CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (March 2004) – ?The Virginia Piedmont Technology Council (VPTC) gave out their prestigious annual awards to technology leaders in the technology field at their annual gala dinner at the Farmington Country Club last night. AlbemarleFamily.com was honored with the Community Award given to the technology based organization that has demonstrated the greatest commitment to improving the quality of life in Central Virginia through community involvement. Finalists also included Category4 Design, Dominion Digital, and Virginia National Bank.
The award winners were chosen by a blue-ribbon panel of nine judges who are recognized industry and education leaders, with the business and technical expertise to examine each nominee against the award criteria. The judges come from a cross section of Central Virginia, representing the various science, technology, and business disciplines from which nominees are usually drawn.
?These finalists are evidence of the depth and diversity of the high tech business community emerging in this region. Our teacher finalists exemplify the high quality of the professionals who are shaping our future generations,? said Bryan Wright, Chairman of the VPTC. ?We are fortunate to have these companies and individuals driving our community forward in our knowledge based economy.?
AlbemarleFamily is dedicated to serving families in Charlottesville-Albemarle with useful comprehensive community resources designed to help “Make Parenting Easier & Growing Up Fun”. Each month over 18,000 visitors make use of their extensive web site which includes free classifieds for families, the School Connection, a volunteer bulletin, The Family Calendar, the AF Virtual Coffeehouse and so much more. It is a much appreciated support network for local parents. The popular web site also has a companion print publication much sought after for it’s comprehensive guides. For example, each Spring families find a complete editorial listing for every local camp – everything from small camps for children with special needs to highly specialized sports camps. This is incredibly unique – no other publication in the region provides a comprehensive guide – a service both to parents and to all local camps.
AlbemarleFamily also provides a valuable service to the business and non-profit community making special rates available for small businesses and not for profit organizations. Additionally, in 2003 approximately 15,000 dollars was donated in advertising space or actual dollars. PBS children’s programming; Virginia Festival of the Book; Junior League of Charlottesville’s Quackin’ for a Cause; Children, Youth & Family Services; YMCA; Community Children’s Theatre; UVA Children’s Medical Center and others were beneficiaries.
In 2004 we celebrate the 5th Annual Family Volunteer Weekend, an event we started and is supported by the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area. Families throughout our community do volunteer projects for non-profit organizations and in their neighborhoods. To help children be involved more in the event we also hold an “I Volunteer” essay and art contest. Other active community involvement includes our participation in the CYFS annual Family Friendly Business Award to encourage local companies to creatively support their employees lives at home.
Started in 1998, AlbemarleFamily is dedicated to being “The Ultimate Resource Making Parenting Easier & Growing Up Fun”. Their popular weekly web site underwent a complete remodeling in 2003 and the new site now receives over a quarter of a million hits and provides over 18,000 visitors each month with extensive community resources. In addition to the web site, AlbemarleFamily also publishes a weekly e-Newsletter, quarterly print Magazine, and an annual Directory of Family Services. AlbemarleFamily also has a “live” presence in our community that you discover when you look through their publications and see drawings and poetry from local kids, families creating art at AlbemarleFamily Care Exhibits at festivals, area schoolchildren actively engaged in helping to create Bumble’s Clubhouse and more.