ALEXANDRIA, VA – On Monday, June 6, Del Ray Cafe, along with the Jen Walker team of McEnearney Associates, Wendy Brown with the Surviving Survivors Fund, and Tom Crowley & Chris Nielsen, presented a check for $40,000 to ACT for Alexandria (ACT). Margaret Ticer Janowsky, owner of the Del Ray Cafe, has pledged 5% of all May sales – raising $10,000 with an additional $30,000 from their match partners – to donate in celebration of the Del Ray Cafe’s 10th anniversary.
Margaret and Laurent Janowsky of Del Ray Cafe actively participated in this year’s Spring2ACTion, ACT for Alexandria’s Biggest Giving Day, donating 10% of the day’s sales to At Home in Alexandria on April 27, and now donating a total of $40K to ACT. “This is an incredible gift for our entire community, and I can’t tell you how much we appreciate it,” said Heather Peeler, President and CEO of ACT.

ACT is a community foundation dedicated to improving the lives of Alexandrians through initiatives such as the Alexandria Resilience Fund, Spring2ACTion, and racial equity work. Since 2005, ACT has invested over $1 million in grants to deserving nonprofit organizations in Alexandria.
With this generous donation of $40,000, ACT plans to support low-income Alexandrians by helping them move up the economic ladder and have more stability in their lives. ACT will also work with 60 partners across the city to create a comprehensive network to support young people in Alexandria. Peeler commented, “We know how important this is, especially since COVID has had a difficult impact on so many young people.” Finally, through a new grant program, ACT will support frontline nonprofits that have worked hard throughout the pandemic to uplift the community.

Upon presenting the check, Janowsky not only praised ACT for their hard and important work, but also their match partners and the Del Ray Business Association. Wendy Brown “grew up here in Del Ray and has been a real fan of us since we opened,” Janowsky said, expressing her gratitude for Brown’s support of Del Ray Cafe initiatives. Janowsky also singled out his match partner Chris Nielsen for his important work. Nielsen was an early board member of At Home in Alexandria, a nonprofit supported by Del Ray Cafe for Spring2ACTion each year. Thanking the Del Ray Business Association for its continued support of small businesses like Del Ray Cafe, Janowsky said, “Without them, we couldn’t have survived the pandemic… They are the wind under our wings.
“We’re in the best neighborhood ever!” exclaimed Janowsky of the overwhelming support from businesses and individuals in Alexandria. Echoing Janowsky, Peeler remarked, “Del Ray Cafe is an example of what’s amazing in Alexandria. People come together to support the community we all hold dear.
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