Raising funds to support local benevolent or philanthropic charities in Northern Virginia and for Lake Barcroft community projects is a primary purpose of the Woman’s Club. Every year, local charities and community projects are nominated and then selected by the club’s membership.

In September, members vote by ballot for three nominated charities. The six charities receiving the most votes are selected to be recipients of that year’s fundraising efforts. Ninety percent (90%) of the funds raised is distributed evenly among the top three charities receiving the most votes and the remaining 10% is divided equally among the next three charities receiving the most votes. Funds are distributed in May.

Congratulations to the following charities (listed alphabetically) for our current year's fundraising!

The three charities to share 90% of the funds include:

⁠⁠ - English Empowerment Center 

⁠ - New Hope Housing

⁠- Save the Swift Island Trees

⁠The next three charities will share the remaining 10% of funds:

⁠ - Justice High School Scholarship Fund

 - Northern Virginia Mental Health Foundation

 - The Wolf Shack (Justice High School's Food Pantry)

⁠⁠Information about each selected charity follows:

⁠

English Empowerment Center (Formerly The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia) 

Each year EEC’s English classes benefit thousands of immigrant adults who cannot speak or read English above the 6-grade level. They are our neighbors, parents of our children’s classmates, and workers who manicure our lawns. They hail from 95 different countries, and over half live in abject poverty, defined as $30,000 or less to support a family of four. Their lack of English keeps them from advancing at work and limits their children’s achievement. With headquarters at Annandale Road and Rt. 50, this nonprofit offers courses both online and in-person at convenient times for working adults. Classes, staffed by qualified teachers with extensive volunteer support, are kept small to expedite learning. Regular fundraising and hard-won grants underwrite the lowest tuition among academic institutions in the region and fund scholarships for those who cannot afford to pay—30%. Due to its powerful impact on learning, both the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate delivered Commending Resolutions recognizing the accomplishments of EEC this year. A Platinum Seal of Transparency by Guide Star (their highest rating) is a further testament to its business practices. Please help EEC fund its programs. 

Justice High School Scholarship Fund 

This past May, the Justice High School Scholarship Fund (JHSSF) received more applications from graduating seniors than at ANY time in the past. As a consequence, we were happy to award over $300,000 in scholarships to 91 seniors. There is no more LOCAL charity than JHSSF. These are the kids who bag your groceries and stock the shelves; their parents mow your lawns and clean your homes. By voting for the JHSF as one of your charities, you can know that LBWC funds are being spent locally, benefiting the youth of OUR community – Lake Barcroft students as well as our immediate neighbors. Forging a partnership with Lake Barcroft’s local high school through the JHSSF, means you can have a direct hand in providing access to college educations for countless local students – students who otherwise might have to forfeit the chance to attend college. JHSSF scholarship recipients generally have excellent academics, serious financial need and a track record of community service – service to our local libraries and elementary schools (through tutoring), the Baileys Crossroads Rotary (through the high school’s Interact Club), and local neighborhood watershed cleanup days. 65% are first in their family to attend college, 90% are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, and 80% also speak a language other than English at home. JHSSF has an audit conducted annually. 

New Hope Housing 

The mission of New Hope Housing is to end homelessness in Northern Virginia by providing shelter, housing, and the tools to build a better life for homeless men and women. Begun as an all-volunteer organization in 1977 serving eight guests in the first Fairfax County shelter, New Hope Housing is now a regional agency serving up to 350 people daily. NHH serves Fairfax County, Arlington County, Alexandria, and Falls Church including six shelter programs, eight supportive housing programs serving 101 adults with disabilities, case management, prevention services, job assistance, and more. The Bailey’s Shelter in Falls Church is about 1.5 miles from Lake Barcroft and an integral part of our local community. A donation from Lake Barcroft Woman’s Club would be applied as funding for the NHH Employment Assistance Scholarship (EAS) program. The scholarships cover one-time expenses for training, certifications (such as Home Health Care Aide, HVAC), required work clothing, and transportation. This type of assistance is essential in helping shelter guests and homeless individuals obtain meaningful employment above minimum wage, hopefully with a path to a career. The EAS can help a formerly homeless person chart a new future. 

Northern Virginia Mental Health Foundation

The Northern Virginia Mental Health Foundation provides creative and critical funding to our neighbors with mental health challenges and limited resources. One of our members, Linda Haake, has referred people to them when working for the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, and found the group quite helpful in finding ways for people to cross barriers to better lives.

Save the Swift Island Trees Project (LBA/WID initiative) 

Swift Island is one of our community’s sacred resources. It provides a sanctuary and safe nesting place for many of the birds that grace us with their presence. The health of the island and its trees is critical to maintaining this treasure. Two years ago, the woman’s club awarded the Save the Swift Island Trees one of its smaller donations. Our funding enabled The WID, LBA, and the Board’s Environmental Quality (EQ) Chair to collaborate with an arborist and together they helped to eradicate 44 clusters of invasive species, cut back some of the overgrowth, and clean up many vines that were choking the trees. The LBA/WID EQ Team has committed to use any additional funds it receives from us to help eliminate ivy and invasive plants from the island and to maintain it as a healthy and wild preserve that supports native plants and wildlife. 

Wolf Shack -- Justice High School Food Pantry 

The Wolf Shack is Justice High School PTSA’s volunteer-run resource pantry providing students free, nutritious food to sustain them during long days after school, and staple-meal items to fill-in food gaps for themselves and their families. The pantry also provides dignity items, including a wide variety of toiletries and feminine products. During the school day, the Wolf Shack is accessible to the school social workers, counselors, and parent liaisons for use at their discretion when student needs arise. There are no requirements for being a Wolf Shack “shopper,” all students are welcome, and it is a zero-stigma zone. Since opening Fall 2022, the Wolf Shack has steadily increased capacity to serve 300 students per week, during two weekly after-school sessions. As nearly 70% of Justice HS students qualify for free or reduced lunch (among the highest across Fairfax County), the need for Wolf Shack resources continues to grow. They are working hard to build-up capacity and expand their offerings, as they expect to serve many more students this school year.It is amazing the difference it makes when a student has the basic resources that they need to be able to have parity of opportunity with their peers.