The Women's Club in the News

GFFN's Scholarship Board is in the news! GFFN's annual scholarship recipients were honored at our fall kick-off luncheon on September 18th. Please click on the link below to read more about it.

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2015/sep/22/great-falls-friends-neighbors-awards-scholarships/

Restaurant owner Nora Pouillon was the guest speaker at our fall kick-off luncheon. She also signed copies of her new book, My Organic Life. Please see a photo at the link below.

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/photos/2015/sep/21/80258/

GFFN's own Raylynn Oliver presented Friends of Riverbend Park President Timothy Hackman with a GFFN check for $730 to provide field trip scholarships to 120 Fairfax County students. Please view their photo on the slide bar above.

DID YOU KNOW....

GFFN IS A PHILANTHROPIC POWERHOUSE  ! 

In 2014-2015 GFFN   

• Bestowed $10,000 in scholarships to women in need at George Mason University and the Northern Virginia Community College in 2014-2015 school year and are committed to funding six $1000 scholarships in 2015-2016.  Enhancing Women's Lives Through Education!       
  
• Earned $4054 through White House Christmas Ornament Sales for Artemis House--Fairfax County's only 24 hour domestic violence shelter    
  
• Raised $1070  through a cooking demonstration with Chef Jacques at Chez Francois for Kids R First to support their efforts to supply school supplies and mini-scholarships for 25,000 students in Northern Virginia       
  
• Hosted our 34th annual Poetry Contest for Great Falls Elementary School and Awarded  $300  in U.S. Savings bonds to student poets during Poetry Month in April.  Treated the students and their teachers to an awards luncheon at Riverbend Country Club.  
  
• Donated $730 for Friends of River Bend Park to sponsor school field trips for students in need to the Park's Nature Center from our 50/50 raffles at the Fall Kick-Off and End-of-the-Year Luncheons   
  
• Knitted scarves and hats for Artemis House,  and twelve beautiful red scarves for Valentine care packages for parentless college students through Foster Care 2 Success, and baby quilts for local charities.
  
• Wrapped gifts Mother's Day weekend for a popular Reston gift shop and earned donations for Kids R First.    
  
• Sorted School Supplies for Kids R First for students in need in 90 Fairfax County schools.     
  
• GFFN's finest golfers participated in a golf tournament Fundraiser for Kids R First as well as other tournament fundraisers.    
  
• Donated to Lift Me UP and Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation in honor of cherished long time member and founder, Patricia McVeigh, an avid equestrian, who passed away  April 28, 2014.
  
• Collected more than 100 adorable teddy bears to Toys For Tots  campaign at Christmas through the Great Falls Firehouse. 
  

                           The GFFN 33rd ANNUAL POETRY LUNCHEON                               

The 33rd Annual Poetry Contest was an outstanding success. Chris Grindler transformed the foyer of River Bend Country Club into a spring time wonderland that set the tone for a special time for all 66 guests. The young poets' families and teachers thanked us for sponsoring the opportunity to showcase the student's personal expressions. The local Connection newspaper wrote a wonderful article about the event "Budding Bards At Great Falls Elementary.  Ladies' club awards Poetry winners, throws luncheon".  

See  http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2015/may/05/budding-bards-great-falls-elementary/       

Please Join us next year. 

This event could not have been possible without the help of our members. A big thank you to Claire Abbott, this year's Chairperson. Many thanks to judges Lucy Juncal, Pat Kuehnel, Mary Ann Nocerino, Raylynn Oliver, and Mary Stout. Thank you to Jackie Culhane, our welcome hostess. Thank you to Treasurer Carol Kamisky who handled finances and check in. Thank you to Raylynn Oliver for making beautiful decorative name tags. A huge thank you to Chris Grindler for transforming the foyer into a beautiful setting complete with antique poetry books and a fascinating arrangement of jars and flowers. Lastly, thank you to the club for supporting this long standing community outreach.