Thanks for joining us!

The 2023 Raise the Region Gala is complete, and the incredible response of community support is a testament to the rousing sense of renewal for our region. Congratulations to 2023 Community Leadership Award Honoree, Sumeet Shrivastava!  See the tribute video, a testament to Sumeet’s dedication to this region, and a video highlighting the impact of two very important initiatives supported by the Community Foundation this past year: Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP) and Melwood’s WISH Center.

Your support, engagement, and dedication to this region are so very much appreciated.

Photos are in!  Thanks to our photographer, Monique Michael, we are happy to share with you the photos from the event.  Feel free to download photos you'd like to keep or share using the code 3353.

Thank you for helping to build a community that works for everyone!

A pillar of the Gala celebration each year is the Community Leadership Award, presented annually for outstanding community service and dedication to improving the quality of life for all Northern Virginians.  This year’s award will be presented to Sumeet Shrivastava.

Sumeet Shrivastava, the former Chairman and CEO of ARRAY, COO of ANSTEC, and SVP of Keane, is a seasoned executive, philanthropist, and a proud Northern Virginian who believes that when young people have the tools and opportunities within their own communities to learn, grow, and thrive, the sky's the limit. A product of the Fairfax County public school system, Sumeet has leveraged his success as a government contracting executive with three decades of experience to give back to the community and region that raised him.

Sumeet received his MBA from George Mason University (class of ‘94), and remains a committed member of the Patriot community. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the GMU Foundation Board of Trustees, is a member of the President’s Innovation Advisory Council, and is the past President of Mason’s Alumni Association. He has also been particularly involved in shaping the future of the business school. He is the co-chair of the Advancement Committee, aimed at raising philanthropic support for a Business School Building, is a member of the Business School Dean’s Advisory Council, and has been instrumental in launching the Baroni Center for Government Contracting and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

The Shrivastava Family also provided the lead gift to create George Mason’s Refugee and Immigrant Success through Entrepreneurship (RISE) Program, a targeted training, mentoring, and networking program supporting aspiring entrepreneurs from refugee and immigrant backgrounds who have difficulty accessing social and financial resources and opportunities. The RISE program is part of the larger SOAR initiative organized by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at the School of Business, which aims to facilitate the transformation of individuals, families, and local economies and enable them to thrive. The Shrivastava Family post-doc fellowship at Mason’s Institute for Immigration Research supports efforts to produce valid, reliable, and objective research on the immigrant impact to our Nation and our local communities. 

Beyond Sumeet’s work at George Mason, he also serves as the Board Chair of the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation, helping to bring enriching and educational opportunities to young people at the science center and in their communities. Sumeet’s commitment emanates from the organization’s mission to inspire a love of learning STEM, with a particular focus on serving Title I schools across the region. The Shrivastava Family is helping to bring the long-held vision of a world-class science center to reality through their commitment as a Title Partner of the Northern Virginia Science Center. The Shrivastava Family Gallery featuring Helios, with its innovative, large-scale immersive experiences, will take visitors on an expansive and mind-bending journey across the solar system and beyond..

Sumeet’s focus on bringing opportunity and exposure to more diverse and inclusive communities also extends to the arts with his role as a Trustee of the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC). STC’s strong relationship with the local community and regional schools is increasing with an exciting lineup of innovative productions that highlight diverse stories, casts, and artistic teams.

Sumeet is also particularly focused on the workforce development needs of the region. As such, he also serves as President of TiE DC, an organization focused on generating and nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs. He is also the Project Chair on the GO Virginia Region 7 Advisory Council, a bi-partisan, business-led initiative focused on workforce development.

A resident of Fairfax County since 1974, Sumeet currently resides in Chantilly, VA with his wife, Joya, and is incredibly proud of their four children – Neelesh, Rohan, Pranav, and Janya.

