Development News Not Your Typical Year in NFA’s Mission Advancement Office The pandemic made gathering together for all of the favorite annual NFA events like Fall Fest, Homecoming, and Pizza Bingo nearly impossible this year. This was a disappointment, considering that many events planned to celebrate NFA’s 100th Anniversary this year had to be postponed. However, the Mission Advancement Office (MAO) worked hard to come up with ways to engage students and families while keeping safe.
In December, MAO worked with merchants on Germantown Avenue to have a Sip & Shop event. Over 60 people came on an uncharacteristically beautiful December day to shop for holiday gifts and have lunch or dinner on the Avenue. Merchants provided raffle prizes and a percentage of sales to NFA. Special thanks all the shops that participated and to current parent Christine Benedum of Benedum Law for allowing the use of her office as the check in point and for being our bag sponsor.
Building on the success of virtual games and events last spring, MAO set out to create some new and different virtual events this year. In December, A/R Workshop conducted an NFA virtual craft night with some of their wood kits. We also had two virtual Cook Along demonstrations, with Chef Ken Ulsh from Jack Francis Catering who demonstrated a delicious Valentine’s dinner. Our own Dr. Ryan Killeen got us into the Irish spirit for St. Patrick’s Day as he prepared a traditional shepherd’s pie and savory scone. Special guests Meg and Anne McNally showed us how to make McNally’s luscious Guinness cake, too. 20
