Relive the glory days of childhood at a fundraiser for the Family Focus program on Friday.
The group is hosting an “Evening Under the Parachutes,” starting at 6:30 p.m. at Legacy Hall in New Town.
The event celebrates the 30th anniversary of Family Focus, which provides play groups, parent education classes, resources and support for local families. They offer these services for children 5 and younger, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
This is not the first time that Family Focus has held a fundraiser like this: The last one was in 2009, when the organization lost its funding from the Colonial Community Services Board. While it held on into the next year, the future of the programs was uncertain.
Since then, Family Focus has been taken over by the Virginia Cooperative Extension, which uses the resources of the state’s land-grant universities — Virginia Tech and Virginia State University — to partner with hundreds of public and privates partners and volunteers. The schools fund two positions that manage operations.
A grant from the Virginia Department of Social Services covers most of the Family Focus’ program costs, with help from smaller grants from charitable groups in the area.
Sheree Press, who serves as site coordinator/parent educator for the organization, said Family Focus is running on about half the budget it had in 2009, but working hard to provide the best programs on a smaller dime. While fewer classes are offered on the whole, none are suffering in a lackluster or half-funded state, she said.
Press first got involved with Family Focus, taking her 2-year-old son. He is now 20.
With 30 years of history to honor at the fundraiser, she is looking forward to connecting with the next generation of the organization’s benefactors.
“There might be some Family Focus kids there with their babies,” Press said.
The evening will include live music, dancing, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction for more than 40 items and a raffle for a pair of diamond earrings.
Just like the children’s favorite day of play group, brightly colored parachutes will play a big role.
Tickets are $30 and available at the door. All proceeds go to supporting children’s programs.
To purchase tickets, call 566-9777 or 898-2945, or email [email protected]. For more information on VCE Family Focus, visit their website.
