Business and Community Partnership Champions Announced!

The Fairfax Library Foundation is proud to announce that all three of its nominees ExxonMobil, George Mason Library Friends and the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce, each won a 2011 Business and Community Award for their commitment and support to the Foundation.

ExxonMobil has been an active partner of the Foundation since 2001, contributing over $100,000 doubling the collection of children’s foreign language materials. In addition, the company matches donations made by its employees including the donation of time given at the branches. The employees adopted the Thomas Jefferson Library and hold an annual volunteer day as well sponsored their Art in the Pages statue. In total ExxonMobil has contributed over $200,000.

The George Mason Library Friends have partnered with the Foundation since 1999. Their contributions total over $590,000, including the establishment of a Children’s Reading Program Endowment to fund the Library’s signature Summer Reading Program (SRP) in perpetuity. The Friends have been the primary sponsor of SRP and have guaranteed the continuation of this program.

The Greater McLean Chamber has been hosting an annual nonprofit workshop for three years. The workshops address the wide gambit for nonprofits from grant writing to online auctions.

“We are indeed fortunate to have such deserving donors and partners supporting the Library Foundation,” said Susan C. Harman, the Executive Director of the Library Foundation.

Fairfax County and the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) recognized business and community partners for outstanding contributions to the community for the first time at a joint celebration on May 23, 2011. The Champion Partnership award winners were recognized at the annual awards ceremony hosted by George Mason University at the Mason Inn Conference Center and Hotel. County Executive Anthony Griffin and Chairman Sharon Bulova of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors presented awards to the County winners. Dr. Jack Dale, Superintendent of FCPS, and Kathy Smith, Chairman of the FCPS School Board presented the awards to the school winners. In total, there were 44 award nominees this year.

2011 Fairfax County Office of Public Private Partnerships (OP3) Award Winners
Small Business Resource Champion: Integrity One Partners, Inc.

Large Business Resource Champion: ExxonMobil

Pro Bono Champion: Robert J. Weil, Attorney-at-Law, Offices of Robert J. Weil

Chamber of Commerce Community Connector: Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce

Community Resource Champion: George Mason Library Friends

Media/Communications Partner: Fairfax County Times

Blue Ribbon Partnerships: Westfields Business Owners Association


2011 Fairfax County Public Schools Award WinnersBlue Ribbon Outstanding Event Award: Mountain View Alternative School Career Networking Fair

Blue Ribbon Workforce Development Award: McDonald's - Welburn Management

Blue Ribbon Mentoring Program Award: Powerful African-American Males About Success (PAAMAS)

Community Partner of the Year Award: Arts Council of Fairfax County

Business Partner of the Year Award: Apple Federal Credit Union and Apple Federal Credit Union Foundation

It takes the collective contributions of individuals, businesses, and organizations, to support the Foundation’s sponsorship of multiple Fairfax County Public Library programs and services including the All Fairfax Reads project, Changing Lives through Literature, the Fall for the Book festival, Scholarships, the Summer Reading Program, and Ready to Read early literacy outreach.

New Executive Director Announced!

Susan Harman has been selected as the Fairfax Library Foundation’s new Executive Director. Harman previously served as Secretary of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and has been part of the Library team for over three years. Harman’s hiring comes after nine months of searching for a full-time replacement for Bobbi Longworth, who served as Executive Director for nine years and who recently accepted a position as Executive Director of the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

Harman will immediately focus her efforts on a number of the Foundation’s upcoming programs and events, specifically the Library Jubilee, the Foundation’s Signature fundraising event, scheduled for October 15th at the Thomas Jefferson Library. Harman will also set her sights on some of the Foundation’s sponsored events scheduled for later on this year, Fall for the Book, Changing Lives Through Literature, Ready to Read, an early literature outreach program, and Fairfax Library Foundation Month.

“I am excited to be working with Susan. Through her work on the Foundation Board, we already have a great working relationship. I look forward to the future direction of the Foundation under her leadership.” says Martina Murphy, Finance & Resource Manager for the Fairfax Library Foundation.

Harman is set to officially start on May 9.

It takes the collective contributions of individuals, businesses, and organizations, to support the Foundation’s sponsorship of multiple Fairfax County Public Library programs and services including the All Fairfax Reads project, Changing Lives through Literature, the Fall for the Book festival, Scholarships, the Summer Reading Program, and Ready to Read early literacy outreach.