Schools

New Fairfax County Foundation to Provide Help to Underprivileged

County officials unveiled new public-private initiative Tuesday morning

Businesses and individuals will be able to donate to a new foundation that will use the money to pay for programs to help county students pursue a college education and beyond.

The foundation is the result of a partnership between the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and Fairfax County Public Schools.

"It's very important for the businesses here to support this initiative," chamber President and CEO Jim Corcoran said Tuesday. "Our students are the ones who go to these businesses."

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Corcoran and Fairfax County School Superintendent Jack Dale announced the partnership at the school system's headquarters.

Four years in the making, the Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools is a tax-exempt business that will enable students to meet high academic standards, Dale said.

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Corcoran said the foundation has raised $175,000 from the originating board members. Businesses and individuals will be able to earmark where they want their money to go within the foundation. Money can be donated to the foundation overall or other categories like AP/IB fees, athletic fees, needy kids, young scholars, college access or the Early Identification Program.

Dale said students could use the money to receive glasses, school supplies or advanced testing. Teachers could get grants to attend seminars, he said.

"We're poised to formally have this off the ground," Dale said. "It's going to allow people to give to their favorite initiatives within the school system."

Faizan Aslam, 18, is a 2010 graduate of Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria and an engineering major at Northern Virginia Community College.

He told about 100 people at the announcement that he needed financial and motivational support to get through high school. He said this new initiative would help more students realize their potential.

"I think this is a great idea because a lot of people have money problems," Aslam said. "This will be more motivation for the students who now will see a dedication in their future from the school system and businesses."

Del. Mark L. Keam (D-35th District) said the foundation is a great idea. At times, the government can't provide all needs and private-public partnerships are a way to bridge the gap, Keam said.

"Unfortunately Fairfax County schools aren't receiving as much money as they should based on the county's population," Keam said. "We have more ESOL students here than any other county in the commonwealth but we don't get as much as everyone else in public funding. That's based on the earned income of the county overall."


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