The event was held Friday, October 8, 2021, at 7 pm EST, and as was the case last year, we once again hosted the event in a virtual format to protect the health and safety of all its participants. The theme this year was Building a Community that Works for Everyone and highlighted a record level of giving from the Community Foundation throughout the region.
Community Foundation awarded more than $2 million of emergency response support last year to address the immediate impact of COVID. This year the Community Foundation continued to address the fallout from the pandemic with the launch of our Build Back – Dream Forward Initiative. To date Build Back – Dream Forward has awarded $530,300 in grants to over 20 local organizations. For a complete list click here.
“We launched Build Back Dream Forward last fall to help those who had been disproportionately impacted by the virus and its fallouts. Our goals for the initiative are to promote more social and economic mobility, racial justice and equity, and more inclusive systems of economic growth,” said Eileen Ellsworth, president and CEO, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.
More than 500 business, philanthropic and community leaders registered for this year’s virtual event to raise unrestricted funds to support the Community Foundation’s ability to grow philanthropy to respond to need and seed innovation throughout the region. The event included an online auction and raffle, a video presentation highlighting our work in the region, and opportunities to engage and connect with our community.
The event featured the presentation of the 2021 Community Leadership Award to Karen Schaufeld, philanthropist, author, entrepreneur, and lawyer.
“Karen is a strategic and highly effective advocate for the needs of Northern Virginia. Her passion is clearly contagious on behalf of the entire region,” said Ellsworth.
“It means so much for me to win this award because I have observed other leaders, people I admire receiving the award. It’s never just me. There’s just a whole bunch of people doing a whole lot of great work,” said Schaufeld. “I see a problem and feel like I have to do something about it. It’s like can I actually do something with my time and my resources. Can I actually be effective”?
“I can’t think of anyone who deserves this award more than Karen. I think it’s fair to say she spends a majority of her time thinking about how she can improve the world around her,” Kirsten Langhorne, Langhorne Custom Homes.
Hosted by NBC4’s Leon Harris, 2021 Raise the Region virtual event is available now for viewing at www.cfnova.org/RaiseTheRegion.
Support for the Community Foundation’s 2021 Raise the Region Event was provided by Signature Sponsors Claude Moore Charitable Foundation; Jeane Dixon Children to Children Foundation; John and Nina Toups Charitable Fund; Nolan Family Charitable Fund; Schaufeld Family Foundation; Fred Schaufeld; Tony & Annette Nader; Cliff & Debbie White; SWaN Investors Management. Community Leadership Sponsors Ted and Lynn Leonsis; Truist; Auction Sponsor Pohanka Automotive Group; Photo Engagement Sponsor Monument Wealth Management; Raffle Sponsor Caimi-Markis Family Fund; and Community Wealth Building Sponsors Tom and Hillary Baltimore; The Blackthorn Foundation; David and Amy Bosserman; Dewberry; Eileen Ellsworth and Bob Weil; Robert and Pamela Kipps; Lubetzky Family Foundation; Telos Corporation; Washington Gas; John H. Wolff & Wealthspire Advisors. For a complete list of sponsors please visit our website here.
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