Del Ray Bar Crawl Raises $10,511 for Alexandria Students

A neighborhood bar crawl in Del Ray just changed the lives of hundreds of Alexandria students.

The Del Ray Business Association handed a $10,511 check to the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria last Wednesday, turning proceeds from their sixth annual Bands & Brews summer bar crawl into college opportunities for local graduates. The event featured live music at more than 20 restaurants along Mount Vernon Avenue, complete with trolleys, costumes, and raffles.

"You actually really change the trajectory of people's lives," said Lauren Fisher, president of the Del Ray Business Association, as she presented the check alongside event co-chair Eva Hartman. The scholarship fund's team received the donation during a networking happy hour, visibly moved by the community's support.

Jasmine Milone, executive director of the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, summed up the moment perfectly. "We're just so humbled and tickled and excited and delighted," she said.

The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria has been making college dreams come true since 1986. What started with $7,000 in awards to eight students has grown into a powerhouse that distributed $1.6 million to more than 400 Alexandria City High School graduates last year alone. Over four decades, the organization has awarded more than $24 million to over 5,700 students.

This year's graduating class earned $770,000 in first-year awards among 215 recipients. Those scholarships renew for up to four years, meaning that initial investment will reach about $2.5 million over time.

The organization does more than write checks. They provide free college, career, and financial aid advising to Alexandria City Public Schools families from ninth grade through college. They run FAFSA workshops right inside the high school, meeting students where they are.

The Ripple Effect

Every scholarship application gets read by three volunteers who learn about the amazing young people in their community. Board chair Kevin Jahns said the bar crawl gave the organization visibility beyond its usual circles, introducing countless neighbors to their work for the first time.

The fund operates on needs-based criteria, ensuring financial barriers don't stand between talented students and their futures. With offices inside Alexandria City High School, they've embedded themselves in the community they serve.

The Del Ray Business Association isn't done yet. They're also supporting the scholarship fund through Run! Geek! Run!, a 5K race set for September 27 that has raised $282,800 for local nonprofits since 2016.

From bar crawls to 5K races, a tight-knit business community is proving that celebration and service make perfect partners.