Scholarship Fund of Alexandria Thanks Supporters at Breakfast of Champions
Alexandria, VA – On a rainy morning in mid-September, about a hundred supporters of the well-known fund gathered for coffee and conversation at The Garden, a rustic and industrial-chic location on Eisenhower Avenue.
On a Zoom call after the event, SFA Executive Director Jasmine Milone described the event, saying, “If I were to call it something unofficially, I would say it’s sort of like the state of the SFA breakfast.
“It’s a chance to thank the people who support us. And it’s not just people who donate their money. It’s a combination of volunteering, monetary contributions, advocating, and partnering. It’s just a way to say thank you.”
Guests nibbled on healthy and attractive breakfast fare, a departure from the typical scrambled eggs and potatoes. Lox canapés, avocado bagel sandwiches, deviled eggs, chocolate croissants, and summer fruits were laid on a long wooden table.
“The success of the SFA depends on champions like you, and this community has never let us down. With your help this spring, we awarded $500,000 in scholarships to 213 graduating seniors,” SFA Board Chair Kevin Jahns announced. “We are fully aware that our success depends on your support, for which we are thankful. This morning, we have no ask, only our gratitude.”
Later that morning, Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt reflected on the dedicated supporters who turned out for that early breakfast. “First of all, I see it as a partnership,” Kay-Wyatt said. “We’re so grateful that we have such a generous and caring community which really sees the value of investing in our students.”
Kay-Wyatt continued, “The scholarship is more than just a scholarship. It’s a pathway to the future, and that future will lead right back to this community.”
When the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria began in 1986, it awarded just over $7,000 in scholarships to eight students. The fund has ballooned in the 39 years since. The SFA has awarded nearly $20 million in scholarships and helped send more than 5,700 Alexandria students to college.
Milone outlined new fund initiatives this year. The board recently approved an increase of $3K to $5K for up to 25 general fund scholarships.
“That is significant! The last time we had an increase was ten years ago, and even then, it was a gradual increase. But the cost of college attendance keeps going up, unfortunately. Many of our students attend universities that meet full financial needs, but we still have a lot of students who have to either work a lot of hours or take out more loans than I would like. It can be a real ball and chain.”
Milone stressed that the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria stands out from similar programs around the country because it is embedded in the high school. SFA offers hands-on support and can work closely with students on-site.
The US Department of Education recently selected SFA as one of six community-based organizations in the country to be the first beta test site for the new FAFSA (Federal Student Aid) application. Alexandria is the only site in Virginia to be chosen.
“Last year’s application had a lot of software issues and calculation errors. That was a hindrance, so the fact that we were able to give away as many scholarships as we did is something we’re proud of. We worked extra hard with our students to address those issues.”
SFA’s black-tie Gala 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, April 26th at the Hilton Mark Center. It is dubbed “Alexandria’s Adult Prom” and is a veritable Who’s Who of elected officials and community leaders.
