After twelve years of service to the Carpenter’s Shelter community, Fran Becker, Executive Director, recently announced her plans to retire as of July 2^nd, 2010.   “Since 1998, Carpenter’s Shelter has thrived under Fran’s leadership,” said Board Chairman Matt Sheldon. “She is rare in her ability to bring vision, compassion and high expectations of others together while executing efficient and effective business decisions. Carpenter’s clients, staff, volunteers and donors are deeply grateful to Fran for her time and talent that she has shared with us over the years.”

Under Fran’s command, Carpenter’s has grown from an entity that housed homeless individuals and families in leaky warehouses, to a comprehensive homeless program effectively ending and preventing homelessness in its wholly-owned facility and through community outreach.

Carpenter’s Board is now executing its leadership succession plan and has contracted The McCormick Group to assist in the search for the next Executive Director.  It is expected that the next leader will be on board no later than June 2010.   Any interested candidate can contact Mrs. Susy Howard (showard@tmg-dc.com) for more information.

Without a place to live and little money, John and his two year old son, Kevin, came to Carpenter’s Shelter for help. They had recently relocated to the DC metropolitan area for greater job opportunities and to be closer to his family. A single Dad, John had planned to stay with family members until he could find a place of his own but when he arrived, he found living arrangements were not suitable for a young child.

More than 20 area restaurants offer their finest tastings at Alexandria’s best family fun event! Join us for the 8th Annual Carpenter’s Cook-Off for food, fun and great live music as we raise money to support homeless children and families.

Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010
Time: 12:00-3:00 p.m.
Location: The Birchmere
3701 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22305

Ticket Price: $40 adults, $5 per child (ages 6-17), free for kids 5 and under
Purchase tickets online or by phone by calling 703-548-7500 ext. 204.

Featuring:

• Live Music from The Melonheads
• Face Painting
• Kids Arts and Crafts Corner
• Kid’s dance contest
• Limited restaurant gift certificate auction
• Raffle
• And, Much, Much, More

To see pictures from last years event please view our slide show.

Participating Restaurants:

A la Lucia
Bittersweet
Brabo
Bread and Chocolate
Columbia Firehouse
Del Merei Grille
Dishes of India
Fireflies
Fish Market
Geranio Ristorante
Jackson 20
misha’s
Pork Barrel BBQ
Restaurant Eve
Rustico
Southside 815
Tempo Restaurant
The Birchmere
The Lighthorse
The Majestic
Union Street Public House
Warehouse Bar & Grill
Wharf Restaurant

Corporate Sponsors:
Interested in becoming an event sponsor?

Please view our sponsorship brochure to learn more about exciting sponsorship opportunities.

Fore more information please ontact Jasmin Witcher, Director of Development & Strategic Alliances at 703-548-7500, ext 203.

Long time volunteers and supporters of Carpenter’s, Sue Anderson, Joyce Douglass, Mike Geary and Congressman Gerry Connolly help Governor McDonnell prepare grill cheese sandwiches at the shelter

During a very busy pre-inauguration week, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell traveled to
volunteer at Carpenter’s Shelter, the only Northern Virginia nonprofit program he visited.
Mr. McDonnell witnessed the incredible care, hope and programs that Carpenter’s Shelter
offers to families who are experiencing homelessness due to job losses and evictions. He
viewed clients receiving free medical care, saw adults participating in a computer literacy
class and families receiving mental health assessments through play group activities.

Executive Director Fran Becker told Governor McDonnell that she was delighted to showcase
a working, vibrant nonprofit like Carpenter’s Shelter that is effectively ending homelessness.
She told him that “Through good business practices and through partnerships with the City of
Alexandria, local businesses and other nonprofits Carpenter’s meets its mission ”.
She added, “We know that we have been successful when a family doesn’t return to homelessness.”
The Governor asked those gathered to “donate their time, talent and money to help other
people because government is not able to so this year.”

