[Archived] City of Alexandria Hosts 11th Annual “A Walk in the Park…Strides Toward Success” Walkathon To Help Project Discovery Students Attend College

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	April 10, 2007 PIO# 090-07/rdo	Steve Mason, Director of Communications, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

City of Alexandria Hosts 11th Annual “A Walk in the Park…Strides Toward
Success” Walkathon To Help Project Discovery Students Attend College
Walkathon Will Be Held on April 21 at Fort Ward Park

The City of Alexandria will host the 11th annual “A Walk in the Park…Strides Toward Success” walkathon to help students of the Department of Human Services’ Project Discovery program attend college. The walkathon will take place on Saturday, April 21, at the Fort Ward Park, located at 4301 W. Braddock Road. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the walk starts at 9 a.m. Participants may register and pay in advance on the City’s Web site at www.alexandriava.gov. The course covers approximately two miles.

Suggested donations are $15 for adult walkers, $50 for teams of four adult walkers, $5 for students, and $20 for teams of five student walkers. All participants will receive a free T-shirt and have a chance to win prizes. Prizes include gift certificates to Pacers running stores, local restaurants, such as Hotel Tabard Inn, RT’s Restaurant, Copeland’s of New Orleans, and the International House of Pancakes, accommodations at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, D. C., and dinner on the Dandy Restaurant Cruises.

Project Discovery is a college-access program that seeks to motivate and prepare low-income and first-generation college-eligible students for opportunities in higher education. It annually assists 150 students from T. C. Williams High School and the Minnie Howard School and provides them with information on college admissions and financial aid, workshops on topics such as life skills and career planning, and ongoing support and encouragement. Ninety-four percent of last year’s graduating seniors in the program continued their education at two or four year colleges or technical schools.

For more information on the “A Walk in the Park…Strides Toward Success” walkathon, call Lesa Gilbert at 703-838-0915, e-mail lesa.gilbert@alexandriava.gov, or visit www.alexandriava.gov.

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