Kristin Cuadros, Attain, LLC
Members of the WashingtonExec EA Committee are already planning for next year after doubling expected profits from a charity rummage sale last weekend.
The sale, held May 6 at the Providence Community Center in Fairfax, Virginia, raised nearly $1,000 in support of The Women’s Center. The center provides mental health counseling, education and various modes of support to 4,000 people annually from its Washington, D.C., and Vienna, Virginia, locations.
“We were looking for an opportunity to bring our members together, outside of the conference room, and find a way to give back to our community,” said EA Committee Chairwoman Kristin Cuadros of Attain. “I was exposed to The Women’s Center about two years ago, through extension of Attain, and I feel very passionate about what they’re doing and the impact that their services and trainings are making in the lives of so many.”
The EA Committee is the only group in the D.C. metro area tailored to the professional development of executive assistants in government and government contracting. There are 59 participating members.
Cuadros said the EAs spent more than three months collecting an entire box truck full of donated household goods, clothing, shoes, toys and sporting goods. A steady stream of shoppers raised nearly $1,000 during the 3-hour sale— twice as much as the goal organizers set. The items that did not sell were donated to Purple Heart Service Foundation.
“We had many volunteers collecting and donating items over the last few months,” Cuadros said. “The Attain Millennial Committee joined forces with the EAs to collect, load/unload, sort, tag and set up for the event. It was really a group effort, and I couldn’t be more proud to work with these committed, benevolent individuals.”
The EA Committee holds giving back events in the spring and fall and plans to continue supporting The Women’s Center through an annual rummage sale.
“We come together as a committee to identify which organizations have been nearest and dearest to our members,” Cuadros said. “Those will continue to be the charities we focus our efforts on.”
Mike Goodman, vice president of operations at The Women’s Center, said the organization accepts donations throughout the year.
“We specialize in helping women and families who have suffered from domestic violence and abuse,” he said. “(Each donation) furthers the mission of The Women’s Center.”
Founded in 1974, the nonprofit relies on philanthropic support to provide free and subsidized services to those in need. Its focus began with women’s services and has expanded to also include services for men, families, young adults and children. The center also provides training for mental health professionals.
For more information, visit thewomenscenter.org.
