(December 15, 2023) Arlington, VA – On Saturday, December 9, the Arlington (VA) Links held their annual holiday “party with a purpose” at the historic Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria. The sold out event, attended by hundreds of civic-minded guests, showcased the chapter’s unwavering commitment to community service.
The chapter’s Fund Development Committee presented $30,000 in grants to 10 deserving non-profit organizations serving children and families in Alexandria and Arlington. The beneficiaries include the Campagna Center, Wesley Housing, LCD Foundation, Project Give Back, Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) and First Night Alexandria, along with new partners, Donna M. Saunders Foundation, CRi Foundation, OAR and NOVA Family Services.
Further amplifying their impact, the Arlington (VA) Links also raised an additional $5,000 during the event, thanks to the generosity of the attendees. Chapter President Suzanne Walker commented, “Our holiday party is more than a celebration; it is a testament to the power of community. The funds raised will significantly aid organizations dedicated to bettering the lives of local children and families. We are thrilled to see our community come together for such a noble cause during the season of giving.”
The event also highlighted the success of the chapter’s signature Kirk Bowden Memorial Golf Classic, held during the summer of 2023, which raised $10,000 for college scholarships. The highly anticipated annual Golf Classic is scheduled for June 17, 2024 at the Westfields Golf Club in Clifton, Va.
Additionally, the chapter took the opportunity to promote the upcoming DMV Links Red Dress Event, an initiative for heart health awareness in partnership with various area Links chapters. This important event will be broadcast on Facebook Live on February 2, 2024 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET, to educate and engage the community on matters “Straight from the Heart.”
For more information about the Arlington (VA) Links, chapter upcoming events, and community initiatives, please visit: www.arlingtonlinksinc.org.
About The Links, Incorporated:
The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of more than 17,000 professional women of African descent in 299 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.
Links members contribute more than 1 million documented hours of community service annually – strengthening their communities and enhancing the nation. The organization is the recipient of awards from the UN Association of New York and the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation for its premier programs. In 2019, The Links, Incorporated was nominated for a Luxembourg Peace Prize by the Schengen Peace Foundation and recognized by the late Congressman John Lewis as a distinguished organization of outstanding community service and influence.
The outstanding programming of The Links, Incorporated has five facets which include Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services and Health and Human Services. The programs are implemented through strategies such as public information and education, economic development, and public policy campaigns.