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Dear Scholarship Fund Supporter:
 
Because YOU supported our 2020 Virtual Gala and Auction by making a financial contribution, being a sponsor or donating an item to our silent auction, HUNDREDS of Alexandria students with financial need are studying in college RIGHT NOW. Without YOUR critical support, many of these students would simply have been left behind. We appreciate your financial support and your commitment today to building a better Alexandria for tomorrow. 
 
Because you gave, our 34th Annual Benefit Gala & Auction raised over $400,000 to support college scholarships for local students with financial need. Our Virtual Gala & Silent Auction was a rousing success because of YOU.
 
We are especially grateful to our many corporate and community gala sponsors, and to our marquee gala sponsors for their very generous financial contributions. We had more than 120 gala sponsors this year -- our largest list ever! Our virtual online auction garnered nearly 800 bids --- that's 800 times local bidders saw the businesses and names on our generous sponsor list, and in our auction catalog, in addition to the 1,500 households who received our printed invitation and sponsor list and the 10,000+ supporters who subscribe to our email list.
 
We are extremely grateful for your continued support, especially given the extraordinary events of our times. Many students and families lives and financial situations are being upended by COVID. Thank you for helping build a better, brighter and more successful future for them.

COVID-19 and the prominence of racial inequity have made SFA services more essential now than at any other time in our 34-year program history.

COVID-19 and its economic impact are being felt most acutely by people of color and families who are living near or below the poverty level. The very same students and families we serve in Alexandria need your help now more than ever.

In addition, the nationwide reckoning on racial injustice and inequity impels all of us to work harder to create equity and opportunity for Black students. Each year, the majority of Scholarship Fund scholarships support Black students. We are working actively right now to create even more opportunity for Black students through our college advising programs and scholarships.

In short, there's never been a more important time to support scholarships for students with financial need here in Alexandria. We are so grateful to have you on our team.
 
We hope you will remain safe, healthy and resilient during these challenging times. Thank you again for supporting college scholarships for Alexandria students in need. Scholarships really do change lives...forever.
 
Thank you,
 
Kate Bertles Hennigan   
SFA Gala 2020 Co-Chair       

Pam Jones
SFA Gala 2020 Co-Chair
"I committed myself to work hard in school so that I can be admitted into a good university and gain a better education that will allow me to help many people living in hard situations around the world..."

- Steven Bailibuno
2020 SFA Scholarship Recipient
Brigham Young University Class of 2024
"Thank you for putting your trust in me. I promise to put the money to good use for a successful future.” 

 - Rebecca Lamarre
2020 SFA "Commonwealth One FCU Scholarship Recipient"
Shenandoah University Class of 2024
“To realize that people in the community are still willing to help the Class of 2020 achieve our educational and career goals, despite the pandemic... it was really inspiring.”  

 – Noah Khan
2020 SFA "Dr. Morton Sherman
Scholarship" Recipient
 University of Michigan Class of 2024