Kaine: Sequestration to Affect Education Funding in Virginia

Virginia’s junior senator calls sequestration ‘abdication of responsibility.’

The looming sequestration that is slated to cut military spending across the board will also cost Virginia about $48 million in federal funds for pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade education, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine told educators Friday in Alexandria. Speaking to local school officials and state education advocates at the Campagna Center in Old Town, Kaine, a Democrat, said the cuts would also eliminate 7,000 Head Start slots in the state. If the March 1 sequester goes through, 10,000 teacher jobs would be at risk nationwide, as well as funding for up to 7,200 special education teachers, aides and staff, according to Kaine’s office. Kaine, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, said he maintained hope sequestration could be avoided. “I …

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Campagna's New Neighbors Program Hires Director

Marcia D'Arcangelo has been a volunteer with the organization and was most recently employed at the Newseum.

The Campagna Center has named Marcia D’Arcangelo its new director of the New Neighbors ESL and Family Literacy Program. D’Arcangelo has served with Campagna as a program volunteer tutor and classroom teacher for four years. She most recently was senior program manager at the Newseum in Washington, DC. The New Neighbors program offers English language classes for immigrant and refugees in Alexandria and surrounding areas. Classes take place at the Fowler House at Christ Church. For more news about Alexandria nonprofits, sign up for the Del Ray Patch daily email newsletter.

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Campagna Center Receives Unexpected Gift of $48K

The gift comes from the estate of Shirley Susan Platt, who was an information research specialist at the Library of Congress.

The Campagna Center recently received a $48,000 gift from the estate of Shirley Susan Platt, an information research specialist at the Library of Congress who supported arts and human needs organizations. “This is truly an unexpected blessing and one that the center certainly has a need for given the many funding gaps we have to work to overcome every year,” said Campagna President and CEO Tammy Mann. “Most of the grants we receive do not cover the full costs of operating our programs.” The group must raise several hundred thousand dollars annually to serve the children, teens and adults in the Campagna initiatives such as Head Start and before and after school programs. For the quickest updates on Del Ray, "like" Del Ray Patch on Facebook…

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Photos: Scottish Christmas Walk in Old Town Alexandria

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Boat Parade of Lights Set to Sail the Potomac

Brightly lit sailboats and powerboats light up the Potomac River Saturday, Dec. 1 beginning at 5:15 p.m., culminating a day of holiday events in Old Town Alexandria.

Alexandria’s annual Boat Parade of Lights rings in December when dozens of colorfully lit powerboats and sailboats parade down the Potomac River. On Saturday, Dec. 1, at the new earlier start time of 5:15 p.m, the parade begins, led by Alexandria’s fireboat Vigilant and Washington, D.C.’s fireboat John H. Glenn Jr., named for the former astronaut and U.S. senator. The boats are dressed to impress a panel of judges who will award prizes in a dozen categories including Best in Show, Thinking Outside the Christmas Box and Hardiest Souls. Pre-parade festivities begin at 3 p.m. at the city marina behind the Torpedo Factory and include free photos with Santa Claus for kids and canines plus free hot cocoa and cider. This year’s boat parade is …

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Literacy Group Reorganizes, Expands Board

Wright to Read becomes an independent nonprofit and names a former state senator and a past president of The Giving Circle to its board.

Literacy advocates Wright to Read has separated from its parent foundation and plans to become a separate, independent nonprofit to improve its business structure. Frank and Betty Wright started the Wright to Read program in 1979 as a part of their family foundation. Since that time, Wright to Read has provided tutoring and mentoring services generally for Alexandria City Public Schools elementary school children who fall behind in reading skills. Wright to Read trains the volunteers who then read with a child for at least one hour per week. As part of the foundation, Wright to Read was administered from 1979 to 2010 by The Campagna Center, a community nonprofit serving Alexandria children and families. However, the program has grown, now …

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Annual Fashion Show to Benefit Campagna Center Set for Thursday

ABC-7-WJLA’s Britt McHenry to emcee Junior Friends of Campagna Center's 13th annual 'Toast to Fashion' event at Belle Haven Country Club.

The Junior Friends of The Campagna Center will hold their 13th Annual Toast to Fashion Thursday from 6:30-10 p.m. at Belle Haven Country Club. The annual event features a fashion show, marketplace, raffle, and cocktail reception. For the second year, ABC-7/WJLA’s Britt McHenry will handle emcee duties. Proceeds from the event help support programs of The Campagna Center, which offers outreach programs to Alexandria families and children. “We are grateful that such an event can bring together our community partners and friends for an evening of fun while raising critical funds that help us serve Alexandria’s most deserving children and families," said Tammy Mann, president and CEO of The Campagna Center, in a news release.  The event will …

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The Campagna Center Welcomes a New CEO

Tammy Mann officially began as The Campagna Center's president and CEO on Aug. 1

For Tammy Mann, accepting the position of president and CEO of The Campagna Center, allowed her career to come full circle. Mann, a Fairfax – and former Alexandria – resident, officially began her new job on Monday. She comes to the center with a background in psychology and experience in dealing with policy surrounding early education. “I’ve missed feeling grounded and involved at the community level,” Mann said last week. Prior to acquiring her new title, Mann worked at the United Negro College Fund as the executive director of the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute. In that role, Mann worked to inform policymakers about educational opportunities for African Americans. She also worked as the deputy executive director of the …

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