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Taxpayers Generously Respond to Fairfax County Foundations

Fairfax, VA - May 1 was the deadline for Fairfax County's vehicle owners to respond to the County's annual Personal Property notices. This year, hundreds of County residents also responded to a special insert sent with the notices that requested voluntary donations to help support the County library system, schools and parks.

"The public wants great libraries, great schools and great parks - we are extremely pleased with the community's response," says Bobbi Longworth, executive director of the Fairfax County Public Library Foundation, Inc.

The donation request included in the Personal Property tax notices has generated more than 300 donations totaling more than 15,000 for the Library Foundation so far.

"People feel very deeply about the importance of the public library. Their notes of appreciation are heartwarming," Longworth says. "One Alexandria resident wrote, 'Even though my job was cut through layoffs, and I'm working only eight hours a week, I strongly support the value of our Library. I was a librarian at my home country.' This was accompanied by a $30 gift."

This was the first year the Library Foundation was included in the annual County mailing; it was the third year for the Parks' Open Space Preservation Fund. Fairfax County Parks received almost $46,000 from 1,300 donors, of which $37,000 has been earmarked for the preservation of open space.

"In a sense, it gives people ownership in a very personal way," said Jean White, executive director of the Park Foundation. "Every time you drive by park land, you know you personally had something to do with preserving, protecting and maintaining that special place."

The donation appeal was included at the request of the Board of Supervisors in the Personal Property notices sent out in February.

Jim Rosebush is president of the most senior of the County's fundraising organizations, the 20-year-old Fairfax Education Foundation.

"The public school system is thrilled with the initial receipt of more than $3,700 in gifts raised by this mailing," Rosebush says. "These donations show that County residents are willing to invest in important public institutions."

Fairfax County Public Library Foundation, Inc. is a private, nonprofit corporation committed to providing supplementary support to the Fairfax County Public Library. The Foundation, while reinforcing the need for continued and increased public support for the Library, serves as a catalyst for attracting private funding from individuals, businesses, organizations and foundations to enhance library services for our community.