4 minute read
Spotlight on Nonprofi t
SPOTLIGHT
on non-profit
New ECF president Robyn Jones at last the January’s 2020 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service “Snack Pack” event, at which more than 1,800 packs were assembled. (Photo taken at event held pre-pandemic)
BY SUE BALDANI
It awards six scholarships each year, brings the community together to sew kerchiefs and caps for children and adults undergoing treatment for cancer (and then delivers them to hospitals all over Northern Virginia), and hosts an enrichment program to introduce girls to STEM, money management, etiquette, social skills, and much more.
What is it?
It’s the Educational and Charitable Foundation of Merrifield. Founded in 2001, the foundation partners with local organizations to give back to Fairfax County and communities in Northern Virginia. It also provides grants to organizations that share its vision and mission: to empower its community for a brighter tomorrow through education, service and philanthropy.
The foundation provides academic achievement programs and scholarships, advances culture and civic engagement, enhances economic empowerment, and promotes health, wellness, and social welfare through global partnerships and strategic alliances.
Robyn Jones became the foundation’s president in January of this year and has focused on expanding the foundation’s impact and presence.
“I was inspired to become president because I want to grow the foundation; I want us to have a more prevalent footprint in the Northern Virginia community,” Jones said. Some ways in which she plans to do this are by increasing donor registries and donor engagements, as well as building relationships and networking throughout the area.
“By joining the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce,” Jones added, “the foundation is in a better position to meet these objectives.”
RIGHT: Kozy Kerchief and Kozy Kaps events encourage people of all ages to come together to make kerchiefs and caps for children and adults undergoing cancer treatment. Here volunteers Laverne Buchanan, Renee Harrison and Keely Buchanan are clearly having a good time for a good cause. FAR RGHT: Volunteer Deborah Parks donates her time and sewing skills at one of the Educational and Charitable Foundation’s Kozy Kerchief and Kozy Kaps events. (Photos taken at events held pre-pandemic)
Reaching goals is not an issue for Jones, whose “day job” is director of customer engagement at Carium. She has worked in the healthcare IT industry for more than two decades and holds three degrees: a bachelor’s in mathematics and master’s degrees in information technology and in health informatics.
Jones became involved with the foundation through her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and its Lambda Kappa Omega chapter, which was instrumental in establishing the foundation. This is her fourth year on the board, which is made up of 14 members, all of whom are volunteers. The organization doesn’t have any paid staff.
Two of the organizations the foundation regularly partners with are Food for Others and Volunteer Fairfax. The foundation’s “Snack Pack” program is a joint effort of the three organizations to provide snacks, food and beverages to underprivileged students in Fairfax elementary schools.
“This [program] is focused on food insecurities so that no child goes hungry,” Jones said. “Needs have grown significantly this past year and one of our goals now is to increase our giving around food insecurity, not only for children, but for adults as well. We want to be able to impact the community in a broader way. I live in one of the most vibrant counties, but we have to remember that there are still people who are struggling and still need help with food.”
At last year’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, volunteers with the foundation and Volunteer Fairfax assembled more than 1,800 “Snack Packs.”
“We work with Volunteer Fairfax quite often,” Jones said, “and they’ve supported us by providing volunteers for our signature program, Kozy Kerchief and Kozy Kaps.”
The Kozy Kerchief and Kozy Kaps program, while on hold for the time being, encourages local people to sew kerchiefs and make caps for adults and children undergoing cancer treatments. These are then distributed to local cancer centers throughout Northern Virginia, such as the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, as well as to centers across the country.
Another program the foundation offered before the pandemic (and which it hopes to restart soon), is geared specifically to young girls and called the “Little Miss AKA Youth Enrichment Program.” AKA stands for Alpha Kappa Alpha.
“The program introduces participants to a number of things, such as STEM and STEM careers,” Jones said. “We also take them into D.C. to tour the embassies.”
During the six-month program, participants are also taught everyday skills such as the importance of saving money and how to do so. Other highlights include etiquette and social graces, managing peer pressure, and health, wellness, and fitness education.
“Our focus on helping the health and wellness of women and children in the area has been very effective,” Jones said. “We have had a huge impact on the lives of children with our youth enrichment programs, as well as with our health efforts.”
To assist teens with their educational goals, ECF gives about 20 scholarships a year, totaling from $20,000 to $45,000 depending on the year and fundraising results. In 2020, the foundation awarded $27,000 in scholarships.
“The one closest to my heart,” Jones said, “is the Kozy Kerchief and Kozy Kaps Scholarship, which is awarded to a student in need of financial assistance as a result of having a parent who has been affected by cancer.”
HOW TO HELP
Like most nonprofits, the Educational and Charitable Foundation always needs funding, volunteers and community partners. For more information or to direct a teen to the scholarships section of the ECF website, visit www.ec-foundation.org.
