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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Del Ray Business Association presented a $10,511 check to the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria on Wednesday, delivering proceeds from this month's Bands & Brews summer bar crawl to a nonprofit that has awarded more than $24 million in scholarships since 1986.
The presentation came during the association's Cocktails & Connections happy hour at Continues Arcade, 1050 N. Fayette St., a new DRBA member that hosted the bimonthly networking event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The sixth annual Bands & Brews: Del Ray's Summer Bar Crawl was held Aug. 15 along Mount Vernon Avenue, with live music at more than 20 restaurants, trolley transportation, a costume contest and raffles. The Jen Walker Team was the presenting sponsor, and Sue Kovalsky represented the company at the check presentation.
Del Ray Business Association President Lauren Fisher presented the check alongside event co-chair Eva Hartman.
"You actually really change the trajectory of people's lives," Fisher told the scholarship fund's staff. "And smiling during it. We loved working with you."
Jasmine Milone, executive director of the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria and a 1985 graduate of the city's high school, thanked the Del Ray business community for its support.
"We're just so humbled and tickled and excited and delighted," Milone said. "We're really grateful for you all getting behind the SFA."
Milone was joined by board chair Kevin Jahns, relationship manager Rosie Wiedemer, assistant director Kimberly Viani and communications director Cas Johnson.
Jahns said the event gave the organization visibility beyond its usual circles.
"We had an amazing day," Jahns said. "It was just great being out in the neighborhood, and so many people came by and didn't know about us or knew about us and didn't know all we do."
Founded in 1986 by residents who wanted to make postsecondary education affordable for Alexandria City Public Schools students with financial need, the 501(c)(3) organization has helped send more than 5,700 students to college. Jahns put the scholarship total at more than $24 million over the fund's 40 years. It began with just over $7,000 in awards to eight students; last year it awarded $1.6 million to more than 400 Alexandria City High School graduates. The fund now awards more than 200 scholarships a year.
The fund also provides free college, career and financial aid advising to ACPS families year-round, from ninth grade through college, and runs FAFSA workshops from offices inside the high school at 3330 King St. Scholarships are needs-based and renewable for up to four years, Jahns said.
This year's graduating class earned $770,000 in first-year awards among 215 recipients, Jahns said, a total that will reach about $2.5 million over four years.
Jahns said the organization relies on volunteers, noting that every scholarship application is read by three of them.
"It's a great way to not only contribute to the organization but to learn about these amazing kids that we're supporting that are in our community that you might not know," he said.
The scholarship fund will also be the beneficiary of Run! Geek! Run!, the 19th annual 5K set for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 27 in Alexandria, Fisher said. The race has raised $282,800 for local nonprofits since 2016.
"So from drinking to running, we're helping kids and their futures," she said.
Bar crawl tickets sold for $15 in advance and $25 the day of the event, with four-packs available at $50 and $85. Participants had to be 21 or older, but the association ran a free family zone at Pat Miller Square, at Mount Vernon and Oxford avenues, where acts including Flawdbybirth, Elizabeth Lane, the Zesty Zebras and Regan Lady performed on Roam's ALXGrown stage. Other venues were organized into country western, yacht rock and retro zones.
Continues Arcade owner Allen Brooks welcomed the crowd and described the concept behind the business, which pairs classic arcade games with a scratch kitchen and craft bar.
State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker attended the event.
The association's next Coffee & Conversation breakfast meeting is set for 7:30 to 9 a.m. Sept. 16 at Piece Out Del Ray, 2419 Mount Vernon Ave.
