HJ 299 — Commending Britepaths, Inc.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24107360D I HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

299 OfferedE February 28, 2024 N Commending Britepaths, Inc.

TN Patrons––Bulova,R Cohen,AgreedAgreed Delaney,to Helmer,by Herring,the Keys-Gamarra,Senate, Krizek,March Lopez,6, Seibold,2024, Shin,2024 RO Sickles,WHEREAS, Simon,for Sullivan,40 Tranyears, Britepaths, Inc., has provided short-term safety net services to low-income L families while offering the tools and Watts;support they need to achieve long-term financial stability and L selWHEREAS, Britepaths traces its origins to 1984, when it started as a homeless shelter that rotated E between several local church congregations in Fairfax County, many of which still support the organization in its current form;

Senators:and D WHEREAS, the shelter evolved to become a soup kitchen named Our Daily Bread, which was incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization in 1989;

Boysko,as Carrollthe Foy,cost Marsden,of Pekarsky,housing Salimbegan andto Surovellrise Owere ––––––––––living Dpaycheck WHEREAS, for 40 years, Britepaths, Inc., has provided short-term safety net services to low-incomepaycheck familiesand whilepotentially offeringat therisk toolsof anda supportfinancial theycrisis needdue to achieveunforeseenss, long-termbut financialcircumstances; stability and self-sufficiency;

and C WHEREAS, Britepaths traces its origins to 1984, when it started as a homeless shelter that rotated organization in its current form;

andtions in Fairfax County, many of which still support the E WHEREAS, the shelter evolved to become a soup kitchen named Our Daily Bread, which was D incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization in 1989;

as the cost of housing began to rise sharply, the shelter refocused its mission on supporting low-income families who were not homeless, but were living paycheck to paycheck and potentially at risk of a financial crisis due to unforeseen circumstances;

the organization provides emergency food and financial assistance, financial H empWHEREAS, Britepaths strives to deliver its services with respect, compassion, and equity to ensure 9 the dignity and self-esteem of its clients;

and 9R WHEREAS, among its many innovative programs, Britepaths is the only organization in Fairfax County to promote access to fresh produce by offering farmers market vouchers and one of the few organizationsorgWHEREAS, thatBritepaths providemaintains assistancea forwide carrange repairs;of financial services, including classes and workshops, coaching and mentorship, matched savings and zero-interest loan opportunities, tax and legal consulting, career training, professional networking, and small business consulting;

and WHEREAS, Britepaths maintains a wide range of financial services, including classes and workshops, coaching and mentorship, matched savings and zero-interest loan opportunities, tax and legal conWHEREAS, in 2017, Britepaths was selected by the United Way of the National Capital Area and Fairfax County to manage the Financial Empowerment Center, augmenting its financial resilience capabilities, and in 2018, Britepaths was selected by Measure4Change, a collaboration between the Urban Institute and the World Bank Group, to develop data management and evaluation protocols;

and :WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Britepaths worked with Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax to distribute direct assistance to 1,648 families and maintained the health and safety of its clients by establishing virtual programs;

33and WHEREAS,Capital duringArea, theand COVID-19George pandemic,Mason BritepathsUniversity workedto withmanage the Fairfax County andEconomic theMobility CityPilot, ofa 34general Fairfaxincome toprogram distributethat directalso assistancedelivers tofinancial 1,648coaching families and maintainedworkforce thedevelopment healthservices; and safety of its clients / 35 by establishing virtual programs;

and 36 WHEREAS, inamong 2023,many awards and accolades, Britepaths partneredwas withselected Fairfaxby County,the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce as the United2019 WayNon-Profit of the NationalYear, generaland incomeits programexecutive thatdirector, alsoLisa deliversWhetzel, financialearWHEREAS, coachingin 2023, Britepaths served a total of 8,000 individual clients and workforcetouched developmentthe services;lives of thousands more who were members of clients' households;

and WHEREAS, amongBritepaths manyhas awardsachieved andsuccess accolades,in Britepathsits wasmission selectedto bybreak thecycles Northernof Virginiaintergenerational Chamberpoverty ofthrough Commercethe asgenerosity theof 2019donors Non-Profitand ofpartner organizations, the Year,leadership and itsguidance executiveof director,its Lisadedicated Whetzel,staff earnedmembers, anand honorablethe mentionhard inwork theof Centerhundreds forof Nonprofitvolunteers Advancement'seach EXCELyear; Award;

andnow, WHEREAS,therefore, inbe 2023,it Britepathscommend servedBritepaths, aInc., totalon ofthe 8,000occasion individualof clientsits and40th touchedanniversary theof livesoutstanding ofservice thousandsto moreresidents whoof wereFairfax membersCounty ofand clients'the households;region;

andand, WHEREAS,be Britepathsit hasRESOLVED achievedFURTHER, successThat in its mission to break cycles of intergenerational poverty through the generosityClerk of donors and partner organizations, the leadershipHouse and guidance of itsDelegates dedRESOLVEDprepare bya thecopy House of Delegates,this theresolution Senatefor concurring,presentation Thatto theLisa GeneralWhetzel, Assemblyexecutive hereby,director beof it commend Britepaths, Inc., onas thean occasionexpression of itsthe 40thGeneral anniversarysustainable ofsolutions outstandingto servicemeet tothe residentsneeds of Fairfaxlow-income Countyfamilies.dedicated andleader thein region;developing

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Lisa Whetzel, executive director of Britepaths, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the organization's achievements as a dedicated leader in developing sustainable solutions to meet the needs of low-income families.