Capture the Heart: Giving Back for the Greater Good BY KELLY MACCONOMY Recently nominated for the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s 40 Under 40 Award, Jennifer Masi is the epitome of a good deed doer. Jen has worked at the Children’s Law Center in Washington, D.C. since 2011. In 2017 she became the Pro Bono Director for the nonprofit organization, representing at-risk children living in homes suffering the gravest job, food, and shelter insecurities. Jen lives in Alexandria’s West End with her husband, singer/songwriter Jason Masi. Jen has worked for the CLC at home during the pandemic. Jason continued to perform remotely by doing “quarantunes” concerts several times a week and then resumed live concerts at outdoor venues around the DMV. Jen, 39, and Jason, 41, attended the same high school in Fredericksburg. After Jen asked Jason, who was home from his freshman year at Longwood University, to the prom, their first real date was at Denny’s. It was love at first date. Jen attended the University of Virginia to earn a degree in history with a minor in political science. After graduation, Jen taught school
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Photo: Diane Canney
A COVID Hope Quilt panel made by Brianna, age 9, advocating for children in support of nonprofit Children’s Law Center.
in Charlottesville before entering the George Washington University Law School. Jason was already having success as a musician tour-
ing with his college band, Jubeus, opening for acts such as Everclear, Blind Mellon, and SOJA. In 2010 Jason went solo, performing at more
than 250 events a year. Songs from his albums have featured on CBS’s long-running soap opera The Young and the Restless. Despite Jason’s being continually on the road and Jen’s dealing with at-risk children’s constant legal protection concerns, they make time to raise awareness and fundraise for good causes. Jason has performed to benefit Cancer Can Rock, Loudoun Hunger Relief, the Sweet Julia Grace Foundation (a local pediatric cancer make-a-wish type foundation), breast cancer research awareness, Leashes of Valor (a canine rescue placement for veterans), and most recently, the Children’s Law Center. Last fall, Diane and Mike Canney hosted a funds and awareness-raising event to benefit the Children’s Law Center at their Sunset Hills Vineyard in Purcellville. Some $5,000 was raised from the sales of wine that day. Jason performed for three hours, drawing the usual crowd of dedicated followers from across the DMV. Funds were also raised that day for breast cancer research at Johns Hopkins University through the
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Photo: Diane Canney
Photo: Scott MacConomy
Above: Alexandrians Jennifer and Jason Masi at Sunset Hills Vineyard for a concert performance by Jason benefitting the Children’s Law Center where Jen is the pro bono Director. At left top: Children engaged in the Paint-A-Quilt Panel event during the Children’s Law Center fundraising concert with Jason Masi at Sunset Hills Vineyard. At left bottom: Diane Canney and Jen Masi at the Sunset Hills Vineyard event for the Children’s Law Center. Photo: Scott MacConomy
MARCH 2021
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