FISH Fling Postponed but Sponsorship Still Appreciated
Because of the COVID-19 crisis, the 2020 FISH Fling Gala is postponed indefinitely. But we still need your help! The Fling is a major annual source of revenue for FISH and its emergency assistance programs. It isn’t too early to be a FISH Fling sponsor or to provide a donation in support of your neighbors in need. For sponsorship information, please contact:
To make a donation, click here
We would like to thank the following FISH Fling sponsors, to date:
Big FISH $2,500-$4,999
CDW
Janet & Joe Hyman
Margaret LeReche
NRTC
Gold FISH $1,000-$2,499
Robert & Annette Reed
United Christian Parish
Sail FISH $500-$999
Mary Jo & Phil Baedecker
Unitarian Universalist Church of Reston
Scenes from the Holiday Parade
Reston holds a holiday parade at the Town Center every year during the holiday season, and FISH always participates and hands out candy to the children. The video shows the crowds from this past year's festivities.
FISH Annual Meeting
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The Herndon-Reston FISH Annual Meeting was held at the Dominion Energy Office in Herndon, Virginia, on July 15. The accomplishments and financial performance of the year were reviewed, and ideas for the coming year's activities and goals were discussed. Entertainment was provided by four singers from South Lakes High School (see below).
Recent Event
2019 FISH Fling Gala
Scenes from the Gala
On May 18, friends and supporters of FISH gathered at the Dulles Crowne Plaza Hotel for an evening of friendships, dining, entertainment, and dancing at a gala celebrating 50 years of FISH service to the Herndon-Reston Community. A silent auction of gifts donated by area businesses and supporters helped to raise funds to support our efforts. We greatly appreciate the generosity of those donors (see below) and all who purchased items in the auction. Your support is vital.
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To enlarge photos, click on the photo.
StarFISH 2019 Honorees
April Elliott
A Bargain Loft employee since 2011, April’s artistic and managerial skills have revitalized the Bargain Loft, increased both profits and employee morale. April shares the duties involved with running a successful retail shop, managing a large staff of volunteer employees, and unpredictable stock Aside from her managerial work, April has volunteered much of her time to FISH, working on a variety of projects including the Bradley Farm Haunted House, FISH Flings, Thanksgiving Parades, and as one of the founding volunteers for FISH’s SNAP program at the Herndon Farmers Market. April says, “I am proud to be part of an organization whose volunteers are focused on providing assistance to those in need, while respecting community member’s dignity. FISH’s volunteers continually inspire me with their compassion and respect towards clients.
Barbara Williams
Barbara has volunteered for Herndon-Reston FISH since 2007 and was hired as Bargain Loft co-Manager in 2011. As a volunteer Bargain Loft cashier, she trained many other cashiers and worked on money management. As co-Manager, she shares duties with April to hire, train, and schedule their volunteer employees, manage physical maintenance of the shop, and offer great customer service to customers and donors. Barbara talks about FISH, and encourages donations from everyone she meets. When her family was young, she volunteered for the Girl Scouts, PTAs, and Booster Clubs. Now she’s focused on helping those outside her own family but still close to home. Co-managing the BL makes that possible. Barbara says, “I would never have been able to do this job with anyone else, April is a true star. While there are many in need all over the world, I like to focus my energy on helping those in need here in my village.” She encourages everyone to please donate, time and money to FISH, so you can enjoy helping those close by too.
2019 FISH Fling Sponsors
ANGEL FISH $5,000+
Fairfax County Reston Community Center (RCC)
The Closet
BIG FISH $2,500 – $4,999
Griffin Owens Insurance Group
Hyman & Sather Families
National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC)
GOLD FISH $1,000 – $2,499
CDW
Cornerstones, Inc.
