Rainbow Riding

Debi Alexander · Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Ashburn, Virginia

Holiday Reception Raises Funds to Build A Child’s Dream At Silver Lake

On November 29, Emily and Will Bryant hosted a lovely holiday reception in their magnificent home in Piedmont Riding Club. The home was festooned with seasonal decorations and showcased a mini silent auction with enticing gift items including four infield dugout seats at a Washington Nationals Baseball game donated by Jerry Burkot of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Foundation, Tiffany crystal bowl and champagne flutes, colorful holiday ornaments and iron cherubs donated by Lynn Grizzard and a stunning wire basket filled with home decorations and goodies donated by Blackberries of Haymarket. For the knitting enthusiasts, Needle in a Haymarket donated a hundred dollar gift certificate. The mini auction raised over $1,000!

A sumptuous buffet was donated by Black Tie Events. Black Tie Events, full service catering and special events firm, partnered with Rainbow Center this year to provide all of the catering needs for receptions to raise funds for our new home at Silver Lake.

The menu included a cheese board sprinkled with pine nuts and apricots, Black Tie’s Signature Crab Dip, seasonal fruits, a full salmon dressed with cucumber scales and served with capers and dill sauce, five mushroom penne pasta served with chicken and mushroom sauce, roasted blue potatoes served cold with dipping sauce and beets, portabella mushrooms & zucchini tossed with aiola vinaigrette, and a tiered tray with homemade desserts.

Co-owners Ezmira Junkala and Donna Stone said, “After we learned about the enormous impact the riding arena will have on the lives of the children, we immediately said yes to sponsoring Rainbow’s events. We are thrilled to be working with this organization.” The reception was beyond expectations from the gourmet food, to the music, to the exceptional valet service and bar service. Every detail received meticulous attention. The co-owners submitted the winning bid on an overnight stay at the luxurious Kent Island Hilton and will look forward to a relaxing treat after all their efforts!

Jack Stanton of Stanton Entertainment filled the party with wonderful music that had folks humming along.

Lisa Parkinson is joining Lynn Fasciano and donating her photography services to Rainbow. Lisa has taken extensive photos for our upcoming capital campaign. Both photographers have contributed to our new website. Said Lisa, who attended the reception, “I've always been a horse crazy person. When I was nine, I think my parents had enough of my whining and finally got me horseback riding lessons in Leesburg. I've kept on riding the next 14 years through middle, high school, and was even co-captain of my equestrian team at Edinboro University. As I'm just getting my feet wet into the world of freelance photography, I have taken all sorts of jobs, but I keep coming back to working within the equestrian community. All aspects are near and dear to me and I'm especially elated to be fortunate enough to be working with Rainbow and to be of any help I can be in their endeavor.”

Several partners and supporters were in attendance. Executive Director, Debi Alexander introduced Mike Lubeley who has been a long time friend of Rainbow. His association started more than two decades ago during the early stages of the organization when the founding volunteers consulted him for legal services. Mike and his firm have periodically provided in kind support. But most recently, his help to develop the License Agreement with the County for Silver Lake helped Rainbow take a giant step toward reaching our dream-----owning and operating a state of the art facility for the special children in our community and the region.

Also in attendance were Supervisor Wally Covington and Supervisor John Stirrup and their wives Connie and Heidi. Debi told the crowd, “Without their leadership our new home at Silver Lake would be a dream rather than a reality and we are truly grateful.”

Alexander also introduced the evening hosts saying, “Tonight would not be possible without our incredible hosts. I am so grateful to Will and Emily Bryant, who have opened their hearts and beautiful home to support our children.”

“I’ve known Emily for years, and she is an amazing person. Emily is the Executive Director of the Fairfax County Office of Partnerships an agency that operates numerous programs to help the underserved populations in Fairfax County. One of those programs is the Medical Care for Children Partnership, which provides comprehensive health and dental care to children of the working poor. Emily understands first hand how important it is to provide healthcare, education, and resources to enable children to live up to their full potential,” she continued.

“It is through partnerships and connections – such as the connections we are making tonight – with old friends and new friends that enable us to help every child succeed.”

Debi talked to the crowd about the word connection. She said, “I want to take a moment and think about the word connection. It is a very powerful word. As Claudia Johnson, author and first recipient of the PEN/Newman’s Own First Amendment Award discusses in her work, for human beings, connection is, I think, the heart of it all: there are moments of change in our lives that define our very being. Connections, human exchanges, however fleeting or small — two children exchanging marbles on the playground — or, as the author of Counters and Cable Cars says, “people taking care of each other in small ways of enduring significance.” Large or small, connections are like gifts; they create ties between us. Our connections are so very precious.”

“Now think for a moment of the opposite of connections. It is a very scary word. It is isolation. It's not always easy for young children to make new friends. Since I joined Rainbow in July, I’ve been studying this issue. Article after article discusses the fact that for children with physical disabilities or chronic illnesses, the challenge of developing friendships can be even greater–especially if their disabilities prevent them from participating in certain social activities, or if their peers lack knowledge and understanding about their condition. But without friends, children's social development may be compromised. That's why kids, especially those with disabilities, sometimes need a little extra help.”

“There are numerous studies that suggest that children with disabilities tend to experience more social isolation and challenges with social integration than their peers. This situation typically is the result of the stigma often attached to those with physical or mental disabilities and a lack of peer understanding about their disabilities. Social integration is really a cycle. When children don't have social encounters, they don't learn how to interact with others, and then, ultimately, others don't want to interact with those children.”

“But with the help of people who are interested, that cycle can be broken.
We are committed to breaking that cycle by providing more opportunities for our students to have social activities in and around their sport.”

“With our own center, we’ll have the opportunity and space for horse shows, barn dances, clinics, a place for parents to visit, network and exchange information. Think of the social networking that occurs at soccer, basketball and swim meets. We experience it every day. Many of our closest friendships begin at these activities.”

“Isolation does not just occur between peers. Within the family circle, we have children with siblings who are sports stars. Our students do not have to sit silently and listen to the accomplishments being shared over the dinner table. Our children have a sport that gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment,” she concluded.

Mr. Denis Winans started the questions at the end of the program and asked, “Debi, what do you need to reach your goal?”

Phase One will cost a total of $198,000. To date we’ve raised a little more than $100,000. In order to begin operating next year, we need to build the caretakers house ($120,000) the riding ring ($25,000), fencing for at least 3 acres ($1,000 per acre), a run-in shed with feed and tack room ($24,000), two electric water troughs ($500 each), a new or used tractor and round bale. The event raised more than $3,000 -- thanks in large part to Dr. and Mrs. Tom Valk who presented a check for $1,000, the largest gift of the evening, to Rainbow Center.

The next event is scheduled for January 19 at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Stoyan Bakalov. If you would like more information contact Rainbow Center at 703-