CSF–DC and Costco Celebrate Community Impact at 17th Annual Breakfast Fundraiser
On Sept. 24, we proudly hosted our 17th Annual CSF–DC and Costco Wholesale Breakfast Fundraiser at the Falls Church Marriott Fairview Park, bringing together a community of nearly 400 supporters, donors and friends. This signature event spotlighted CSF–DC’s impactful work in Wards 7 and 8 and showcased the organization’s unwavering commitment to empowering youth in these two communities.
The breakfast celebration featured three inspiring CSF–DC student speakers: Korey Arnold, a senior at H.D. Woodson High School; Frankie Mansaray, a junior at the Catholic University of America; and Assadullah Jenkins, a CSF–DC graduate. Each student shared their story of overcoming personal challenges, detailed how they seized opportunities as CSF–DC Scholars, and excited and inspired the audience with their testimonies of resilience and success.
The breakfast included a panel of local, regional and national partners, who provided insights into the spirit and nature of CSF–DC’s collaborative work. The panel included: Sanjay Mitchell, executive director of the Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy; Caroline Wertz, senior director of Foundation Programs at the Scheidel Foundation; and Elizabeth Morgan, chief external relations officer at the National College Attainment Network (NCAN). The speakers emphasized the shared visions of our work together and showcased the partnerships that strengthen CSF–DC’s mission and programs.
The event also honored three exceptional CSF–DC Legacy Award recipients: Jim Shelton, Herb Tillery and Opokua Oduro. These dynamic leaders were recognized for their remarkable dedication, unwavering commitment and transformative impact on the founding and continuation of CSF–DC and the lives of our students. Jim Shelton, our first Gates program officer, is now the president and chief investment and impact officer at Blue Meridian Partners. Opokua Oduro, our final Gates program officer, is the senior program officer, Office of the President, U.S. Program Division for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Our final recipient, Herbert R. Tillery, was the founding executive director for CSF–DC and served the organization for nearly 14 years. We congratulate the three Legacy Award honorees for their inspiring and dedicated leadership and celebrate their engagement with us for over 17 years.
Finally, Vernon Johnson, our longtime CSF–DC Out-of-School Time Programming coordinator and donor, received the Annual CSF-DC Leadership Award. Mr. Johnson, who served CSF–DC for over 12 years, continues to bring his unparalleled dedication and expertise to support the success of CSF–DC Scholars annually. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and thanks to Mr. Johnson, and we look forward to his continued engagement with us for years to come.
Thank you to everyone who supported the 17th Annual CSF-DC/Costco Breakfast Fundraiser. Please mark your calendars for the 18th Annual CSF-DC/Costco Breakfast Fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. We look forward to seeing you there!