Vienna Shopping Center merchants donated $1,000 to Kilmer Middle School last month.
Upon notification of the donation, Principal Douglas Tyson challenged students to match the donation and give the funds to a local food bank. The students raised $1,200, and the school plans to give $2,200 to the local Vienna food bank. "If we are really to impact our local communities, it is incumbent upon us to implant seeds of generosity, of thinking of others before self and of caring for those who have less," said Tyson. "This donation gave us the perfect opportunity to encourage our students to match the generosity of Vienna Shopping Center and give back to our community."
The donation was part of the center's Holiday Shopping Spree promotion, which included a $500 shopping spree drawing and a donation to a local school. Shopping spree winner Kim Engman of Vienna chose Kilmer to win the donation because her daughter had attended Kilmer.
This is the 10th year the merchants of Vienna Shopping Center have donated funds to a local school. Previous recipients include James Madison High School, Flint Hill Elementary, Thoreau Middle, Wolftrap Elementary, Westbriar Elementary and Vienna Elementary schools. Featuring Panera Bread, Tuesday Morning and Robeks, Vienna Shopping Center is at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Courthouse Road in Vienna. The shopping center is owned by The Vienna Shopping Center Limited Partnership. The Rappaport Companies of McLean provides property management, leasing and marketing services for the center.