Nov. 19th Walkathon Schedule

7:00 a.m.   Registration Opens

8:30 a.m.   Pre-walkathon Stage Program Begins

9:00 a.m.   Walkathon Begins

Location
The Walkathon starts on the National Mall  near the stage between 9th and 10th Streets and is just a little over 3 miles long.  Click here to view the Help the Homeless Walkathon Route.

Transportation
Parking is limited so we recommend you take Metro to the Smithsonian Station (Orange/Blue Lines).  The Metro opens at 6:00 a.m. but note that the blue line rail stations between Pentagon City and King Street will be closed.  Additional information can be found at the Metro website.

Event Day Registration
Individuals who miss the online registration deadline (registration closes at 5pm ET tonight) will need to go to Event Day Registration Tent located on the Department of Agriculture lawn on Jefferson Drive, off of 12th Street.  Event day registration is $35 for adults, which is $5 more than the adult preregistration fee, and $20 for youth (25 and under).   Register online until 5pm today at Help the Homeless.

Preregistration Information
All walkers who have preregistered should bring their event waiver form to the Check-In Tent located between 10th and 12th Streets on the National Mall.  The Check-In Tent will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Each walker will receive their Help the Homeless T-shirt when they check-in and turn in their waiver. There are two T-shirts sizes: Adult XL and Adult Small.

Group Preregistration
If you have a group of 10 or more preregistered walkers, one person can bring all the waivers to the Group Table in the Check-In Tent and pick up the T-shirts for their walkers.  The group leader will receive one T-shirt for each waiver form they turn in.  When you enter the Check-In Tent, the group registration table will be on the far left side.

Beneficiary Staging Area
An alphabetical staging area will be set up between the Check-In Tent and the main stage where you can have your walker teams gather before the Walk. Just look for the large alphabetical letters!

Fairfax, VA--Virginia Tire & Auto is funding Wheels for Work, a new charitable program that offers pro bono automotive repair services to low income families who are in need of transportation to get to and from their jobs.  This program strives to help working families in Northern Virginia maintain reliable transportation so that they can bridge the barrier between home and work.

Not having a dependable vehicle is often a major hurdle for many in keeping a job and in turn supporting their family.  In fact, not having reliable transportation is the second biggest challenge (behind childcare) for many people entering the workforce.

Mike Holmes, Vice President of Virginia Tire & Auto said, “We are very pleased that we have found a way to use our expertise in auto repair to directly help those in our community who are struggling to keep and maintain their jobs.  Even in an affluent area like Northern Virginia there are many people who risk losing their jobs and their source of income for their family because they do not have reliable transportation.  Those are the people that we are trying to help.”

Initially, Virginia Tire & Auto has teamed up with the Shelter House, an organization in Fairfax County that provides temporary housing and supportive services to homeless families, to help identify candidates for Wheels for Work. "Our clients come to us with a myriad of barriers preventing them from living in safe stable housing," said Hanan Scrapper, Director of Artemis House, Shelter House's Domestic Violence Shelter. "Having a vehicle they can count on to get them to work, drop their kids off at childcare and stop at the grocery store to make sure they have food for their families, means a great deal to them. A client we currently have in our program has stressful and overwhelming transportation factors.  On top of a five hour commute each day on a bus, she is hauling her baby's diaper bag, stroller, car seat, and her son's backpack along with blankets for both. As you can imagine, this is awfully stressful. We are absolutely delighted to partner with Virginia Tire & Auto to help our clients maintain reliable transportation to help them get to and from their jobs."
In addition to this initial partnership with Shelter House, any resident of Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties is eligible to apply for Wheels for Work.  To be eligible, persons must have a minor child under the age of 18, work at least 20 hours per week for 3 consecutive months or be enrolled in a job training program, have a gross family unit income that does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty guidelines and have a valid driver’s license.  To apply, candidates should complete the initial form found at http://www.vatire.com/w4w/.  Submissions will be promptly reviewed and potential candidates will be contacted and asked to complete an application.  Persons are welcome to recommend candidates by completing the initial form on behalf of someone else.
Virginia Tire & Auto was founded by Myron Boncarosky in 1976 as a single Shell-branded service station in Fairfax, Virginia. The company has grown to over 400 employees and operates 11 Virginia Tire & Auto locations, including two Shell-branded service stations, in the following Northern Virginia communities: Ashburn, Cascades, Centreville, Chantilly, Dulles, Fairfax, Falls Church, Gainesville, South Riding, Springfield and Vienna. Virginia Tire & Auto is a family owned and operated business that has thrived based on its commitment to exceeding its customers’ expectations of honest, courteous and quality service. To learn more visit us at www.vatireandauto.com .

Herndon, VA -- On Friday, October 14, 2011, Shelter House, Inc. will host its first-ever “True Reality” Sleep Out where members of Shelter House's Board of Directors, partners, donors, volunteers and staff will rough it for one night (limiting themselves to four supply items a piece), to raise awareness and funds for the families in need in our community. The event will be held outdoors at Shelter House’s Administrative Office (2579 John Milton Drive, Herndon, Va) from 9:00 pm (Oct. 14) through 7:00 am (Oct. 15). Individuals can register to participate or make a donation at www.shelterhouse.org. Registration fees are $20 for youth (ages 25 and younger), $30 for adults, and is part of the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless program benefiting Shelter House families. Participants will be provided basic resources, including water and restroom facilities.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has designated October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Fairfax County to raise community consciousness about the prevalence of domestic violence and encourage prevention activities. “We live and work in one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, but what we don’t see is that on any given night, there are nearly 300 homeless families in our community. More than 60 percent of adults in these families are employed. Domestic violence is a contributing factor in 35 percent of the families we serve,” said Ron Redmon, Senior Vice President & Market Executive, First Citizens Bank, and President of Shelter House’s Board of Directors. “One can never imagine the trauma and uncertainty a homeless family may face. Our Sleep Out is not a simulation, but rather an event of dedicated people who are committed to raising awareness and supporting our mission to empower families to reach their full potential.” Participants will provide the community a glimpse into the Sleep Out experience through a Sleep Out journal, the Shelter House Twitter account and through video testimonials.

Shelter House is a community-based, non-profit organization serving homeless families and victims of domestic violence in Fairfax County, Va. Founded in 1981 by several ecumenical groups that came together to better serve Fairfax County's low-income population, Shelter House now operates three shelters including Artemis House for families and individuals fleeing domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking, 3 transitional housing programs, eight permanent supportive housing units, and support for previously homeless families now in permanent housing. Shelter House served more than 200 families in FY2010 and was awarded the 2011 “Non-Profit of the Year” by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about Shelter House visit www.shelterhouse.org.

Members of the media are invited to attend. Please contact Angela Suarez, Director of Development, at 703-725-6726 (cell) or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to confirm participation.