A Penny For Your Thoughts

Barbara Varon was a long-time resident of Fairfax County, and served on the Electoral Board for many years. A native of Germany, Barbara saw first-hand the devastation of the Holocaust, and fought for the rights and privileges of all citizens to participate in the electoral process in her adopted homeland. When Barbara died last year after a valiant struggle with cancer, the Board of Supervisors created an award in her memory to honor volunteers who demonstrate the kind of dedication to improving the community that was a hallmark of Barbara’s life.

The first Barbara Varon Volunteer Award was presented at Monday’s Board of Supervisors meeting to Toa Do, a Vietnamese-American activist and resident of Annandale who has given his time generously to empower New American communities and minorities in Fairfax County. Although he rarely mentions it, Toa Do was held as a political prisoner in Vietnam for many years before he and his family escaped to America. He credits former School Board member Robert Frye and former Supervisor Audrey Moore with instilling the importance of volunteerism when he first came to Fairfax County. I was pleased to nominate Toa Do for the award and was delighted that he was selected.

Toa’s volunteer service includes the Fairfax County Park Authority Board, the Fairfax County Reapportionment Committee after the 2000 Census, and the State Advisory Committee for the United States Commission on Civil Rights. His effort to ensure that New Americans know their rights and are protected against bias crimes and incidents included helping to translate a new police department brochure on Bias Crimes and Incidents into several languages. Toa Do also conducts citizenship seminars for immigrants and actively works to register Korean and Vietnamese voters and encourage them to perform their civic duties for their newly adopted county. In addition to his substantive volunteer efforts, he also recruits and counsels small business owners on how to grow their businesses through the Business Development Assistance Group, and and he also runs a business incubator program in the Falls Church area.

The Fifth Annual Holiday Angels Joy drive, sponsored by Starbucks Coffee Company, began collecting new toys and books on November 10. Starbucks partnered with the Starlight, Starbright Children’s Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides innovative, creative and fun entertainment therapies to seriously ill children and their families. You can donate unwrapped new toys and books at any retail Starbucks location between now and December 25. Barcroft Starbucks manager Donald Boyd invites you to bring your donations to the Barcroft Starbucks at 6365 Columbia Pike in Falls Church. The donations will be given to local hospitals in Northern Virginia, including Inova Alexandria Hospital, Inova Pediatric Center, and Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children.

Supervisor Penny Gross may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov