The 31st annual Awards Luncheon was our biggest ever! With over 500 community members in attendance, it was an uplifting occasion of celebrating the three Honorees (watch their videos below) and celebrating our shared community. Click below to sign up for e-mail updates on future events.
These are brief snapshots of their many community contributions:
Jeanne Broyhill
Jeanne’s role as a change agent, capacity builder, and board member in the Arlington community has had profound benefits for many nonprofit organizations including – but not limited to – Culpepper Garden (Chair), the Leadership Center of Arlington (Alumni and Class Ambassador), Advance Arlington – formerly the Arlington Committee of 100 (Chair), and Northern VA Womenade (Co-Founder).
Dr. Raymond Hoare
In 1994, Dr. Hoare became a founding physician of Arlington Free Clinic (AFC), where he continues to see patients 30 years later. As a cardiologist and volunteer at AFC, Dr. Hoare has clocked more than 1,500 service hours, treating hundreds of patients who would otherwise have no access to cardiac specialty care, including virtual care during the COVID pandemic.
Martha (Marty) Swaim
A 46-year Arlington resident, Martha (Marty) Swaim is the co-founder of Challenging Racism (CR), a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering, inspiring, and giving individuals the tools to disrupt systemic racism where they find it. Now in its 20th anniversary year, CR has expanded its services to a variety of community groups. Marty retired as the unpaid director in 2020.
Judge Newman
About the William T. Newman, Jr. Spirit of Community Award & Celebration Luncheon
The Honorable William T. Newman, Jr. served as Chief Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit in Virginia. A life-long Arlingtonian, he is known for his active engagement in the county. Judge Newman is the founder and president emeritus of Arlington Community Foundation.
In 1993, Arlington Community Foundation awarded the first Spirit of Community award to the late Joan Cooper. Named in honor of Judge Newman, the award was established to recognize individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a tireless and unselfish commitment to improving the quality of life in Arlington.
The annual celebration and luncheon brings together hundreds of business, civic, and philanthropic leaders, as well as Arlingtonians from all walks of life, for a celebration of community and the individuals who have made Arlington a better home for all of us.
This year’s event is being held on Friday, November 15 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel.Click here for tickets and sponsorships, and watch this highlights video from last year’s event to get excited!
John Foti
Most recently, John helped establish After School Enrichment Matters (ASEM) which supports students of Arlington’s eight Title 1 elementary schools in gaining access to free afterschool programming. Since its founding, ASEM has granted over $80,000 in scholarships, providing over 4,500 students access to theater, dance, soccer, robotics, and field trips. In addition to ASEM, John has been instrumental in ensuring Arlington youth have access to year-round sports facilities, while serving as board member and coach in many local athletics programs.
Dr. Tsehaye Teferra
Dr. Teferra is the founder and President and CEO of both the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) and Enterprise Development Group (EDG). In 2012, he was recognized by the White House as a Champion of Change. He was appointed by the Arlington County Board to serve as a founding member of the Arlington County, Virginia, Multicultural Commission, among many other distinguished roles.
Andres Tobar
In addition to serving as Executive Director of Shirlington Education and Employment Center for nearly 20 years, his community leadership has included president of the Arlington County Crime Solvers, many years as president of the Kiwanis Club of South Arlington, board member for the Arlington Food Assistance Center and Culpepper Garden, co-chair of the African-American/Hispanic Coalition, state director of the Virginia League of United Latin American Citizens (including two years as national Vice President), and as co-chair of the Immigrant Educational Rights Coalition, among many other distinguished roles.
Portia Clark
Portia has been a community organizer and advocate, particularly for youth, for three decades. She helped change the name of the Nauck neighborhood to Green Valley, which was significant to its residents and the Arlington community; and was very involved in the Four Mile Run Valley Area Plan and the Jennie Dean Park renovation. Watch Portia’s Award Honoree video here.
Mark Riley
Mark oversees the Arlington Turkey Trot, which benefits local safety net organizations. For the Arlington Turkey Trot, he is the Chief Turkey, overseeing 4,000 walkers and runners, and coordinating countless volunteers. He also founded Homerun for the Homeless, a 5k benefitting multiple organizations; and provided the framework to launch the Arlington Bunny Hop 5k. Watch Mark’s Award Honoree video here.
Dr. Mike Silverman
Dr. Silverman is the Chief of Emergency Medicine at Virginia Hospital Center. Throughout the COVID crisis, in addition to working through unprecedented challenges in the emergency department, Dr. Silverman took it upon himself to make the overwhelming amount of COVID information accessible and digestible to the public with weekly posts. Watch Dr. Silverman’s Award Honoree video here.
Lucy Bowen McCauley and Bowen McCauley Dance Company (BMDC) have dedicated their time and creative energy in the elevation of performance art here in Arlington for 25 years. Through award-winning performances and free community outreach programs, BMDC engages people of all-ages and socioeconomic backgrounds regardless of dance experience.
Recognizing and appreciating the dedication and hard work of Arlington’s frontline human service workers as they have been crucial to keeping the community going during the COVID crisis.
Taylor, who spent more than 30 years as an administrator at the University of the District of Columbia, is an Arlington native and is former president of the Arlington branch of the NAACP and the Nauck (now Green Valley) Civic Association. He also long has been a leader at Macedonia Baptist Church, and is the author of “Bridge Builders of Nauck/Green Valley: Past and Present.”
