October 22, 2015
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce announces Business Award winners and Honors Srikant Sastry
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA – Srikant Sastry, National Managing principal of Advisory Services for Grant Thornton LLP, was honored on October 21st as the 2015 Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year at a sold out Business Awards Celebration, held at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, presented by EagleBank.
As well as paying tribute to Mr.Sastry, the Chamber honored businesses selected as Best in Business in their nominated categories:
Association/Non-Profit Business of the Year (tie)
Carpenter’s Shelter
Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR)
Rising Star Business of the Year – Frolick Dogs, LLC
Small Business of the Year – Skyline Wellness
Medium Business of the Year – DiMuro Ginsberg, PC
Large Business of the Year – Stratford University, Alexandria Campus
Overall Business of the Year – Renner and Company, CPA, PC
After the awards presentation, over 200 guests were treated to tastings from Chef Cathal Armstrong’s restaurants including Restaurant Eve, Society Fair, Eamonn’s A Dublin Chipper, and Club PX Lounge. Chef Armstrong was honored in 2012 as the Chamber’s Business Leader of the Year. Dessert was provided by Alexandria Cupcake.
According to Walter Clarke, 2015 Chamber Board Chairman, “The Chamber’s Business Awards is the flagship awards program in the community that recognizes excellence in business. Conducted annually this ‘sold out’ event is one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the Chamber’s calendar. We are proud to salute those who contribute to a vibrant and thriving Alexandria business community.”
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The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce is one of the oldest chambers in the country, having been founded in 1906, before the United States Chamber of Commerce.
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Faith Lutheran Church Features OAR as “Mission of the Month”
Faith Lutheran Church has featured OAR as their “Mission of the Month.” See Faith Lutheran Church’s monthly newsletter here. OAR is featured on page 4 as “Mission of the Month.” Faith Lutheran also collects holiday gifts for OAR’s Project Christmas Angel each year. Thanks for your continued support, Faith Lutheran!
OAR Supports the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015
Today, October 1, 2015, the Senate announced a historic reform bill titled the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015. This bill directly supports the mission of OAR, as it seeks to reduce recidivism by helping individuals successfully return to the community after incarceration. It also validates the work that OAR does for returning citizens and the efforts of OAR to follow evidence based practices. The bill also aims to reduce prison sentences for certain nonviolent drug offenders and grants judges greater discretion in sentencing for lower-level drug crimes. The bill has garnered bipartisan support and is spearheaded by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin.
Regarding this new legislation, Durbin stated, “This compromise represents more than three years of work on criminal justice reform. The United States incarcerates more of its citizens than any other country on earth. Mandatory minimum sentences were once seen as a strong deterrent. In reality they have too often been unfair, fiscally irresponsible and a threat to public safety. Given tight budgets and overcrowded prison cells, our country must reform these outdated and ineffective laws that have cost American taxpayers billions of dollars. This bipartisan group is committed to getting this done.”
OAR’s Acting Executive Director, Elizabeth Jones Valderrama, stated, “As I listened to the press conference about this historic new legislation, I feel even more honored to be part of the OAR team and to carry out our mission. At OAR we are already on the forefront. We are doing great work to ensure that our clients get a second chance, fully incorporate back into their communities, and contribute the vital skills and gifts they possess. We offer alternative sentencing opportunities for clients to give back and restore the community while they discover and enhance their talents. And we are reducing recidivism which not only helps make the community safer but stops the trauma experienced from interactions with the criminal justice system for our clients and their families.
I am encouraged by this bill and also by hearing about this critical issue daily. This bill is a great start and as we know, there is more work to do. The bill needs to pass and at the same time more funds need to be allocated to our work to support those coming home in an evidence-based way. We can cheer now and then fully celebrate when the bill becomes law!”
More information about this bill can be found online here: http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/senators-announce-bipartisan-sentencing-reform-and-corrections-act