CEHD Alumni News
Nancy Portee - 2007 Alumna of the Year
As a founding member of the BeFriend-AChild mentoring program run by the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Nancy serves as a mentor for children who are at risk of abuse and neglect or have been affected by abuse and neglect. Now, 23 years later, Nancy is still active with the program, serving as the lead volunteer. She actively organizes events, garners funds and sponsorships, and trains and counsels fellow mentors, along with many other responsibilities.
"Nancy’s enthusiasm, energy, and commitment are boundless," says Ann Rieger, a staff member for the program. "She has contributed thousands of hours of her time…I joke with her about changing the name of the program to the Nancy Portee Mentoring Program." All joking aside, Ann is quick to say that without Nancy, the program could have ceased to exist. From 1996–98, there was no staff coordinator, but Nancy and another mentor took it upon themselves to keep the program operating. Nancy even used her own funds to ensure certain programs and events continued.
When Nancy received the call informing her she had been nominated and selected as the 2007 College of Education and Human Development Alumna of the Year, she said she was "shocked and surprised." What is shocking is that she had not received the honor already. Reading through the nomination letters, it is easy to be awed by what a significant difference she makes in the lives of children (and adults). In her letter of support for the nomination, Diane Painter (’74, ’94) wrote that when she learned more about Nancy's work with BeFriend-A-Child, she was "very moved by the realization that Nancy demonstrates the mission of the education program of the college— a mission that promotes unwavering, committed efforts to care about all children, and to value and support them, in order for them to grow into happy and productive individuals."
To learn more about being a mentor with the BeFriend-A-Child Program, contact Ann Rieger at 703-324-7072 or Ann.Rieger@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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To share your news with us and with your fellow CEHD alumni, please contact the College of Education and Human Development at (703) 993-2004.