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.