CELEBRATION AND MEMORIAL GIFTS
A wonderful way to honor a loved one is through a celebration or memorial gift to RIF of NOVA. Through such a gift, the love of reading, books, and literature can be passed to a new generation of young readers in our community. If you would like to recognize a living family member, friend, neighbor, teacher, colleague, any other important person in your life, please consider a "celebration gift." We will gladly tell their story on this page, in our newsletter, and in our social media. Contact us at [email protected].
If you would like to memorialize a loved one in this manner, please let us know. We would be honored to share their story in our newsletter and on our website. Please contact us at [email protected]. Donations are gratefully accepted at rifnova.org/donate.
If you would like to memorialize a loved one in this manner, please let us know. We would be honored to share their story in our newsletter and on our website. Please contact us at [email protected]. Donations are gratefully accepted at rifnova.org/donate.
A Celebration Gift to Honor Sheila Jonas John Jonas has donated to RIF of NOVA in honor of his wife Sheila Jonas. His celebration gift came with the words -- "for giving our grandchildren a love for reading." Sheila loves reading to her two grandchildren and reads to them every day they are lucky enough to be together. An avid reader herself, she notes -- "reading is and always will be my life force." Sheila began a teaching career in 1971 and taught in a wide variety of environments, including inner-city Atlanta, rural South Carolina, and Arlington, Virginia. She has been a member and officer of the RIF of NOVA board for over 30 years, serving as Corresponding Secretary, Co-President, and Sunshine Committee Chair. She also serves on the Fairfax Falls Church Community Services Board, appointed by the County Supervisor to represent Mason District. John Jonas made his celebration gift in sponsorship of RIF of NOVA's 2021 Book It For Books Campaign. The 5K/One-Mile Run/Walk is scheduled for October 16 at Bluemont Park in Arlington. Please find details by clicking here. |
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A Tribute to Peggy Glenn Stephenson
by RIF of NOVA Board Former President Nancy King It is with great sadness that I share the news of the death of Peggy Glenn Stephenson last month (February 2021). For many of us, Peggy was a longtime friend. I feel blessed that I was able to call her that for more than 40 years. We did have some fun and adventurous times, and I am sure many others can remember happy times with her over the years. Peggy had the biggest and most generous heart, beautiful violet-blue eyes, and true style and elegance! Most of all, she was a consummate literacy leader in Arlington, Northern Virginia, and the Commonwealth through her work as: an APS Teacher Specialist for Reading; President of the Greater Washington Reading Council; co-President of Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia; and President of the Virginia State Reading Association. Peggy made a difference to the personal and literacy lives of so many and will be sorely missed. I plan to honor Peggy with a donation to Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, as she was a longtime board member, a past co-president, and a donor. Others are welcome to contribute in memory of Peggy at rifnova.org/donate. |
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A Tribute to William Craft Owen
by Diane Owen My father, William C. (Bill) Owen, passed away in December (2020). When friends and colleagues asked what charity would be suitable for donations in his memory, I immediately thought of Reading is Fundamental of Northern Virginia. Dad was an avid reader throughout his 91 years. He especially devoured science fiction, fantasy, and books about astrophysics and astronomy. More than that, Dad made words his profession. He worked as a reporter and newspaper editor for Stars and Stripes in Korea during the Korean War, for the wire services INS and Associated Press in D.C., and for more than twenty years for the Birmingham News in Alabama. He wrote a grammar and usage column for the in-house newsletter at the News, and his personal collection of thesauruses filled multiple shelves. Dad loved sharing books with others. After he fell in love with the Harry Potter books, he started buying ten copies of each new release for his local public library to cut down on how long kids (and adults) would have to wait to enjoy them. I'm so glad that donations to rifnova.org/donate will spread his love of reading to the next generation. |
Page cover photo: iStock/Gelvner Tivadar
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