Congressman Wolf Visits GSA Center of Hope
Representative Frank Wolf visited The Good Shepherd Alliance Center of Hope on Monday July 14. Mr. Wolf toured the two level 7,000 square foot facility in Ashburn with Director of Retail Operations Mary Fittro, GSA Board Member and Crossroads United Methodist Church Pastor Dave Norman, Director of Finance and Operations Vickie Koth and GSA Board Member Nicholas J. Graham.
Large capital expansion efforts always begin with the realities associated with funding. Congressman Frank Wolf, through a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, EDI Special Grant, secured a grant to fund the initial seed capital required. Then both Middleburg Bank and BB&T came forward to offer financing to secure the property and fund the renovation. These bank executives not only helped craft the right financing but also identified real estate and legal experts that donated their time to navigate GSA through the very complex commercial development process.
This facility will serve as a “community lighthouse” empowering GSA to initiate new thinking and training processes that equip needy people with the skills to develop self-sufficiency, resolve family life problems, work effectively with referral programs and successfully transition back into the mainstream workforce. GSA also provides affluent families, both adults and their children with the opportunity to participate in programs that assist those less fortunate with their most basic needs in an effort to foster hope and goodwill among our diverse and fast growing community.
Photograph is courtesy of Brendan Pervarski