[Archived] Century Gallery and Alexandria Bar Association and Foundation Invite Community to Help Youth "Beat the Odds"

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information, Contact:
May 25, 2005 Mary Elliott, 703.838.4433
PIO 126-05/bg

Century Gallery and Alexandria Bar Association and Foundation Invite Community to Help Youth "Beat the Odds"

Century Gallery and Alexandria Bar Association help and celebrate youth in Juvenile Court System to complete educational and life goals

Often we hear about teenagers getting into trouble; dropping out of school; or becoming involved with drugs, crime or gangs. Seldom do we hear about young people who are "beating the odds" despite the daunting conditions in which so many of them live and the tremendous obstacles that frequently stand in the way of even their smallest achievements. Century Gallery invites you to a phenomenal Art Auction to raise awareness and funding for youth scholarships for the 2005 "Beat the Odds" Scholarship/Grants Awards Dinner.

On April 29 from 6-9 pm, Century Gallery, located at 919 King St., will host the Alexandria Bar Association's "Beat the Odds" Art Auction. The event at the gallery will include music by various Alexandria youth and an art auction to raise funds for the "Beat The Odds" Scholarships/Grants. A portion of the price of the auctioned art will be a tax deductible donation. Other Alexandria sponsors include Precision Printers and Cafe Marianna. Drew Hutcheson, popluar host of the Alexandria Bar's annual Gridiron, will be the emcee.

In 2004 Beat the Odds Scholarships/Grants totaling $14,000 were awarded to five Alexandria teens to assist their future academic, career or life goals. This year seven local teens, who have persevered and taken positive steps for their future despite significant obstacles, will be honored. One of last year's honorees, Tameka, is a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University majoring in social work and hopes to get her Master’s Degree and to work with foster children. This scholarship gave her the opportunity to stay in school to pursue her dream. Through this city-wide partnership of organizations, ‘Beat the Odds!’ hopes to provide the financial support and recognition to reduce the gap between the grim realities and promising dreams of these exceptional youth,” says Mary Elliott, Assistant City Attorney and member of the ‘Beat the Odds’ Steering Committee.

The Alexandria "Beat the Odds" program, modeled after the Children’s Defense Fund Program, was created by the Alexandria Bar Association to engage the community in recognizing and valuing youth who are excelling despite adverse life situations.

For more information about the Century Gallery's "Beat the Odds" Art Auction or Alexandria "Beat the Odds" Scholarship/Grant Program, call Judith Boykin, Executive Director, Alexandria Bar Association, at 703.548.1106 or Mary Elliott, Assistant City Attorney and member of the “Beat the Odds” Scholarship Program Steering Committee, at 703.838.4433.