Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) provides and promotes dignified access to nutritious food for all Arlingtonians in need. Since 1988, AFAC has been obtaining and distributing groceries, directly and free of charge, to people living in Arlington who cannot afford to purchase enough food to meet their basic needs. Help from AFAC permits allows our clients to make other necessary purchases without sacrificing their health and nutrition needs. This allows families to remain in their homes, workers to stay on the job, children to be ready to learn, and mothers and babies to have the nutrition they need.
Since its inception in 1956 to present, the Chapter has awarded more than a quarter of a million dollars in scholarship, primarily through funds raised at our annual Cooley- Moore Scholarship Luncheon Fashion Show. In 1958 the Chapter held it first Cotillion and presented 16 ladies to society. To date the Chapter has presented over 1300 young ladies to society through its annual Cotillion. From 1974 to the present, the Chapter hosts an annual Christmas holiday luncheon for over 100 senior citizens and conducts an ongoing mentoring program for at-risk second through fifth grade girls – Project StepOut.
Founded in 1924, Arlington Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary, nonprofit of over 750 businesses committed to the area’s economic and civic well-being. Our mission is to strengthen businesses and economic environment for those who work, live, and do business in Arlington. We provide networking, business development, community engagement, education, marketing, and influencing the voice of the business community through government affairs and advocacy. The Chamber runs the Young Entrepreneurs Academy program transforming middle & high school students into business owners.
Founded in 1924, Arlington Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary, nonprofit of over 750 businesses committed to the area’s economic and civic well-being. Our mission is to strengthen businesses and economic environment for those who work, live, and do business in Arlington. We provide networking, business development, community engagement, education, marketing, and influencing the voice of the business community through government affairs and advocacy. The Chamber runs the Young Entrepreneurs Academy program transforming middle & high school students into business owners.
The Arlington Historical Society, founded in 1956, is an educational nonprofit incorporated in Virginia. Our goal is to conduct research, preserve, and disseminate knowledge relating to the history, archaeology, culture, and geographical and socio-economic development of Arlington. We work toward this goal through resources, including two historic properties and artifact collection; original historical research and publications; discovery, collection, preservation and exhibition of artifacts; and presentation and dissemination of knowledge on the history of Arlington County free to the public.
Founded in 1957, the Better Sports Club of Arlington provides leadership, encouragement, and development of our young men and women; and to attain good health, upright character, and the principle of citizenship through the medium of sports and good sportsmanship. The Club supports grants to a wide range of youth sports groups. The Better Sports Club is open to men and women over 18 who want to promote its purpose, and are willing to participate in the work of the club. Climaxing the Club’s activities each year is the Annual Sports Award Banquet paying tribute to Arlington’s outstanding athletes.
Civitan Club of Arlington. Civitan International is a worldwide association of local community service clubs. The mission is to strengthen local communities by providing a network of volunteer clubs dedicated to serving individual and community needs, with an emphasis on helping people with developmental disabilities. Arlington Civitan sponsors the Civitan I-66 Parking Garage Sales – held the first Saturday – April through November. Former Civitans were three former U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy, Harry Truman and Franklin D. Roosevelt”. President Bill Clinton was a Junior Civitan.
Culpepper Garden Culpepper Garden was the first affordable housing built in Arlington. With 340 apartments we are Arlington’s largest senior community and the only one that combines affordable independent and affordable assisted living so that residents may age in place. Our newly renovated independent living offers full-service dining and health and wellness programs onsite. As the first HUD-subsidized, assisted living in the nation, we provide 24-hour supportive services and help residents with activities of daily living. We are proud that no assisted living resident has ever had to leave Culpepper Garden due to lack of funds.
Kiwanis Club of Arlington. As a member of Kiwanis International our number one priority is supporting the needs of young children. Our Club also assumes responsibility for local humanitarian and civic projects, and we provide financial support to over 30 family and youth oriented organizations such as the Arlington Food Assistance Center, Arlington Pediatric Center, Phoenix House Mid-Atlantic, the Salvation Army, and the YMCA. Major fund raisers: pancake breakfast – late April/early May each year; blueberry sale – orders taken in the spring for delivery at end of June; and wine tasting – in the fall.
