[Archived] Beat the Odds Program To Honor Eight Alexandria Youth At Oct. 15 Awards Banquet

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	October 12, 2006 PIO# 233-06/rdo	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

BEAT THE ODDS PROGRAM TO HONOR
EIGHT ALEXANDRIA YOUTH AT OCT. 15 AWARDS BANQUET
Youth Achieve Academic and Vocational Goals Despite Past Involvement
With Court, Mental Health or Social Services Systems

The Alexandria Beat the Odds Program is using the power of collaborative effort and a good cause to support youth who have overcome difficult situations to achieve educational or vocational goals. The Beat the Odds Scholarship Awards Committee will host a banquet at 6 pm on Sunday, Oct. 15, at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road, to present awards and celebrate the achievement of eight Alexandria youth. The third annual banquet and awards program will provide financial awards, plaques and other recognition to youth who meet scholarship criteria.

Through scholarships and grants, the committee will highlight and recognize Alexandria youth, ages 13-21, who have achieved academic and other goals despite a history of involvement with the local court, mental health or social services systems.

“Every young person deserves a chance to succeed in life and should be rewarded for achievement,” says Judge Stephen Rideout, retired Chief Judge of the Alexandria Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court. “We believe the Beat the Odds Program is an excellent way to make a difference in the lives of these young people. These amazing youth have decided to thrive in very difficult situations and this should be recognized.”

The banquet and awards program is sponsored by the Alexandria Bar Association in partnership with several Alexandria agencies including the Police Department, the Department of Human Services, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Office of Juvenile Court Services and the Alexandria City Public Schools. During the dinner, the community will be able to meet the exceptional award recipients.

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

For more information on the Alexandria Beat the Odds Scholarship Program, call Phyllis Doak, Executive Director of the Alexandria Bar Association, at 703-548-1106, or Jean Kelleher Niebauer, Chair of the Beat the Odds Scholarship Program Steering Committee, at 703-838-6390.

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