Holiday, Emergency Food Charities Win Praise for Dedicated Volunteer

By RENEE ORDOOBADI
For Potomac Local News

MANASSAS, Va. — A woman known for giving back to the community has seen that kindness come back to her.

Volunteer Prince William Director Mary Foley was awarded Business Partnership of the Year by SPARK, Prince William County Public Schools’ Education Foundation.

Volunteer Prince William is a non-profit organization that has paired volunteers with those who need help in the community since 1981.

“Every year PWCS recognizes three business partners in the community. This year [Volunteer Prince William and SPARK] partnered together; it’s long overdue,” said SPARK Director Sharon Henry.

Mary Foley has be a part of Volunteer Prince William for twenty years. It is easy to stay motivated knowing that she is helping the community.

“We have the best job – in that we connect people who want to help agencies that need help – whether it’s kids who are working on a school project or people who want to get in touch with their community,” Foley said.

Business Partnership of the Year was not the only award Volunteer Prince William was given this week. On the very day Foley won the SPARK award, Volunteer Prince William was awarded Prince William Schools Charity of the Year by the Prince William Chamber of Commerce.

“What a wild day. It’s mind-boggling that we got the awards on the same day. I am honored and humbled,” Foley said.

“The program that stood out between both awards was the holiday gift program, Untrim-A-Tree, which provides Christmas presents to needy children each year. It’s great fun to help these children; they send a little bit more joy at Christmas,” Foley said.

“We have a very high percentage of children on free and reduced lunch. These opportunities for students to receive a gift during the holidays are something that we cannot always provide,” Henry said. Luckily the Volunteer Prince William’s Untirm-A-Tree program is able to help.

Volunteer Prince William’s Disaster Preparedness Education Program stood out to the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, according to Foley.

“We receive a grant to educate tenth grade health classes, children, youth groups, scout groups and senior citizens about disaster preparedness. It is important for seniors, who live alone, to be able to support themselves in case of a disaster because they do not have professional staff around to help them,” Foley said.

Even after receiving two awards, Volunteer Prince William wants to do more to help the community in the future.

“My goal is to connect more volunteers, work with our agency partners to help them meet their goals and educate the community about disaster preparedness. I think we’re good people to do business with and I want to keep it that way. I feel like I’m part of this generation of givers and receivers,” Foley said.