[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 82 (Friday, May 10, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 10, 2024

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th 
Anniversary of Volunteer Fairfax, a non-profit focused on engaging 
people and organizations to amplify their community impact.
  Volunteer Fairfax was created in 1974 and was known then as the 
Voluntary Action Center of Fairfax County (VAC). In the late seventies, 
VAC referred 211 volunteers to worthy causes in support of the greater 
Fairfax County community. Today, the organization engages over 6,000 
volunteers annually who donate more than 18,000 hours serving more than 
650 nonprofits and public agencies, a value of over 600,000 added to 
the community.
  Over the past five decades, Volunteer Fairfax has had many 
milestones, and evolved into the organization they are today. In 1992, 
the focus of the VAC had begun to change and the center was renamed 
Volunteer Fairfax. Staff began utilizing an electronic process to 
accommodate the growing interest from volunteers and created a youth 
volunteer directory to assist students who are looking for service 
opportunities.
  In 1993, Volunteer Fairfax Hosted their first Volunteer Service 
Awards to showcase the vital role volunteerism plays in our community. 
In its first year, 350 people attended the County-wide event. Since its 
inception, over 3.000 individuals, groups, and corporations have been 
recognized for their volunteer efforts.
  Among the many programs and offerings of Volunteer Fairfax, they have 
served as the designated lead agency for recruitment and deployment of 
affiliated and spontaneous volunteers, as well as the management of 
spontaneous volunteers during an emergency in Fairfax County since the 
early 2000s, Emergency Response activations include Hurricane Isabel, 
Derecho. Winter Storm Jonas, and, most recently, the Centreville fires 
in May 2018. Volunteer Fairfax continues to fulfill its mission by 
mobilizing people and resources to meet community need through 
involvement in Fairfax County and Regional Emergency Response and 
Recovery functions.
  Volunteer Fairfax believes that volunteerism, as an ideal and a 
practice, is a vital part of our American history and heritage. They 
build their programs around the needs of nonprofit and public agencies 
and individuals throughout Fairfax County in ways that are flexible and 
accessible to anyone who wants to get involved. From their Alternative 
Community Service (ACS) for court and attorney referred clients, to the 
RSVP-Northern Virginia program that is part of AmeriCorps Seniors, to 
corporate partnerships that allow people in any industry to take part 
in volunteer efforts. Volunteer Fairfax is making sure that everyone 
has a chance to be of service to our community.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Volunteer Fairfax on 50 years of service. 
Their efforts, made on behalf of some of the most vulnerable 
populations in our community, truly merit our highest praise. The 
staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers from Volunteer Fairfax help 
make Fairfax County one of the best places to live, work, and play. I 
ask my colleagues to join me in applauding these remarkable citizens on 
half a century of service to our community.

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