Dear Continental Sisters,

Happy New Year! We have had an exciting past three years continuing to work diligently on creating environments within our communities that empower children to have access to quality and appropriate opportunities to reach their optimal potential. Our annual Elegance in Black & White Gala was just wonderful. I thank all of you and your guests, our supporters, and all our friends for making that event a huge success once again.

Each year, as you know, the gala's proceeds allow us to service more children in the community. This year we have some exciting programs planned for our children. We have already held our "Gift of Warmth" coat project, which provided over two hundred coats to children in Richmond Public Schools. We held our College Prep Workshop, Beyond High School--Making the Right Connections. We have already provided information to our local high schools, churches and civic organizations regarding our Annual Scholarship Program and we are now gearing up for our "Annual College Connection Tour" this spring.  Furthermore, we are planning a series of workshops called Coming of Age where Continentals hold recreational workshops on life skills, social etiquette, and financial planning.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that we have increased our scholarship allotments to provide greater educational services to deserving seniors in the Public School Systems. Definitely, the Richmond chapter is on the move and you, sisters, are the direct causes of our success with children. We have collaborated with over 200 organizations in these last few years and we will continue to collaborate with organizations to provide our children with quality services and programs. It is because of your commitment and dedication to the organization that we continue to strive to be one of the premiere organizations for children. As your leader, I will continue to work hard and represent our chapter in nothing less than the professional, well organized, and efficient manner that our organization deserves.

We have taken our children to the Nation's Capitol to meet with legislators such as Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, Congressmen R. Scott, Senator John Warner and the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. We were fortunate enough to take a group of students (from Elkhardt Middle School) to meet with then-Senator-now-President of the United States -- President Barack Obama.

We are educating our children in the areas of Health, Education, Employment, Recreation plus Arts & Humanities and Government. It is important that we advocate for and take care of our children . . . With each program we sponsor, with each coat we provide and with each scholarship, we give, we educate, expose, and assist our children.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve. I am honored.

Sisterly,

Nkechi George-Winkler
Richmond, Virginia Chapter President