Kiwanis Club of South Arlington. We focus on projects that benefit the children and youth of South Arlington. Examples of our projects are: Thanksgiving baskets, Secret Santa and tuition assistance at Oakridge School; ACHS Key Club; College scholarships with Arlington Community Foundation; food distribution for AFAC; and Salvation Army bell ringing. We meet at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington at noon on the first and third Thursday of each month. Guests welcome. Contact Harro Wulf 703-243-5245 or jwulf1@verizon.net
Leadership Center for Excellence’s mission is to enlighten, inspire and connect leaders through community building and leadership development. We connect to a community of 1,600 leaders representing over 600 dynamic organizations. We deliver services at the highest level of quality possible, all with personal and professional leadership development opportunities. Whether you attend a workshop, custom consulting, or participate in a program with us, we equip you with fresh insights and concrete tools. We’d love to speak with you about where you are & where you’d like to be!
Being a Lion is about leading by example, building relationships and improving the world through kindness. Its 1.4 million caring men and women serving together so they can make a lasting impact and change more lives. We provide aid to those in need. Our primary focus is sight preservation. Our club’s major activity is support to the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center of Northern Virginia, Inc. 501(c) 3.
Our Motto is “WE SERVE”.
OAR (Offender Aid and Restoration of Arlington County, Inc.) was established in 1974 by a group of women from Arlington, who volunteered in the jails and saw a need for ongoing support of prisoners and ex-offenders who remained ignored or forgotten by society. OAR serves Arlington and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church. OAR works with individuals who have been incarcerated anywhere in the country and are returning to live in Arlington, Alexandria or Falls Church; and those mandated by the Arlington or Falls Church courts to complete community service hours.
Optimist Club of Arlington promotes a positive outlook on life guided by our motto “FRIEND OF YOUTH.” We sponsor academic and sports activities designed to give Arlington’s youth a better chance to succeed in today’s world including essay and oratorical contests, tutoring, college scholarships, Babe Ruth baseball, Arlington Soccer Association, softball, YULA, youth rifle team, and Arlington Public School Hockey and Crew teams. Our major fundraiser is Christmas Tree sales held at the Knights of Columbus parking lot at 5115 Little Falls Road.
We meet for lunch at WG&CC monthly on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays.
In the 1980s, PathForward (then A-SPAN) was borne out of Lora Rinker and Pam Juhl’s passion for ending homelessness and hunger. Two nights per week, Lora, Pam, and friends prepared and served meals to Arlington’s most vulnerable. This initial act of empathy and kindness led to the formation of A-SPAN in 1992, and the organization has grown significantly to become an innovative, industry-leading organization with a full continuum of compassionate care to meet the needs of adults experiencing homelessness, many of whom are veterans. In 2021, A-SPAN changed its name to PathForward.
The Arlington Rotary Club was founded in 1929 to serve the Arlington community and to support the education of students in need. We host fundraisers to support local charities and to fund scholarships for Arlington students from elementary school through college. We also organize service projects and assist local charities in their fundraising efforts. Our partners include AFAC, Arlington Academy of Hope, Arlington THRIVE, Doorways for Women and Families, and others. We meet Thursday for lunch at the Residence Inn in Courthouse for fellowship and a presentation from various community leaders.
Rotary Club of Crystal City-Pentagon is part of a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. We meet Wednesday morning at the Crystal City Sports Pub on 23rd St.
The Woman’s Club of Arlington. Since 1932, the Club has provided financial support so schools, libraries, parks, and civic organizations in Arlington and has spent countless hours in volunteer service. WCA service projects include USO, scholarships for Wakefield High School seniors, Arlington Food Assistance Center, Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, and Mended Hearts. Meetings are the 1st Monday of every month at 11:30am followed by lunch and a program. Evening meetings are the 1st Thursday every month at 7pm. Guests and prospective members are welcome.