimals.org.
• Teach Children to Save, Bishop O’Connell High School A representative from VCBs operations center presented to 82 juniors and seniors at Bishop OConnell High School. The students learned the difference between checking and savings accounts and debit and credit cards, the power of compounding and ways to plan for retirement. Contact Mrs. Garry, Personal Finance Teacher, Bishop OConnell High School, (703) 237-1400.
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Chapter During the month of April, employees at VCBs Del Ray branch in Alexandria sold red paper hearts to customers for $1 and displayed the hearts with sponsors names at the teller line. One teller took the hearts to school and, along with friends, collected an additional $75 in just one night. VCB raised a total of $300 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. www.cff.org/Chapters/metrodc.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities On May 13, 2008, 20 volunteers from VCBs Lee-Harrison and Williamsburg Boulevard branches in Arlington as well as the Annandale and Fairfax branches worked at the McDonalds on Rose Hill Drive in Alexandria for an evening to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities. They made shakes and fries, flipped burgers, cleaned tables, mopped, manned the drive-through and more. 50% of the sales went to Ronald McDonald House Charities, with VCB raising $2,500. Contact Billy Thakral, General Manager, Rose Hill McDonalds, (703) 924-1945.
• The House, Inc., Woodbridge, VA 4 volunteers from VCBs Lake Ridge branch spent a day assisting middle and high school students at the Leadership Center of The House, a non-profit organization focused on mentoring and empowering handicapped and troubled youth. The VCB Lake Ridge team continued throughout the following week to help the students prepare for their 3rd Annual Cinderella Ball fundraiser, held on May 31, 2008 in Washington, D.C. http://www.thehouse-inc.com, Contacts Todd McCormick, Executive Director, and Helen McCormick, President, (571) 237-5860.
• Fredericksburg Baptist Church Thursday Community Meal VCBs Courthouse Road and Central Park branches in Fredericksburg assisted in setting up, preparing and serving the evenings meal to over 100 residents and look forward to assisting more in the future. The community dinner began in 2003 as part of the churchs ministry. Contact Dr. Larry Haun, Pastor, (540) 373-4402.
• Loudoun Abused Womens Shelter VCBs Loudoun County branches (Ashburn, Dulles and Leesburg) are continually collecting new clothes and household items for the Loudoun Abused Womens Shelter and have begun a series of monthly 2-hour seminars at the facility, free of charge. These seminars, the first of which was held in May, focus on various personal finance topics relevant to the women whom LAWS serves. http://www.lcsj.org, Contact Sue Curtis, (703) 777-6552.
• Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce Read-A-Thon at Louise Archer Elementary School On May 19, 2008, volunteers from VCBs lending department in Vienna worked with first graders at Louise Archer Elementary School, helping them read to reach their 21-book goal for a school year-long contest promoting literacy and the enjoyment of reading. VCB volunteers helped students with pronunciation, vocabulary, comprehension, etc. Contact Michelle Makrigiorgos, Principal, Louise Archer Elementary School, (703) 937-6200.
• Red Cross Blood Drive, McLean, VA On May 30, 2008, at VCBs Tysons branch, over 30 people donated blood, a record for an inaugural blood drive. The Tysons team spent several weeks recruiting volunteers for the event via in-house flyers at the Booz Allen Hamilton Building and by word-of-mouth to friends, family and customers. Contact Evon Abrams, ARC Potomac Blood Services Region Coordinator, (703) 930-0351.
• Fair Oaks ManorCare On May 28, 2008, volunteers from VCBs Chantilly branch spent the day talking to, playing games with, and helping out residents of ManorCare, a short and long-term rehabilitation center for elderly people. Contact Jean Basheer, Event Manager, (703) 352-7172×6060.
• SERVE of Prince William County In April and May employees from VCBs Prince William branches and the operations center collected and delivered necessities for 12 families consisting of 22 children to SERVE in Manassas, VA, and will continue to support SERVE throughout the year with future events. Items included canned goods, home health care and first-aid products, clothing, blankets, food store gift cards, cleaning products, school supplies, games and much more. www.serveinc.org, Contacts Ms. Sherry Villa and Mr. Matt Verell, (703) 368-3612.
• Special Olympics Track and Field Championship at Hylton High School, Woodbridge, VA On May 17, 2008, 8 representatives from VCBs Prince Wi
  lliam and Fairfax County branches volunteered to serve in any capacity needed at the Special Olympics North Section Track and Field Championship, in which over 150 athletes from all over Northern Virginia competed in a 4-hour, multi-event track and field competition. VCB employees also had the honor of conducting the awards presentation ceremonies after each event. www.pwsova.org, Contact Cheryl Danielsen, Volunteer Coordinator, (703) 680-6661, volunteer@pwsova.org.
• Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center of Northern Virginia On May 2, 2008, volunteers from VCBs credit administration department prepared recycled eyeglasses for world-wide distribution to disadvantaged, vision-impaired people. http://members.cox.net/lerc, Contact William Wildhack, Arlington Host Lions Club, (703) 241-7004.