TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY-FOUR
from the president
Established in 2006 by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Lambda Kappa Omega Chapter(LKO), the Educational and Charitable Foundation (ECF) provides academic achievement programs and scholarships, advances culture and civic engagement, enhances economic empowerment, and promotes health, wellness, and social welfare throughout Fairfax County and Northern Virginia communities through partnerships and strategic alliances.
It is with great gratitude that I present the Educational and Charitable Foundation’s 2024 Community Impact Report. This report provides a transparent look at our programs, financials, and the impact of your invaluable support. It is a testament to the shared vision and dedication of the individuals and organizations who make our mission possible.
At the heart of our work is the unwavering commitment of our volunteers and donors. Your generosity and time enable us to advance educational opportunities, support charitable endeavors, and strengthen our community in meaningful ways. We are deeply thankful for your ongoing support and dedication to the Educational and Charitable Foundation.
Today, we remain committed to carrying forward a legacy of excellence in education and service with every program, scholarship, and initiative we undertake.
On behalf of the entire Educational and Charitable Foundation team, thank you for your ongoing partnership. Together, we empower our community for a brighter tomorrow through education, service, and philanthropy.
Warmest Regards
Eugenia R. Gardner, Ph.D. President
Scholarships
Empowering Generation Next for Leadership
$337,750 awarded in scholarships since 2012.
24 years of community service and engagement leadership.
72 scholarship recipients.
$20,000 awarded in scholarships in 2024.
The Educational and Charitable Foundation’s scholarship program embodies our commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders. Our scholarships recognize and celebrate students who excel academically, demonstrate a strong commitment to community service, and exhibit exceptional leadership qualities.
Scholarship RECIPIENTS
MacKenzie Skinner
HBCU Scholarship Recipient Hampton University
Sierra Warden
Estelle Gaymon Scholarship Recipient West Virginia University
Caleb Rucker
STEM Scholarship Recipient
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Owen Smith
Kozy Kerchiefs™ Scholarship Recipient College of William and Mary
Enhancing EDUCATION
Empowering Public Educators
The Educational and Charitable Foundation’s Teacher Grant Program is a vital initiative that underscores our dedication to supporting public educators and fostering excellence in education within Fairfax County Public Schools. By providing resources and funding, this program enables teachers to implement innovative projects and enhance their students’ learning experiences. We are proud to partner with the talented educators at Lutie Coates Elementary and Riverside Elementary Schools, whose commitment to shaping young minds reflects the core values of our foundation.
Together, we strive to create enriching educational opportunities that empower students and strengthen our community.
Lutie Coates Elementary School was awarded $2,500 to purchase laptops and a Talk and Listen Wireless Language Interpretation System. This essential technology will facilitate a more interactive learning environment and enhance communication for students and families who speak multiple languages, ensuring that all children have access to quality education.
Riverside Elementary School was granted $3,750 to support three impactful teacher projects. The funding will cover a field trip to the Children’s Museum, acquiring new library books, and teacher professional development opportunities. These initiatives are designed to enrich the educational experience, encourage creativity, and foster a love for learning among students.
“Education is the foundation for success, and we are proud to partner with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in this important work.”
LaRonda Peterson Principal of Riverside Elementary School
ECF joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®, Lambda Kappa Omega Chapter, in congratulating 42 families who graduated from the Coates Elementary Parenting Academy. These dedicated parents spent 9 months attending classes focused on supporting and advancing their children’s academic success.
Empowering OUR COMMUNITY
ECF and LKO donated 100 sleeping bags to the Katherine Handley Family Shelter as part of our mission to support vulnerable members of our community. This contribution provides warmth and comfort to individuals and families in need, reflecting our commitment to addressing homelessness and fostering a spirit of care and compassion. We are honored to support the shelter’s vital work and to play a small role in bringing hope and dignity to those facing challenging circumstances.
Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack™ (CHIPP)
Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, the number of food-insecure residents in Fairfax County has doubled. Nearly 75,000 residents are food insecure, and about 60,000 children qualify for free and reduced meals in Fairfax County Public Schools.
ECF invested $9,000 in the CHIPP™ initiative in 2024.
Through the Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack™ (CHIPP), ECF, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Lambda Kappa Omega (LKO) chapter provides weekend and holiday meals for children within local communities. CHIPP is Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated’s™ most ambitious childhood hunger program.
650
CHIPP Bags were packed in 2024.
75,000 Fairfax County residents are food insecure.
60,000 children qualify for free and reduced meals in Fairfax County Public Schools.
Kozy Kerchiefs™ and Kozy Kaps™
ECF’s Kozy KerchiefTM and Kozy KapsTM program provides comfort and confidence to individuals undergoing chemotherapy and cancer treatments.
In response to patient and caregiver needs, in 2024, working with LKO, ECF expanded the Kozy KerchiefsTM and Kozy KapsTM program to provide port covers and mastectomy pillows.
This year’s event featured Thrivers’ Corner, interactive cancer prevention and awareness workshops led by cancer treatment providers and wellness professionals.
