The mission of Project GiveBack is to provide a vehicle for corporate firms and professionals to give back to the communities where they work and live in by coordinating programs that benefit less fortunate individuals and families, with a focus on children. It is the intent of the organization to uplift communities around the United States mentally, spiritually, and economically.
History
The Project GiveBack Community Service Organization began as a food drive in the offices of Thompson, Cobb, Bazilio and Associates. As a professional staff member of this Washington, DC based accounting firm, Ransom Miller, III collected cash donations and canned goods throughout the fall months of 1995, and distributed food baskets to 6 families and one homeless shelter the week of Thanksgiving. The support Mr. Miller received was extremely positive and inspired him to make this food drive an annual event. With hopes of gaining a wide range of support and in an effort to separate this project from others, Miller named the food drive Project GiveBack. Through its annual Thanksgiving Food Distribution, Project GiveBack has been able to assist over 3,400 families in the Metropolitan Washington, DC Area.
Over the years Project GiveBack has grown from a small group of concerned men and women to an organization that is positively impacting lives in several communities around the United States. Project GiveBack has coordinated events in Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Tulsa, Oklahoma, St. Louis, Missouri and Denver, Colorado.
Charles F. Parker Jr, from the Alexandria-Fairfax Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, participated in Project GiveBack in 2009 helping families in the DC/Maryland region. In 2010 Charles decided to expand this volunteerism by providing this service to families in Northern Virginia. Under this chapter's Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund (KSEF) formed NOVA Project GiveBack using the AF Multipurpose Facility as its headquarters.
The Alexandria-Fairfax Alumni Chapter Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund (KSEF) was incorporated March 8, 1990. It is a tax-exempt 501C(3) organization whose purpose is to promote the general welfare and the development of youth. KSEF provides scholarships, grants, loans, and other types of financial aid to worthy African-American college students and prospective college students who might find it difficult to attend college otherwise. KSEF also has community programs to feed less fortunate families, a week long summer camp for African American male teens and educational enhancement seminars.
During the initial NOVA Project GiveBack Thanksgiving distribution in 2010, 50 families received food boxes along the Route 1 corridor. This number increased in 2011 to 75 families being served. In 2012, NOVA Project GiveBack was able to support and deliver 116 boxes, distributed 165 boxes in 2013, and in 2014 helped over 300 families.
Each year NOVA Project GiveBack aims to provide more families with nourishing meals during the Thanksgiving holiday season and has set an aggressive goal to reach 500 families in the next 5 years. This can not be accomplished without our sponsors. The committee continues to work vigorously to sustain current sponsors and recruit new sponsorship. Volunteers also assist with making each year a success during NOVA Project GiveBack Day by delivering boxes to recipients in person, which will feed an average family for 2 weeks. The committee continues to grow and includes members from the various Divine Nine fraternity and sorority organizations, as well as other organizations throughout the area.
We are celebrating 6 years of NOVA Project GiveBack!
