McLean Community Foundation to Kick Off 25th Year With Spring Gala

On May 14th -- Eve of McLean Day -- MCF Plans New Fundraising Push

March 30, 2004 (McLean, VA) - The McLean Community Foundation (MCF), founded in 1980 as the official charitable arm of the McLean community, will launch its 25th year of supporting educational, civil and social services projects with a gala celebration and fundraising event on May 14th. In its first two dozen years, the Foundation has underwritten nearly one million dollars worth of projects to improve the quality of life for the residents of the Greater McLean area.

This year, MCF plans a gala evening at the home of one the Foundation's trustees on the eve of McLean Day. Retired Major General Jim Hunt, the chair of the Foundation, is looking forward to a "new and improved" MCF celebration: "Our trustee, Edwina Rogers and her husband Ed, will open their magnificent home to our annual gathering. This year it will be on the eve of the event that celebrates our community - McLean Day. Our own McLean High School Jazz Band will provide entertainment for the evening and some excellent door prizes are being donated for the affair. We're counting on this being a very special event leading up to our 25th anniversary celebration in 2005."

Invitations to the MCF gala will go out the first week in April. Admission is $75.00 per person. The event is black tie optional and valet parking will be available at the Rogers home. Checks for the event or donations can be mailed to the McLean Community Foundation, P.O. Box 75, McLean, VA 22101. For more information about the MCF gala, contact Foundation President Jim Hunt at 703-893-0809 or by email at Iah2nd@aol.com.

Hunt said that the Foundation is stepping things up for a new era of giving - and fundraising. He explained: "The MCF web site is under construction and will be up and running before our big event. We're looking for new avenues and opportunities to reach out to the community for benefactors and have become more aggressive in soliciting funding proposals from all non profit sectors of McLean. We have recently earmarked a major funding commitment to the Clemyjontri Park project, where children with and without disabilities can play with and learn from each other, and just contributed to an Ethics Day program for students at Langley High School."

Hunt added: "The Foundation is moving forward with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm. It's a very exciting time for us."

The McLean Community Foundation Web site, currently under construction, will be available soon at http://www.mcleancitizensfoundation.org.

CONTACT: Trish Butler, 703-917-0611, tbutler@sagecommunications.net.