Special Events

Cinco De Mayo Celebration a Grand Success

A Cinco de Mayo celebration to benefit the Alexandria-Olympic Branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington was held at the Old Dominion Boat Club on Saturday, May 3. Over 150 people attended.

Chaired by Mary Burner, Dayna Blumel, Peggy McCoy and Erik Koster – all Alexandria Boys & Girls Club Board members – the event was co-sponsored by the Old Dominion Boat Club, Smith Barney, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS), GCM Incorporated-New Home Builders, Abbey Carpets, and Signs By Tomorrow. The outstanding food was sponsored by Austin Grill, Southside 815, Los Tios & The Margarita Man. 

Guest bartender Glenn Morrill was on deck serving beer, wine, and margaritas, generously provided by The Margarita Man. Edsall Road treated guests to Irish as well as Latin tunes. A silent auction and 50-50 raffle rounded out the evening's activities.

The celebration raised over $7,200 in net proceeds to support the Club's programs. This is an annual event to support the Alexandria Boys & Girls Clubs.  Plans are already in the works for next year's celebration.

Thanks to all who participated.

Download our event flyer here!

Alexandria-Olympic Branch members participate in First Bloom Project

WASHINGTON, DC – National Park Foundation President and CEO Vin Cipolla and the Foundation’s first Honorary Chairwoman Mrs. Laura Bush announced the participation of First Bloom in the White House Garden Tours. The Alexandria-Olympic Branch of Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington was honored by being selected to participate. A small group of children from the Club served as the activity leaders. By allowing these children to teach other children about First Bloom and the activity, they were able to spread their knowledge and enthusiasm among their peers. Adult volunteers were also be on hand to supervise the children and assist in the activity.

Launched by Mrs. Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States, and the first National Park Foundation Honorary Chair, in tribute to the environmental leadership of Lady Bird Johnson, the First Bloom project links city youth to America’s natural heritage in powerful and potentially life-changing ways. Working with local groups, children learn how to protect fragile eco-systems by planting and tending native species in our national parks. Bringing the lessons home, they also help design and care for native plant gardens in their own neighborhoods. The First Bloom project is well underway in five pilot cities: Austin, TX; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; and Washington, DC.

In an effort to raise awareness for First Bloom and the importance of environmental stewardship, the National Park Foundation hosted a First Bloom activity area during the White House Garden Tours held April 12-13, 2008. The First Bloom activity area, which was stationed near the southwest Gate, invited all children on the Garden Tour to learn about First Bloom and participate in a seeding activity. Each child received his or her own “eco-tainer,” a compostable and biodegradable paper cup, and instruction on how to plant a seed in the cup. The seeds used for the activity were “Goldstorm Coneflower,” a flower native to the region. The seeded cups will remain with the First Bloom program, and will be planted in a First Bloom garden at the LBJ Memorial Grove in late April 2008.

First Tax Time Shred-A-Thon A Smashing Success

The first tax time shred-a-thon, community yard sale, and car wash were held on Saturday, April 26 in the parking lots of the George Washington Middle School on Mount Vernon Avenue. In excess of $2,700 in net proceeds was raised to benefit after-school and summer programming at the Alexandria-Olympic Branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington.

The event was sponsored by the Blumel Adams Group, a partnership within Keller Williams Old Town Realty. The group’s principals, Dayna Blumel and Kerry Adams, are both members of the Alexandria-Olympic Club’ s Board of Directors.

Fabulous weather brought out 25 community members who sold their “treasures” at very hot prices. A few dealers from the Eastern Shore snapped up some great buys, and two vendors had a side bet going on who could sell their crock pots for more money.

While the yard sale was in full swing, members of the Boys & Girls Club washed cars, and a secure shredding truck processed 200+ boxes of papers and files while their owners watched technology in progress on the truck’s monitor. Burgers and hot dogs added to the festivities, and participants received logo tee shirts commemorating the event.

“This was an incredibly successful event for our first time out,” said Dayna Blumel, one of the organizers.

“In fact, we can’t wait to do it again,” she added.

“Now we know that this can become an annual community activity, all in support of a great Alexandria organization,” added Kerry Adams, the other organizer.

Plans are already in the works for 2009.

Download our event flyer here!

Six Alexandria-Olympic Club Members Earn Guitars Through National Guitars Not Guns® Music Program

Six members of the Alexandria-Olympic Branch and two members from the Brent Place Club completed and passed their tests in the Guitars Not Guns® Music Program.

Guitars Not Guns® Music Program is a national initiative designed to dissuade young people from becoming involved with guns and violence by interesting them in playing a musical Instrument. Founded in Georgia in 1992, Guitars not Guns® now operates chapters in 12 states, including the Commonwealth of Virginia. The program also has a chapter in Canada.

Brent Place was the first Club to participate, and Alexandria was second. The program has since spread to two clubs in Fairfax, one in Prince William, and one in Fredericksburg.

The Alexandria-Fairfax Region salutes its young people for displaying their proficiency in playing the guitar and for turning away from guns and violence.

The youth who passed their tests and received guitars were: Samirah, Mannan, Hattan, Destiny, Shayla, Deja, Cornelius and Devonte. The staff pictured are Alston Waller and Khalil Ahmed.