Community Corner

George & Laura Price: 'Volunteering Makes a Town'

The Price's are being honored as the Rotary Club of Herndon's Citizens of the Year.

Many people throughout Herndon know Laura and George Price.

The couple can be frequently seen doing volunteer work around the community, often in their beloved Virginia Tech gear.

Still, the couple was shocked when they found out that Herndon Rotary had chosen them as this year’s Citizen(s) of the Year. Laura said they had just walked in the door from a trip to Blacksburg when Tom Haselhorst of the Rotary called them to tell them the good news.

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“I was stunned,” Laura said. “I was in awe.”

George said when Laura got off the phone she said, “Well that’s interesting.” She relayed the news to him and re responded with a, “Well that is interesting.”

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The couple does not volunteer for recognition, Laura said. She said they enjoy working out in the community and love doing it.

“It is an honor,” Laura said. “It’s embarrassing. You shouldn’t be embarrassed but you are.” 

Laura said she first started volunteering in the mid-80s with the Business and Professional Women. She said she spent most of her time around men at work and was seeking the company of women.

During her time with BPW she served as the local, regional and state president, as well as chair of the BPW Foundation. The work involved a lot of traveling, which is how George learned to do his own laundry, Laura joked.

“That was my love and my passion,” Laura said. She also worked with the Herndon Women’s Club and the Herndon Fortnightly Club.

When Laura began working with the Dulles Regional (and Herndon) Chamber of Commerce she was asked if she would give a hand at Friday Night Live. She said she was reluctant at first.

George said he had already been taking part in FNL for a number of years through the Herndon Optimist Club. Once Laura gave in, she implemented changes that improved FNL, George said, including putting sponsor’s names on the back of their food and drink tickets.

Laura was also asked to help with the Optimist Club, even though she warned them she isn’t a “sports person.” She organized the club’s Bat-A-Thon for five years.

“I’ve gotten a lot of enjoyment out of all of them,” she said.

George began his volunteering with the BPW and Herndon Women’s Club as well—helping the clubs set up booths and tables at events and helping keep track of T-shirt sales, which eventually he began organizing for the groups.

He first volunteered with the Optimist Club as its bartender, and shortly after they asked him to become their vice president, president elect and finally president. He said the experience taught him, “if you want to get something done, don’t pass it off president to president.”

Soon George’s volunteer work grew as well, volunteering with the Town of Herndon’s Parks and Recreation Department and as a marshal for Friday Night Live. Of course he was also eventually asked to organize the FNL marshals, who were originally volunteers from the Optimist Club.

George is now a board member for Friday Night Live, and many of the event volunteers are community members outside of the Optimist Club.

Laura said for events such as the town’s Labor Day Festival, which is organized by the Herndon Women’s Club along with the town, “it’s a matter of working well with people.”

George said he volunteers because it’s what he grew up with. “A lot of it is my family—my mom,” he said. His mother was a major volunteer and drove for Meals on Wheels until the age of 93. She volunteered in the church, did garden therapy and other efforts.

“She loved to do all that,” George said. He said whether his mom was in Herndon or her adult home of Arlington, she was always involved in her community. Herndon was a big part of his mom’s life and became a big part of his as well, he said.

Laura said Bready Park was named after George’s great grandfather, Isaiah Bready, showing the family has a long history in the town.

She said she isn’t quite sure where her passion for volunteering came from. She said neither of her parents were volunteers, but both were teachers—which is a profession that’s very close to the community.

“A lot of it is for a long time I just had trouble with that ‘no’ word,” Laura said. She said as a couple, she and George work to support each other, which explains why they can often be found working with the same organizations.

George said being honored for the time they have given means a lot to them. Laura said it shows how networked and close-knit the town of Herndon really is. She said it is a place where people can count on each other for help wherever it’s needed.

“Volunteering makes a town,” George said. “It’s about people. People that put in without getting anything back. Herndon is a great town.”  


George and Laura Price will be honored at a banquet at the Dulles Hilton, 13869 Park Center Drive, in Herndon on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. The event will honor them and recognize supporters of the Rotary Club of Herndon and its community outreach. It is open to the public but reservations should be made by Oct. 12. Contact Tom Haselhorst at 703-761-4747 or email thomas.haselhorst@wellsfargoadvisors.com. 


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