SRA Teams With Redskins' Green to Help Youth

Practice makes perfect, in fund raising as well as football.In 1999, when SRA International Inc. in Fairfax, Va., first took over organization of a Potomac River dinner cruise to benefit the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation of Washington, the fund-raiser netted $20,000 for the charity.On Aug. 27, SRA's third rendition of the cruise, the company doubled that amount, bringing in $40,000.The foundation, established in 1988 by 19-year Redskins veteran Darrell Green, owns and operates five learning centers in three states, said Executive Director Eric White. The centers provide educational and social activities for disadvantaged youth. Staff members also work to get families involved in their kids' education. "An event like this means bottom-line dollars and cents ... and validates this work as a necessary part of society," cornerback Green said. "We need the influence and involvement of smart people, people with passion, wisdom and knowledge like Dr. Volgenau of SRA, to say I'm with you in that [mission]."Ernst Volgenau, SRA's president and chief executive officer, serves on the foundation's board of advisers. SRA picks up the tab for employees' cruise attendance; all the money paid by employees and corporate sponsors goes to the foundation, said Linda Burak, director of the cruise benefit."Every year we figure out how to do things better, make things go more smoothly," she said. Burak manages an Army project for SRA and between March and August spends one-third of her time coordinating the cruise for 450 SRA employees and 75 guests.The first year Burak didn't set up committees for each function, such as ticket sales and public relations. This year, she had nine committees. The SRA volunteers also came to realize employees would pay more than the initial $25 for dinner, dancing and a chance to meet some Redskins football players. Now, employees pay $35 per ticket ? $22 less than a regular weekday Spirit of Washington dinner cruise, because Volgenau wants to ensure all employees can afford to attend. The cruise features volunteer appearances by the Redskins' cheerleaders and band; the Hoggettes, a team of unofficial Redskins boosters who raise money for children's charities; and emcee Rene Knott, WJLA's sports anchor."Part of the draw is obviously Darrell Green being a prominent member of the Washington community; he is able to leverage that to get people to help out," said Frank Durso, chair of the revenue committee. "And I think companies are interested in doing things where their employees can participate. It's not just writing a check," added Durso, deputy program manager for governmentwide acquisition contracts at SRA. SRA's cruise sponsorship not only allows foundation staff to concentrate on their mission to help inner-city kids, but also raises awareness of their work, White said. "Dr. Volgenau and his team at SRA allow us to have access to a sector of American business that normally only gives computers or a check ? which we love ? but also allows us to interact with them and have them see what we're doing," White said. "Having a good time is an added bonus."