NEWS

Vienna, VA, February 13, 2023 – Leadership Fairfax is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 Northern Virginia Leadership Awards who will be celebrated on Thursday, February 23, 2023 hosted at Reston Community Center,  2310 Colts Neck Rd, Reston, VA. The event will be presented in a hybrid format, with the in person event beginning at 11:30 am, and the program starting at 12 noon with an option for attendees to tune in virtually.  

The NVLAs are bestowed annually to talented community leaders and organizations that have made a significant impact on Northern Virginia through volunteerism, philanthropy, and community leadership in the following categories: Regional Leadership; Non-Profit Leadership; Corporate Leadership and Educational Leadership. The 2023honorees represent a diverse cross section of the community from corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations working to build thriving and sustainable communities.  

The awards are made possible by sponsors Leidos, Reston Community Center, Apple Federal Credit Union, Boston Properties, Cornerstones and FedWriters. Tickets can be purchased online at leadershipfairfax.org/events.  

MEET THE 2023 HONOREES:  

Nonprofit Leadership Organization: Good Shepherd Housing 

Good Shepherd Housing (GSH) has been a provider of affordable housing along the Richmond Highway corridor for almost fifty years. Established in 1974, GSH has pursued a scattered-site approach to acquiring and managing affordable rental housing units. Rather than pursuing a single-site, multifamily residential development GSH has purchased units incrementally in a dozen communities along 15 miles of Richmond Highway, blending communities and neighborhoods. GSH understands that affordable and stable housing is a vehicle for changing a family’s lifelong outcomes. GSH gives struggling households breathing space to work on education, employment, and savings. 

Corporate Leadership: Springfield Town Center 

Springfield Town Center is honored with the Corporate Leadership Award to recognize its outstanding contributions as a public-private partner during the COVID-19 pandemic. Springfield Town Center provided leased space at no cost to Fairfax County for 11 months during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign to establish a vital vaccine equity clinic for residents with limited health care access in the Springfield area. Springfield Town Center operated 140 vaccine equity clinics providing nearly 10,000 vaccine doses. The Springfield Town Center clinic became known as a trusted location in the community where residents with no health insurance, English language and digital access barriers could obtain important COVID-19 vaccine to sustain their health and vitality. 

Nonprofit Leadership Individual: Dr. Nardos King 

Dr. Nardos E. King is an outstanding community leader. She serves as the President of the Donna M. Saunders Foundation, the DC Metro HBCU Alliance and the National Alliance of Black School Educators. Dr. Nardos King is a visionary leader with a clear idea of how she envisions the future and with the ability to strategize on how to get there. Through Dr. King's leadership, our community is impacted in a positive way. Her work with the Donna M Saunders Foundation has provided both financial assistance to breast cancer patients who need assistance with rent, food, car payments, health co-payments and other needs. The HBCU community day and 5K run brings 1300 plus members of our community together to learn about health issues and HBCUs. The day also raises funds and donations for scholarships. 

Regional Leadership: Chris Atwood Foundation 

In less than a decade, the Chris Atwood Foundation has shined a light on the opioid crisis and substance addiction as a community health issue; they have changed the terminology used, and the connotations surrounding substance addiction. They participated on the White House Task Force in 2017-2018, educated law makers in the Virginia statehouse, changed six state laws, and partnered with Fairfax County to bring treatment to those incarcerated and to provide safe housing when they are released. CAF has served over 11,000 people with naloxone training, housing, aid, peer support and more. Over 700 lives have been saved by reversal of opioid overdose using Naloxone CAF provided. Over 500 people recovering from substance abuse disorder CAF has placed in substance free safe house to help them continue their road to recovery. 

Educational Leadership: Shannon Matheny, Assistant Principal – West Springfield High School 

Shannon Matheny has created a school within the school, with a student-centered environment that helps students find their own path and achieve more than they knew they were capable of achieving. Thanks to Matheny's vision, West Springfield High School has helped ensure all students can find a pathway to success. She has served as senior administrator for four years at West Springfield High School and helped more than 2,500 students reach their graduation goals. 

 

The awards ceremony to recognize the 2023 winners will take place in a hybrid format on Thursday, February 23, 2023 with options for in person or virtual attendance, with the ceremony starting at 12 noon. Virtual tickets are $25 for nonmembers and general public, in-person tickets are $50 and include networking and catered lunch. Tickets can purchased online: leadershipfairfax.org/events.  

Leadership Fairfax develops, connects and inspires leaders of diverse backgrounds and experiences to engage in building a better community and is currently accepting applications for all of their leadership development programs. Programs are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion or any other basis protected by law. Leadership Fairfax headquarters are located at 8230 Old Courthouse Rd., Ste 100, Vienna, VA 22182. To learn more, visit leadershipfairfax.org.