Carpenter’s Shelter is pleased to announce that we have been selected to be featured in the 2009/10 Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington. Carpenter’s is one of sixty-eight exceptional nonprofits chosen this year from a field of over 250 applicants. Now in its seventh year, the Catalogue selects and showcases charities with budgets below $3 million based on standards of excellence, innovation, cost-effectiveness and financial transparency. According to Barbara Harman, Executive Director of the Harman Family Foundation and President of the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington, “The Catalogue is designed to be a showcase for high impact, DC-region non-profits, and an inviting way for individuals and families to participate in charitable giving. In the midst of the worst economic downturn we have seen in decades, supporting these organizations  which make a big difference in the lives of people throughout our community. “

If you would like to request a catalogue please visit the Catalogue for Philanthropy and look for the “request a catalogue” button.

Cras in sem. Donec fermentum vestibulum quam. Aenean ultrices ante a libero varius suscipit. Nullam porta malesuada eros. Donec pretium. Cras at nulla ut magna luctus gravida. Donec nec turpis convallis enim aliquet sollicitudin. Donec pulvinar lacus nec lectus. Sed volutpat. Vestibulum ac nibh a risus placerat varius. Quisque blandit dolor vitae arcu. Nunc augue nisi, pulvinar id, egestas sit amet, mollis in, lacus. Morbi eget enim. Etiam et risus a odio adipiscing ultricies. Nunc id tellus. Nam et justo hendrerit eros laoreet sollicitudin. Maecenas blandit placerat eros. Quisque sapien. In placerat aliquet neque.

Vivamus massa purus, scelerisque at, feugiat ut, pulvinar ut, risus. Sed turpis justo, ornare at, vehicula vel, porttitor sed, quam. Cras sit amet arcu. Integer luctus, nibh vel dapibus facilisis, nunc eros tincidunt quam, et laoreet lorem massa id dui. Nulla dui libero, lobortis mattis, congue et, ultricies id, lorem. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed elit. Nunc condimentum erat. Suspendisse convallis. Duis ultricies placerat odio. Quisque erat dolor, ultrices non, vestibulum nec, ullamcorper a, felis. Donec eget risus. Cras auctor malesuada nibh. Nulla et justo. Integer eu enim eget orci vestibulum condimentum. Nullam quis est. Curabitur porta eros ac sapien. Duis hendrerit consectetur mi. Proin eu pede sit amet massa dignissim dictum.

Cras vitae arcu. Phasellus malesuada neque non risus. Suspendisse non nisi vel sem aliquet venenatis. Donec accumsan pede. Nunc in ligula et tortor euismod ornare. Proin fermentum mauris at velit. Morbi auctor nulla vitae urna. Aliquam interdum tortor eu justo. In sed justo. Morbi blandit accumsan metus. Sed a augue sit amet purus tincidunt suscipit. In sodales. Nunc viverra convallis enim.

Curabitur scelerisque tempor libero. Nulla quis enim. In elit arcu, tincidunt sed, volutpat dignissim, consequat a, est. Proin tempus, ligula ac sollicitudin pulvinar, mi est adipiscing justo, eu consectetur massa nunc in lectus. Nullam malesuada dolor eget erat. Praesent a magna. Fusce tristique. Pellentesque vel justo. Ut semper imperdiet ipsum. Quisque viverra, justo ac dapibus facilisis, dui dolor convallis massa, in tempor mauris diam in elit. Pellentesque et sapien. Donec sagittis nisl. Curabitur interdum, libero a faucibus suscipit, eros nibh tristique ipsum, vel congue lacus nisi eget metus. Nam rutrum nibh vel massa. Sed molestie dolor nec velit congue porttitor. Fusce accumsan diam nec magna. Aliquam magna lectus, varius quis, laoreet sed, tristique ac, orci. Nunc sollicitudin volutpat lectus. Integer sollicitudin nisi vel ipsum. Sed imperdiet tellus quis mi.