Sholarship Fund 2019 Holiday Soiree– Spreading Holiday Cheer, Community, and Support for College Scholarships
Alexandria women gathered on December 5thto toast the holidays and support scholarships for local students in need at the home of Alexandria restauranteur Stephanie Babin in Del Ray. The group enjoyed bourbon cocktails and jambalaya, compliments of Neighborhood Restaurant Group while supporting The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, a local non-profit based at T.C. Williams that each year awards $1 million in college scholarships to T.C. Williams students with financial need. The event has so far raised a total of $18,000 which will provide scholarships for six students in the T.C. Williams Class of 2020.
The gathering included longtime Alexandria business and community leaders and scholarship supporters, members of the Scholarship Fund Board of Directors and the Scholarship Fund Spring Black-Tie Gala Committee, as well as community members who came to learn about the Fund for the first time.CLICK to View the Full Photo Album.
“We are so grateful to have you with us this evening. To those of you who have been supporting this cause for literally decades, we couldn’t do it without you,” said Scholarship Board Chair Priscilla Goodwin. “And for those of you who are new to the mission of helping send bright Alexandria kids with financial need to college, Alexandria is all about community. We welcome you and are so very happy to bring you into the Scholarship Fund of community,” Goodwin continued.
2019 T.C. Williams graduate and scholarship recipient Divine Tsasa Nzita addressed the group. Tsasa Nzita came to the Alexandria from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 7thgrade. During her time at T.C. Williams she was student government president, an honors student, cadet with the JROTC program and a recipient of the Military U.S. Marine Corps Award for Scholastic Excellence. She received the Scholarship Fund’s TC Class of ’89 scholarship provided through the generosity of the Sandoz Foundation, and is currently studying international relations at Northern Virginia Community College. She hopes to serve in the U.S. Military and work in foreign affairs.
“When I found out I received the scholarship last spring, I was so overwhelmed with gratitude that good things were happening to me,” said Tsasa Nzita. “Without the Scholarship Fund, it would have been incredibly difficult for me to be where I am today. There is an African proverb: To educate a woman is to raise a nation. Thank you for believing I can help raise a nation,” Tsasa Nzita concluded.
Donations to support the Women’s Holiday Soiree and help fund scholarships can be made until Thursday, December 12th Click to Give.
The Scholarship Fund also announced at the event that their 2020 Marquee fundraising event, the Spring Black-Tie Gala, this year will celebrate the dawn of the 2020’s with “A Salute to the Roaring Twenties Black-Tie Gala!” The event will be held on April 25that the Mark Center Hilton at 6pm. It will be a black-tie event, roaring twenties attire optional. Click for exclusive sponsorship information and to donate an auction item or call 703-824-6730. Tickets available shortly!
