Jill Schaub, Shannon Steene, Virginia Kinneman and Jennifer Ferrara rock out at the Banding Together Gala to benefit the Center for Alexandria’s Children Feb. 21 at the Durant Center. The gala raised more than $146,000 to prevent and combat child abuse.
Music, community spirit, and a shared commitment to protecting children filled the Oswald Durant Center Feb. 21 as the Center for Alexandria’s Children hosted Banding Together: A Benefit Concert to End Child Abuse. The annual event raised more than $146,000 to support CAC’s work preventing and responding to child abuse across the city.
The glam rock–themed evening drew more than 300 community leaders as guests enjoyed live performances by local favorites Guilty Ghost and School of Rock in Alexandria. Proceeds from the gala support the Center for Alexandria’s Children, a nonprofit dedicated to ending child abuse through coordinated investigation, victim support, prevention education and community collaboration.
A central part of the evening was the presentation of CAC’s annual awards, recognizing individuals whose careers and leadership have strengthened safety and opportunity for Alexandria’s children.
The Champion for Children Award was presented to former Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, honoring his more than four decades in law enforcement and his efforts to build trust, prioritize restorative justice and support victims of crime.
One of those victims was Burke & Herbert vice president Joe Collum, a prominent businessman who told the story of working with Lawhorne through his own abuse at the hands of an uncle when he was a teenager.
“I remember the day I walked into the police department at 30 years old and disclosed that I'd been sexually abused from the ages of 12 to 16,” Collum said. “That was the day I met Dana Lawhorne.”
Collum credited Lawhorne for his persistence in obtaining a grand jury indictment against his abuser and the support he received throughout the trial and sentencing.
“Dana did his job but he also did the things that were not his job — the phone calls he made to me to check in on me because he knew I was struggling and needed help,” said Collum, who now serves on the CAC board.
Collum presented the award to Lawhorne, crediting the former sheriff for helping him work through the healing process.
“I've had a lot of struggles in my life but meeting Dana started my path towards healing,” Collum said. “I'm still on that journey but can honestly say that I would not be here today if it were not for Dana Lawhorne. He carried the torch for me and hundreds of others whose lives he made better.”
The Outstanding Dedication to Children Award went to John Porter, a lifelong educator and community advocate. Porter, a former principal at T.C. Williams High School and a founding leader of ACT for Alexandria, was honored for decades of leadership focused on expanding opportunities for young people and fostering collaboration across education and nonprofit sectors.
A third honor, MDT Partner of the Year, was awarded to Debra Evans, Division Chief for Alexandria’s Sexual Assault Center and Domestic Violence Program. Evans was recognized for her leadership in victim-centered care and her long-standing commitment to supporting survivors of serious and traumatic crimes.
Funds raised help sustain CAC’s multidisciplinary approach, bringing together law enforcement, medical professionals, child protective services and advocates to reduce trauma and improve outcomes for children and families.
Said Lawhorne, who praised Collum for the courage in telling his story, “You have to have justice, then the healing can start.”
www.centerforalexandriaschildren.org