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Tannia Talento is the former Chair of the School Board for Arlington Public Schools and served as a 
member from 2017-2020. She is a Latina community leader, activist, and a co-founder of ASHPA, the Arlington Schools Hispanic Parents Association. 
Service Above Self
August 29, 2021 -- Blood Drive Success, Again
The spring blood drive on April 25th was a great success, providing Inova Blood Services with 32 donors -- meeting the quarterly goal.
The drive was co-sponsored by Arlington Rotary and the Rock Spring United Church of Christ. Hugh and Barbara Barton assisted with registration duties. Hugh led the appeal for donors. (Our next blood drive is scheduled for August 29th.)
April 9th, 2021 -- We Doubled Your Donations to Arlington Thrive
ARC President Chelsi Dildine presented Arlington Thrive Executive Director Andrew Schneider with a check for $16,138 for same-day emergency financial relief for families at risk of homelessness. A Rotary member fueled a special fundraising drive in February with a dollar-for-dollar matching challenge. Many, many thanks to all who contributed!
Rotary's motto is "Service Above Self," but our club activities also are fun. ARC's President and Arlington Thrive's Executive Director enjoyed practicing social-distancing before presenting the club's donation check.
January 20th, 2021 -- A Successful MLK Day of Service
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For the third year in a row, Arlington Rotary Club sponsored a no-sew fleece blanket assembly project during Volunteer Arlington's Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteer Day. Two hundred thirty (230) volunteers assembled 249 fleece blankets! This year was a little different! Everything was done in a Covid-safe fashion with contact-free pickups and returns of the blanket kits. The blankets were donated to three local non-profits, who in turn gave the blankets to their clients. They were:
This volunteer project also made the news: www.fox5dc.com/video/891065
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April 24th, 2020 -- Food for Local Families in Need
Arlington Rotary Club recently raised over $10,000 to alleviate hunger in Arlington. One half of the funds raised was passed on to Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) and the other half to Bayou Bakery's participation in the Real Food for Kids initiative.
WJLA has a piece on Bayou Bakery and Real Food for Kids.
Packing Beans for AFAC
On September 30th, Rotarians (and three future Rotarians) were at Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) packing beans for distribution. (AFAC buys in bulk; we package.)
Backpacks for Students—Delivered!
We have met our goal of 20 backpacks, filled with school supplies. Special thanks to David Sutfin who personally handled all – yes, all – the logistics. Julie Booth, APAH Volunteer Program Manager joined us at our last meeting, and departed with the well-stuffed backpacks.
Empowering Enrichment for Arlington Schools
Arlington Rotary Club provided $5,000 in scholarships for Key Elementary School students
and Oakridge Elementary school students for the 2018-2019 school year. The scholarships were used to pay students' tuition for Empowering Enrichment, an after-school program that provides students with learning opportunities on a wide range of subjects, including math, science, dance, slight of hand, and more. The goal: Assist students who otherwise would not have been financially able to participate in these enriching programs to share these opportunities with their fellow students. Validated comments below:
and Oakridge Elementary school students for the 2018-2019 school year. The scholarships were used to pay students' tuition for Empowering Enrichment, an after-school program that provides students with learning opportunities on a wide range of subjects, including math, science, dance, slight of hand, and more. The goal: Assist students who otherwise would not have been financially able to participate in these enriching programs to share these opportunities with their fellow students. Validated comments below:Dear Rotary,
Many of our students have benefitted from the Rotary scholarships your group has generously provided over the years. The little girl in kindergarten, who was so obsessed with ballet that she wore skirts everyday and called them tutus, is the 4th grader who still loves dance classes. The shy, new student who came last year is an outgoing artist in the sketching class. The student who told me that she loves sewing and weaving because she learned it from her grandmother, is continuing to grow her skills in the sewing class. Thanks so much for all you do,
-- Key Elementary Teacher
I cannot express how grateful I feel as a teacher that I’m able to offer scholarship enrichment opportunities to our students. You have been such an integral part of their development and growth outside of the normal school day. The recipients are those who don’t have access to Legos or technology at home, so now they’re able to utilize these resources to build their creative and analytical minds. On a personal level, they are so excited to take these classes. Second graders often need reminders to be responsible for their actions, but my students are fully aware of their schedules. They actually remind me and say, “Today I’m going to take the Minecraft class!” sharing their enthusiasm for all who are willing to listen. So, it is with extreme humility and gratitude that I say, “THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!”
-- Key Elementary Teacher
-- Key Elementary Teacher
Many of our students have benefitted from the Rotary scholarships your group has generously provided over the years. The little girl in kindergarten, who was so obsessed with ballet that she wore skirts everyday and called them tutus, is the 4th grader who still loves dance classes. The shy, new student who came last year is an outgoing artist in the sketching class. The student who told me that she loves sewing and weaving because she learned it from her grandmother, is continuing to grow her skills in the sewing class. Thanks so much for all you do,
-- Key Elementary Teacher
“It is very fun to learn new things that you don’t know. We learned about codes that will control computers and tell them what to do.”
-- Key Elementary Student and Scholarship recipient
-- Key Elementary Student and Scholarship recipient
“I love dancing with Ms. Shona!! Even if you get the steps mixed up, she will always help you get it right. She really makes sure everyone is comfortable and confident!!”
-- Oakridge Elementary Student and Scholarship recipientWhen Rotary Club donates to enrichment programs members are funding independence, joy, mentoring, friendships and learning. These scholarships make it possible for a kid to pick her own class, explore what she wants to explore. The support the 2nd grade boy in his magic class receives is invisible to him and to others. They just get a chance to be regular kids instead of recipients of aid, and experience what it’s like to have their own agency and choices. This is a basic human need as children become the adults they are destined to be. Experiences like Enrichment may seem small but they set these young people up for success in life and help them with confidence. And, exploring cooking, yoga, dancing or chess or magic is fun and also a way to learn and interact with interesting adults who can mentor and engage with them in smaller groups.
-- Jenny Sammis, Oakridge Elementary School PTA President, 2018
-- Jenny Sammis, Oakridge Elementary School PTA President, 2018
I have had the pleasure of teaching dance to Empowering Enrichment Rotary Club Scholarship students at both Key and Oakridge Elementary. The Oakridge scholarship student had already been given a PTA scholarship in years past, which meant she was not eligible to take my class through this means again. The Rotary scholarship allowed the student to do her favorite thing - dance! She served as a leader in the class by helping to lead warm ups and by taking a front row spot in the performance dance. I know that her participation in the class boosted her confidence and gave her a real sense of pride in her hard work. At Key, I had multiple scholarship recipients in my dance class. Without the Rotary scholarships I believe we would have been under enrolled, which would have led to the class being cancelled. So, from that perspective the Rotary scholarships, directly and indirectly, helped all 13 students participate in an active, creative arts activity. We had a great group of students who really bonded. They learned a dance using flags as props. We decorated these flags to represent our own personalities and then waved them proudly as we danced. The dancers showed so much enthusiasm and pride for their final performance dance.
-- Shona Colglazier, Urban Kangaroo Owner
