Alexandria Women for Good Hosts First Longest Table Dinner at Fort Hunt Park
Alexandria, VA – On Saturday, June 20, more than 100 friends, neighbors, and community members gathered at Fort Hunt Park for the first Alexandria Women for Good Longest Table Dinner, an evening created to celebrate connection, community, and the simple joy of sharing a meal together.
With perfect summer weather as the backdrop, guests arrived to an elegant and deeply personal scene. Long tables stretched across the park, dressed in white tablecloths, fresh flowers, candles, thoughtful place settings, and beautifully curated tablescapes created by volunteer table hosts. Each table had its own personality, but together they formed one larger shared experience.
The idea began a little over a year ago with Lee Platt, who envisioned a dinner that would bring people together in a meaningful way.
“Everyone brought something to the table, whether it was a dish, a centerpiece, or simply their presence,” Platt said. “The result was a reminder that community isn’t something we talk about, it’s something we create together.”
Platt said the evening came to life through a partnership with Laura Turner and the work of many volunteer table captains.
“The most rewarding part wasn’t the beautiful tables,” Platt said. “It was watching over a hundred people connect with one another in a genuine and meaningful way.”
The evening began with guests mingling over appetizers before gathering at their tables for dinner. Afterward, everyone came back together for dessert, giving guests the chance to connect beyond their own tables and meet more of the larger group.
“When Lee first brought this idea forward, it immediately felt like the kind of event Alexandria Women for Good was meant to create,” said Laura Turner, co-founder of Alexandria Women for Good and co-organizer of the dinner. “It was elegant, warm, community-driven, and rooted in something simple but powerful: people coming together.”
Turner said the night reflected the heart of the organization.
“Individually, we can each do something meaningful,” Turner said. “Together, we can create real impact.”
Founded in October 2022 by Laura Turner and Laura Herron, Alexandria Women for Good brings women together in support of local nonprofit organizations and community impact. Each quarter, members nominate local nonprofits, vote as a group, and contribute collectively to fund a grant for the selected organization.
In June, the group awarded a $14,922 grant to the Miracle League of Alexandria, which creates opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to experience the joy of baseball in an inclusive, supportive environment.
Since its founding, Alexandria Women for Good has raised more than $180,000 for Alexandria-based nonprofits.