Mary Jo & Phillip Baedecker
Linda & Tom Haselhorst
Delegate Ken Plum & Mrs. Jane Plum
St. John Neumann Catholic Community
SAIL FISH $500 – $999
Kelly & Doug Kroll
Peggy LeReche
Scoggin Home Team
Roger Stone &Holmquist
SUN FISH $250 – $499
Susan English
Marshall & Susan Gerstel
Natalie & Chris Gohrband
Jack & Laura Greenspan
Jim & Diane Hardcastle
Lisa & Kelly Hughes
Janet & Joe Hyman
Margrit Kenny & Alexandra South
Erik Landberg
Raba & Paul Letteri
Ellen Moran
Michelle & Steve Moyer
Steven & Susan Reber
Bob & Annette Reed
Ed Robichaud
Susan & Bill Sather
Larry & Susan Scharff
United Christian Parish Church
Barbara & Sheldon Williams
Steven Webb
Contributors to Silent Auction
Amphora Restaurant
Aspen Jewelry Designs
ALDI Grocer
Bach to Rock
Bowl America
Bargain Loft
BGR (The Burger Joint)
Buffalo Wing Factory
Cafe Montmartre
Cantina D’Italia
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
CAVA Mezze
Cheesecake Factory
Copperwood Tavern
Crowne Plaza Hotel
CDW
Dante Ristorante Italiano
Dulles Golf Center & Sports Park
Glory Days Grill
Escape Room
George Mason University
Giant - Franklin Farm
Giant - Fox Mill
Giant - Clock Tower
Great Harvest Bread Company
Hair & Nails
Hand & Stone
Hidden Creek Country Club
Honey Baked Ham
Hunan East
Kalypso’s
Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern
L’Auberge Chez Francois
Lake Anne Brew House
Lake Anne Coffee & Wine Bar
Ledo Pizza
Lucia’s Italian Ristorante
Massage Qi
The Melting Pot
Mighty Meals
Mon Ami Gabi
Nando’s Peri Peri Chicken
Not Your Average Joes
Nunu’s Thai Dishes
Orange Theory
Panera Bread
Panda Express
Pinot’s Palette
Pleasant Valley Golf Club
Primetime Sports Bar & Grill
Red’s Table
Reston Association Aquatics
Safeway - South Lakes
Skate Quest
Small Change
South Riding Golf Club
Spa Noa
Tarara Winery
Target - Reston
Thai Basil
Three Cees
Top Golf
Wegmans
Willard’s Real Pit Barbecue
The Wine Cabinet
Wiygul Automotive Clinic
Zeffirelli Ristorante Italiano
Jane Anthony
Mary Jo Baedecker
Beth Bittenbender
Barbara Bonessa
Jane Coonce
Isabelle Cozzarelli
Julie Gerstel
Lisa Groves
Janet Hyman
Margrit Kenny
Chishun Kwong
Pat Macintyre
Vita Menzella
Micki Moravitz
Janie & Cara Odlen
Alan Perkins
Susan Sather
Mary Saunders
Karen Stevens
Mary Kay Stine
PREVIOUS EVENTS
FISH Board Members and other volunteers marched in the Reston Holiday Parade, November 23, and handed out almost 3,000 individually wrapped Swedish fish, while a band made up from our Bradley Farms supporters played Christmas Carols.
FISH participated in the Alternative Gift Market at Unitarian Universalist Church, December 1, 2018
Scenes from 2018 Fling Gala
Click on slide show to see enlarged view
StarFISH 2018 Honorees
Juliet Hills​
A Bargain Loft volunteer since 2014, Juliet's impact will last long after she returns home to Bath, England. Juliet brought the Bargain Loft deep knowledge of antiques, jewelry stones and settings, and all things European. Juliet has donated countless handmade jewelry pieces to the Bargain Loft and past Flings and has more than tripled jewelry revenue at the store. Juliet quadrupled our Facebook followers and is a friend to Bargain Loft, volunteers and customers alike. We've all been touched by her genuine kindness and lovely personality. The Bargain Loft has been forever changed by Juliet.
Janet Hyman
Janet was drawn into FISH by the implicit obligation of living on Drop Forge Lane, home to dozens of volunteers and four past presidents. She moved into the role of president herself during a time of challenge, and her calming manner and communication skills helped the board settle back into a happy working group. Janet started working on the Fing with the transition to a sit-down dinner and dance event, and she continues with party planning and silent auction donations. Janet represents Fish on a number of community boards, and she has been a member of our executive board for over a decade, currently as vice president. Her friendly outgoing personality has brought many volunteers and employees to the fish family.
Jimmy's Old Town Tavern
Jimmy's Old Town Tavern is the "place to meet, greet, and be happy" in downtown historic Herndon. Owned and operated by the Cirrito family, the tavern has been open for business for over 20 years and occupies a main building that is over 120 years old! Jimmy and his crew are amazing community supporters as well as advocates for FISH. We welcome their dining gift certificate donations to the Fling auction for many years, and we thank them for a fabulous charity bartending evening benefiting FISH.