Thanks to our 2023 Raise the Region Gala Sponsors:

Challenge Sponsor
K. Paul Singh

Community Leadership Sponsors
Claude Moore Charitable Foundation
John and Nina Toups Charitable Fund
The Shrivastava Family

Auction Sponsor
Truist Wealth

Registration Sponsor
George Mason University College of Humanities & Social Sciences, Athletics, School of Business, and George Mason University Foundation, Inc.

Community Resilience Sponsor
Hensel Phelps

Photo Engagement Sponsor
Monument Wealth Management

Centerpiece Sponsor
Karin's Florist

Media Partner
InsideNova

Print Partner
Grassroot Communication

Video Partner
Striking Media

Wine Sponsor
Walsh Family Wine

Community Empowerment Sponsors
Booz Allen Hamilton
BrandMirror
CATHEXIS
Inova Health System
Robert and Pamela Kipps
Harry Klaff and Avison Young
Paul and Julia Leslie
The McLean Group
Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation
Washington Gas
Helaine Weissman and Mike Benoudiz/PBMares, LLP

Community Impact Sponsors
Sid Banerjee
Bank of America
Lou and Wendy Brown
Tony and Monica Brown
Business Women's Giving Circle
CGI Federal
Cordia Partners
Frances Craig
Eileen Ellsworth and Bob Weil
Fulton Bank and Ginny Heine
Future Kings & Bernard and Daphne Mustafa
George Mason University's Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution and College of Engineering and Computing
Goldman Sachs
Anita Gupta, KiwiTech
Dr. Anjali and Arun Gupta
Holland & Knight LLP
Human Capital Strategic Consulting
Ted and Karyn Hume
Gautam Ijoor, Alpha Omega
Immigrant Businesswomen Circle, Beatriz McNelly
Cheryl Janey and Michael Calhoun
Craig Kendall, Financial Investments, Inc.
KippsDeSanto & Co.
Cathy Lange, Human Capital Advisors
LWH Family Foundation
Maximus
McCandlish Lillard, PC / Melinda Merk
Karen Turner McWilliams, Esq.
Melwood
Microsoft
Tamara Nall
NOVA Parks
Phil and Marge Odeen
Odin, Feldman & Pittleman
Meera and Shankar Pillai
Anil and Anupama Sharma, 22nd Century Technologies
Josh and Merri Stillman
Elaine Tholen
UVA Health
Velsor Properties, LLC
Eric and Sylvia von Bostel
WashingtonExec
George and Ashley Wilson

Community Giving Sponsors
Anne Altman and Dan Pelino
Dominion Energy
Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
Helios HR
Interstate Van Lines Inc.
KME.digital
Amy Wells Mackay, Truist Wealth
Micron
Northwest Federal Credit Union
SteeleHarbour Capital Partners, Hansa and Deepak Hathiramani
Transurban

Community Wellness Sponsors
The Bajaj Family Foundation
Brighton Jones
AC and Rita Chakrabarti
The Compass Group, Inc.
Mark and Suzanne Cummings
Dexian
Michael Gallagher
James W. Hazel
Bill and Bobbie Kilberg
Pyush Kumar
Ntiva
Paladin Life Care
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Kevin and Stacey Reynolds
The Robert and Sonia Makheja Foundation
Stream Realty
Lori Ann Terjesen
United Bank
West Financial

Additional Contributors
The Andreotti Group, LLC: Cindy Andreotti and John Tupper
Bob Eisiminger
Nolan Family Charitable Fund
Schaufeld Family Foundation

2023 Sponsorships are sold out.  Please Contact Tara Nadel at 703-879-7637 or tara.nadel@cfnova.org for more information.

Founded in 1978, the Community Foundation has been the premier charitable partner trusted by thousands of generous Northern Virginians for decades. Our mission is to advance equity through philanthropy and community leadership. Comprised of donor advised funds, permanent funds, giving circles, and other charitable endowments, the Community Foundation’s vision is to build a community that works for everyone. Our Community Foundation serves the entire region, including Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.

www.cfnova.org | @cfnova