Stories of Impact: SCAN Builds Connections for Kids

On April 9th during Spring2Action — one day of incredible giving in Alexandria — hundreds of local nonprofits raised an unprecedented $1,000,000+ in 24 hours. SCAN was thrilled to be a part of the day, surpassing its own goal of $10,000 thanks to the generosity of more than 80 donors. Two “free agent fundraisers,” Chelsey Ney and Megan Tuttle worked individually in their own networks to raise more than $2,000 of the total for SCAN. Matching grants from the Bruhn Morris Foundation, Mason Hirst Foundation and SCAN’s Board of Directors also played an important role in the fundraiser’s success.  We raised $10,321 – doubling what we had raised during last year’s event.

The money that SCAN raised will be used for our newly launched community education campaign.  The campaign is Kids Need Connections (or in Spanish, Los Niños Necesitan Conexiones) and it is a message focused on the fact that when children have strong, healthy relationships with nurturing adults, they are more likely to be safer, stronger and happier children.  In addition to educating the public about the power of positive adult-child relationships, the campaign will work to empower all adults — from parents to neighbors to professionals — to take action to strengthen connections with the children in their lives and communities.  Just like the strong and connected community we have right here in Alexandria. 

Follow the campaign on social media with the hashtag #kidsneedconnections

-Tracy Leonard, Community Education and Engagement Coordinator, SCAN