Presented workshops addressed:
• Healthy Thriving Bodies: Combining Nutrition with Healthy Lifestyles
• Toolkit for Thrivers: Mending the Mind with the Body
• Toolkit for Children: Supporting Children of Thrivers
• Care-Receiving for the Caregivers
Thank you to our 2024 Kozy KerchiefsTM and Kozy KapsTM event volunteers, presenters and speakers:
• INOVA Peterson Life with Cancer
• Ravvy Cakes, LLC
• Fairfax Church of Christ
• Volunteer Fairfax
• Dr. Vanessa Allen
• Crystal Joseph
• Dawn Marie Alston, Chef & Owner Ravy Cakes, LLC
• Mary Kay Mecca, RN, BSN, OCN, INOVA Peterson Life with Cancer
• Karen Archer, MSW, INOVA Peterson Life with Cancer
• Felicea C. Meyer-DeLoatch, MSW, LCSW, CEO, The Growth and Healing HUB
• Tracy Bunch, Senior Therapeutic Specialist, Gilead Sciences
• JOANN Fabric & Crafts (Fairfax Store)
• In 2024, ECF donated 650 items to 16 national and local wellness and cancer organizations.
• Since 2002, about 3,000 Kozy Kerchiefs™ and Kozy Kaps™ have been distributed to Northern Virginia and national cancer treatment and wellness communities.
I work at Children’s National Health Systems, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Washington, DC on the hematology/oncology unit. I’m an art therapist that is funded through a non-profit called Tracy’s Kids. We received your generous donation of head coverings. We very much appreciate the thought and care put into this donation. We distributed the caps to patients in the Clinic for Cancer and Blood Disorders, by many inpatient families selected caps as well.
Jane W.
Thank you for thinking of me during a difficult time with breast cancer. I was given a Kozy Kap to keep my head warm, but it also warmed by heart.
Dee B.
Thank you so much for the donation of kerchiefs to the Cancer Hospital’s Patient & Resource Center. We have a boutique that provides lead coverings for patients and your caps will be a wonderful edition. Thank you for thinking of us and our patients.
Jacqueline J.
LKO and The Educational and Charitable Foundation delivered Kozy Kerchiefs and Kozy Kaps to the Step Sisters, the Childhood Awareness Project, the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Washington, and Howard University Hospital.
The
Working with the Zeta Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporate, ECF provided 44 personalized gifts at the 2025 Holiday Party for families from the Katherine Henley Shelter, Stonegate Village Apartments, Cedar Ridge Apartments, Crescent Apartments, and West Glade Apartments.
ECF awarded a $3,000 Community Empowerment Grant to support the Loudoun Coalition on Women and Girls (LCWG) Girl emPower and Women emPower programs, which uplift women and girls in the Loudoun County community.
ECF partners with The Growth and Healing HUB, a behavioral health and wellness clinic of excellence located in Alexandria, Virginia, to provide mental health resources in the Gum Springs Community. The HUB’s mission is to grow and nurture the health and emotional well-being of all children, youth, and families living in Fairfax County.
In-person and virtual initiatives were sponsored during 2024, including workshops focused on:
• Women & Wellness: The Mind-Body Connection
• Resources for Thriving Families: Wellness for Children & Adolescents
• Envisioning Calm & Happiness: Combating Anxiety & Depression
Together, we are healing and strengthening our community.
Community & Family Yoga at the Gum Springs Community Center
2024 BOOK SIGNING AND SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT Ceremony
The Educational and Charitable Foundation (ECF), working with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Lambda Kappa Omega Chapter, held its annual Book Signing and Scholarship Awards Celebration in February.
The 2022 Book Signing featured year’s book signing featured the Honorable Eric Holder, 82nd U.S. Attorney General, internationally acclaimed civil rights leader, legal scholar, and New York Times Best-selling Author. Holder was the first African American to hold the position of U.S. attorney general. Holder discussed the book, “Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past and Imperiled Future of the Vote – A History, A Crisis, A Plan.”
Quilting
History, One Stitch at a Time
In 2024, we celebrated the importance and tradition of quilting in the African American community, which began in the 17th century when enslaved people used fabric scraps for their blankets. Quilting was a communal activity that provided and created space for sharing skills and stories, sorrows and celebrations.
Today, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® members continue these traditions and generously displayed their quilts during the book signing and scholarship announcement celebration.
Board of Directors2025-2026
Eugenia R. Gardner, Ph.D., President
Regina Myers, Vice President
Deborah Dupree, Secretary
Denise Whetstone, Treasurer
Keira Buggs, Assistant Treasurer
Renee Harrison, Financial Secretary
Karen Hughes, Education Director
Kerry Cropper, Communications Director
Marcia Morris, Ex-Officio Member
Claudine Skinner, Ex-Officio Member
Shawnette Adams
Reginia Benjamin
Jasmine Coaxum
Oritta Essien
Sherese Johnson
Brenda Irons-LeCesne
Kelly Lucas
Angela Mitchell
Karen Smaw
LaVerne Walker
Brenda Welburn