Some 60 local artists featured at the “Artful Living 2019: Thrive”. Britepaths managed to raise $86,000 during the event through its Wing Span Raffle and auction, and juried art show. About 250 people attended the 35th anniversary gala at the Country Club of Fairfax last Thursday, May 2, 2019. Each of the present at the event paid $100 dollars entry fees. The purpose of the money collected is to help the families in need in the community.
According to Springfield Connection, "A live, charity auction offered a beachfront condo stay in Cozumel, Mexico; a stained-glass piece by Britepaths’ Executive Director Lisa Whetzel; and an Emerald Isle, N.C., beach house rental. The evening’s festivities also included live music by Latin-jazz band Batida Diferente, appetizers, wine and beer and a photo booth.
According to Whetzel: “At Britepaths, what we are trying to do is to help low-to-moderate income families that are struggling financially in Fairfax County to become self-sufficient for the long-term. And we do that through several different ways of stabilizing families with safety net services and building resilience in families to weather future financial storms. Financial literacy in teaching basic budgeting and personal finance really helps people to manage their limited incomes. We serve 3,500 children every year through our food assistance program and also through the holiday gifts and school supplies programs in the fall.”
Britepaths was formerly known as Our Daily Bread. The mission of Britepaths is to provide the neighbors of Fairfax County who are in need of short-term safety-net services. It also helps them to be able to work towards long term self-sufficiency. Whetzel reported that some 900 volunteers provided 10,000 hours of volunteering for the organization last year.
As per Springfield Connection, "Del. Mark Keam (D-35) added: “Britepaths is a very necessary organization in our community because even though on the surface everybody assumes Fairfax County is wealthy and people are doing well and we have a great quality of life…. The reality is that for many of our neighbors, that’s not necessarily true. We have people who are so vulnerable that they are one paycheck away or one major medical disaster away from bankruptcy or homelessness or all kinds of crisis. And organizations like Britepaths for 35 years has built the resiliency that families need to be able to get back on their feet if they see a problem, and so they provide the family unit the idea that they can build themselves up and for families and neighbors to make sure that everybody is able to live the American dream in Fairfax County.”
Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals. -Jim Rohn
The winners of the Art Show, Best of Medium are as follows.
Oil/Acrylic – "I Grow Where I Am Planted" by Monica Tucker-Harley of Fairfax
Watercolor – "The Castle Playground" by Alex Carr of Purcellville, Va.
Photography – "Flourish" by Holly Crowder of Annandale
Ceramic/Sculpture/Fabric Art – "Survive, Change, Thrive" by Etta Johnson of Vienna
Mixed/Other – "Nature Patterns" Print Series by Sharon Corish of Clifton
Charcoal – "Care" by Robabeh Riasati of Fairfax Station
Woodcut Print – “The Rowers” by Charles Mai of Arlington
People’s Choice Award, “Beneath the Surface” by Karen Wawrzaszek of Vienna
Maryam N. is a Senior Writer at Nesbitt Realty. She is an expert on Fairfax County. Maryam has also worked previously as a geologist. She is a foodie and enjoys cooking and exploring new restaurants.
