Annual fundraising by Friends of Reston helps send children to Reston Camps
Friends of Reston’s annual fundraising campaign is underway with a goal to send at least 30 economically disadvantaged children to Reston Association (RA) camps this summer. Each child accepted into the Reston Camps Scholarship Program receives tuition, tee shirts, and transportation with funds donated by individuals and businesses in Reston and beyond. Everyone who can make a monetary contribution to the campaign can donate online or by check to the Friends of Reston Camp Scholarship Fund.
The volunteer board of directors of Friends of Reston (FOR) has built the annual Camp Scholarship Fund since 2001, following the resolve of Reston founder, Bob Simon, that every child should have the advantage of attending summer camp. Hundreds of children have been able to attend Reston Camps over the years thanks to the generosity of donors who have given amounts of $10 to $2,000, and more. Donors such as Realtors at Long and Foster, Red’s Table, The Paramount Condominium Association, and many others have championed this campaign, knowing they are making a positive impact on children’s lives, which ultimately benefits the whole community. Donations to FOR’s Camp Scholarship Fund are tax-deductible and all are applied directly to this program, helping families who could not otherwise afford the valuable experience of Reston Camps, where children can make new friends, learn new skills, and explore their community.
This year’s campaign has begun at Red’s Table, an independent, locally owned restaurant at South Lakes Village Center. Red’s Table customers have the option to “round up” the sum of their meal bill by adding any amount as a contribution to Friends of Reston for the Camp Scholarship Fund. In 2021, the restaurant was able to contribute more than $2,500 for this worthy cause. “We hope Red’s Table can provide an even larger contribution this year with the help of our customers,” said owner Ryan Tracy, a native Restonian. “We also encourage other restaurants and retailers to join in by establishing their own campaign for Reston Camp Scholarships, and we can offer advice on how to do this.” The Red’s Table Round Up for Friends of Reston will continue through the Reston Camps season, until mid-August. The lakeside views and delicious food served indoors and outdoors have been a big draw to Red’s Table since it opened in 2015.
Donations to the Friends of Reston Camp Scholarship Fund can be made:
- Online at www.friendsofreston.org with credit card, designating “Camp Scholarships” in the payment notes.
- By mail with a check payable to Friends of Reston, 12000 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Note “Camp Scholarships” on the memo line.
- By participating in a fundraising effort presented by FOR’s partners this summer.
- Through the website, Reston.org, RA’s Webtrac registration system for events and activities also offers an option to donate to FOR’s Camp Scholarship Fund.
Donations to FOR are tax-deductible and accepted all year round for a variety of projects for the benefit of the Reston community. For more information, call Kia Cole-Hines, Executive Director of Friends of Reston, at 703-435-7980 or email kia@reston.org.
About Friends of Reston
Friends of Reston (FOR) was established in 1999 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to support Reston Association (RA) through charitable, educational, and scientific activities. FOR operates with an all-volunteer board of directors that works together to raise funds through donations and special events for a variety of community projects. FOR projects include children’s scholarships for Reston Camps, tennis, and swimming, the Reston Tree Fund, habitat restoration, watershed monitoring, RA facility enhancements, film nights, and more. In recognition of its ongoing charitable work, FOR was honored with a Best of Reston award in 2016 and received the Community Volunteer Partner award from Reston Association in 2017. FOR’s flagship achievement is Nature House, the LEED Gold certified, environmental education building that opened in 2009 at the 72-acre Walker Nature Center located at 11450 Glade Drive in Reston. The Friends of Reston office is located at 12000 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20191. To learn more about FOR and to make tax-deductible donations, visit www.friendsofreston.org, and follow @Friends of Reston activities on Facebook.
