Old Town Alexandria is home to several nonprofits and charities which are dedicated to helping the community. Here are the top 5 nonprofits which you can join when you move to Alexandria, VA.
1. Mt Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce (MVLCC)
The Mt Vernon Lee Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization which is dedicated to promoting businesses and entrepreneurship within the community and the city of Alexandria.
Mission Statement: “To champion business and build community in partnership with our members.”
You can become a member of the Chamber by filling out the Membership Application here (https://cca.mountvernonleechamber.org/memapp.aspx).
History and Accomplishments
The Chamber was founded in 1954 as a business organization to represent both Lee and Mount Vernon Districts. 300 businesses belong to the organization today. It has been a major influence in several initiatives which have strengthened the Richmond Highway Corridor. This is a major plus point in the Real Estate in Old Town Alexandria.
When you move there, you know this organization is going to be looking out for new businesses and free enterprise. The MVLCC has supported BRAC moves for Fort Belvoir. MVLCC has also facilitated its selection as the home of the National Museum of the US Army.
Members of the MVLCC can expect a full program of activities including business breakfasts and after-hours networking. The organization also provides scholarships for local high school students.
MVLCC also has several community events throughout the year including fundraisers, races, webinars, and seminars. It hosts an event called the CAN The Bird 5K to raise funds for canned food to be distributed throughout the community. It also hosts a police and firefighters tribute every year.
What You Can Do
You can participate in any of the events of the MVLCC by either becoming a member or volunteering your services. You can also register different companies with the MVLCC to gain grants and awards to further the business community in the region.
Contact
You can contact the MVLCC via phone (“703-360-6925”) or email (info@mountvernonleechamber.org). You can also send them a direct message using their contact page (https://mountvernonleechamber.org/contact-us/).
2. Volunteer Alexandria
The Volunteer Alexandria Foundation is a global nonprofit based in Alexandria, VA, which helps communities and causes worldwide. It identifies as a community resource for volunteerism. The organization believes that through volunteer service, people can enrich their own lives and improve the quality of life in Alexandria.
Mission Statement: “Inspire and mobilize people to volunteer for a stronger Alexandria community.”
History and Accomplishments
The Volunteer Alexandria organization has been a force for collective good for many decades. It connects with several charities and organizations which help people across the world.
Right now, Volunteer Alexandria is running several different projects including a fundraiser for the Afghan Refugee crisis. It is raising funds for Afghan newcomers and through its volunteers, is helping them deal with trauma.
What You Can Do
Volunteer Alexandria is a charity network which connects to nonprofits around the world. It can connect with different organizations and individuals around the world. Hence, you benefit by becoming a member to work for causes that you believe in.
You can not only post volunteer opportunities online, but also begin your own projects. You can also benefit from volunteer management training workshops and resources.
Contact
You can contact Volunteer Alexandria via email (mail@volunteeralexandria.org) or through phone (703-836-2176).
3. Rotary Club Alexandria
Rotary Club Alexandria is a club dedicated to humanitarian services to encourage high ethical standards in all vocations. They also dedicate resources to build both goodwill and peace in the world.
Mission Statement: “Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.”
History and Accomplishments
The Official Charter of the Rotary Club of Alexandria was awarded on March 14, 1928. This was during the Rotary Presidency of Arthur H. Sapp of Huntington, Indiana. During the Great Depression, the members of the club realized there was a huge need in the community for day nursery services which could ease the burden of working mothers.
This is a great organization to join if you want to move to Alexandria. Be sure to ask your Real Estate Agent in Kingstowne, VA about it.
Since then, the club has dedicated the humanitarian services towards their fellow man. It has especially focused on the welfare of the Children of Alexandria. It has also invested in projects like the “Little League of Alexandria”. The club has sponsored the league for several years.
Other than that, the club has participated in fund drives in conjunction with the Salvation Army. The club has a global presence of over 1.2 million members in 28,000 clubs around the world. There are clubs in virtually every single nation in the world.
What You Can Do
You can join the Rotary Club of Alexandria by getting in touch with them using their contact details. You can also contact the club to donate to worthy causes. The club also has a Contributions Day where it awards thousands of dollars’ worth of grants to different nonprofits. The last Contributions Day held in 2019 provided over $70,000 worth of donations to 37 local nonprofits.
Contact
You can contact the Rotary Club Alexandria organization via phone ((703) 329-1448) or email (info@alexandriarotary.org).
4. Fairfax County Park
The Fairfax County Park Foundation is a charity foundation which supports the Fairfax County Park Authority through fundraising and grants. It also creates partnerships which supplement tax dollars. This way, those tax dollars meet community needs for parkland facilities and services.
Mission Statement: “To enrich quality of life for all members of the community through an enduring park system that provides a healthy environment, preserves natural and cultural heritage, offers inspiring recreational experiences, and promotes healthy lifestyles.”
History and Accomplishments
The Fairfax County Park Foundation has been working for the Fairfax County Parks Authority for many decades. It has funded programs and Class scholarships as well as homeless shelters and orphanages.
What You Can Do
You can donate to the Fairfax County Park Foundation by going to this link: https://fairfaxparkfoundation.org/donate-2/. You can also sponsor a Bench or Give a Car to the foundation as a means of private grants or funds. Sponsoring a bench or a tree can allow you to honor someone or give someone a gift. Through that, parks in Fairfax County will be preserved and taken care of. By donating your car, or any other vehicle including a boat, you can both help the community, and get a tax break. That’s right, you can get rid of an unwanted vehicle without the hassle or expense of getting rid of it.
Contact
You can contact the Fairfax County Park Foundation via phone (703-324-8582) or email (parkfoundation@fairfaxcounty.gov).
5. Historic Alexandria Foundation (HAF)
The Historic Alexandria Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and protecting historic landmarks and buildings within Old Town Alexandria.
You can become a member of the Foundation today for a small fee by going to this link: http://historicalexandriafoundation.org/membership.html.
Mission Statement: “The primary activities of the Foundation are education, advocacy, technical and easement advice, preservation grants, recognition awards and the historic plaque program. Since its founding, HAF has helped protect and preserve hundreds of irreplaceable buildings and artifacts associated with the city of Alexandria.”
History and Accomplishments
The organization was founded in 1954 to advocate for the preservation of historic buildings. It is also dedicated to inspiring visitors and residents to celebrate the city’s heritage, both architectural and physical. The efforts to remind visitors and citizens of the city’s significance in the independence of the country are continuous.
The Foundation also awards grants or awards to different individuals, public, and private groups, or organizations for different endeavors. These include preserving or conserving different landmarks and buildings or scholarly research on different landmarks and buildings. Grants and awards are typically up to $5,000. However, larger awards can be given to projects which are warranted upon merit.
What You Can Do
The best way you can help is to write to the organization if you believe there is a worthy candidate for preservation or conservation within the city. You should act before any development proposal signs appear. This should be before any restoration or conservation work is initiated either.
You can also contact the organization for a grant or awards to preserve or restore a historical landmark. These grants can only be for those areas or landmarks open to the public or which serve a public function. The grants can also be for research conducted on Alexandria’s cultural or architectural history.
If you want to volunteer for any projects or annual events, you can contact the HAF Executive Director via email (historicalexandriafoundation@gmail.com) or phone (703-549-5811).
Contact
You can contact the Foundation at “info@historicalexandriafoundation.org”. You can also download grant applications here: http://historicalexandriafoundation.org/grants.html.
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