There’s a saying: if you build it, they will come. In our roles with the Falls Church Education Foundation (FCEF), we’ve had the good fortune to build a wide variety of opportunities for the people and businesses of Falls Church City to come together and show their support for the Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS). Time and time again, our community shows up for each other. We support one another, cheer each other on, and have fun together. Our community believes in working together to provide opportunities for every student and staff member in Falls Church City schools. Regardless of the event or circumstance, within FCCPS, if you build it, they will come.

Nowhere is this more visible than at the FCEF Run for the Schools, held every September, rain or shine. For over 20 years, this beloved City event has brought together runners of all ages—from stroller riders to competitors in the 80+ category—to have fun and raise funds to support FCCPS. It’s inspiring to see city streets filled with supporters, including teachers, staff, and mascots from all five schools, cheering on the runners and walkers. You might even hear a former Teacher of the Year on the mic, inspiring the crowd, or see FCCPS staff and parents pushing non-able-bodied runners along the course in racing wheelchairs. Spotting a principal along the route is like seeing a celebrity for students! All year long, people around town proudly wear Run for the Schools t-shirts in a rainbow of colors, reflecting the many years the run has been held.

On one memorable occasion, FCEF partnered with the Falls Church City community to flip the adage: instead of “if you build it, they will come,” our community came together to build. During the return to school amid the pandemic, FCEF provided quick funding to purchase kits for over 100 standing desks to create viable classroom spaces. In partnership with the high school PTSA, we put out a call for help assembling the desks. Within a day, Falls Church community members showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and built the desks.

FCEF collaborates with teachers, staff, and school leaders to find creative ways to support our school community with meaningful “extras” outside the FCCPS budget. This support takes many forms—from awarding Super Grants for innovative classroom projects to offering Training Grants that expand staff knowledge, bringing in outside speakers and performers, and providing extra programming for special needs students, English language learners, and families needing additional support for equitable access to education.

Some grants highlight FCEF’s support of the arts, humanities, physical education, science, and economics. For our youngest elementary learners, we provided a classroom full of ukuleles, significantly enhancing the music program. Every student learns to care for the instruments (“Don’t. Touch. The Frets.”), play music, and perform for classmates and parents. This hallmark program even inspired a community member to build custom ukuleles for student use and auction to generate additional support funds.

At the middle school level, physical education staff tapped into the cultural phenomenon of ninja warrior and parkour fitness. Appealing to this age group is key to supporting physical and mental health, and our creative staff was awarded a grant to create a stylized gym that provides opportunities for movement beyond traditional team sports and games.

At the high school, an excellent example of a multidisciplinary approach is the “Grow to Market” program, which FCEF was thrilled to support. The science, special education, and food services teams developed a program where students research, build, budget, manage, and refine a hydroponics and aquaponics system. They order equipment, seeds, and nutrients, grow food and raise fish, test growing and harvesting methods, and sell their produce to the school food services department. The funds raised allow students to continue refining their processes and running the business based on their learnings. The program’s success led to the creation of a vivarium in the new high school, expanding programming and incorporating it into the standard science curriculum.

These grants serve as seed funding for programs that have now become integral parts of everyday life in FCCPS.

FCEF also launched a new Artist in Residence program with FCCPS. The best part? Every student and staff member in the building contributes to the artwork. One little fish adds to a beautiful mural, one small spore to a murmuration. We all want to be part of something special, and FCCPS and this community are truly special places.

With the generous donations of the Falls Church City community, FCEF has built a Family Assistance Fund (FAF) to provide school social workers with financial resources to support families facing economic hardship. FAF grew significantly during the pandemic and continues to address substantial ongoing needs in Falls Church City schools. The community response has been overwhelming. When we shared that the number of families needing support had grown substantially, the Falls Church community answered with increased donations. Whether providing Uber gift cards for a family’s doctor appointments or distributing 200 grocery gift cards in December, FAF has been there. The daily and weekly inquiries from community members asking how they can help reflect an inspiring and ongoing outpouring of love and support.

FCEF stewards more than twenty scholarships, all created and financed by members of our amazing community.  The breadth and scope are incredible and reflect many who have given so much to Falls Church city.  They include financial support for first generation college students, those pursuing technical certifications, English language learners, special education students, immigrants, artists and journalists, to name a few.  This is an excellent demonstration of how we aim to support all students and skills.

FCCPS is unique among school districts, not just because of its small size but also because of its big heart and deep sense of community. Every student moves through the same set of schools, strengthening bonds between families. Our houses are close together, we see each other at the grocery store, our kids play sports and engage in activities together for years—this creates an intimate and close-knit community. We know our neighbors, and we show up for each other year after year.

FCEF remains focused on its mission to support innovation, staff education, and equitable access to education within our public schools. We are proud to be a key ingredient in the special sauce that makes FCCPS exceptional—and to support the chefs who keep creating it. Thank you for allowing us to be part of this journey!