WHEREAS, Mayflowers, a floral studio in Reston Town Center, was honored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Reston Interfaith, Inc., with a prestigious 2013 Best of Reston Award in the Small Business Leader category; and

WHEREAS, the Best of Reston Awards were established to recognize individuals, businesses, and organizations that have demonstrated a strong commitment to serving the greater Reston community and improving the lives of others; and

WHEREAS, with six full-time and four part-time employees, the efficient staff of Mayflowers works to create intricate floral creations that achieve the ideals of elegance, grace, and beauty; and

WHEREAS, a woman-owned business, Mayflowers was started in 1987 by May Bernhardt and has supported the community by donating hundreds of thousands of dollars in floral arrangements to local causes; and

WHEREAS, by working with the Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health, Lake Anne Nursery Kindergarten, or even simply giving out candy on Halloween, Mayflowers exemplifies the Reston spirit of community involvement; and

WHEREAS, Mayflowers has supported many other nonprofit groups, including the Reston Historic Trust's Reston Home Tour, the Greater Reston Arts Center, Kids R First, Charity Works, the Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter, Camp Sunshine, the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, Feed the Hungry, Children's National Medical Center, and numerous churches and synagogues; and

WHEREAS, hosting the first Reston Town Center Walk to End Homelessness, Mayflowers created awareness for a nearby homeless shelter and raised nearly $6,000 in donations from other local businesses and the community; and

WHEREAS, offering floral design demonstrations at the Herndon Harbor House, the Lake Anne Fellowship House, and to Girl Scout Brownie troops, Mayflowers directly enriches lives throughout the community; and

WHEREAS, in 2011 Mayflowers received the Award for Chamber Excellence for Small Business of the Year from the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, Mayflowers is an active, generous participant in the Reston community, serving the public as a respected merchant and allowing local nonprofit organizations to focus on their core missions by providing exceptional support; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Mayflowers on its many contributions to Northern Virginia and on its well-deserved honor as a 2013 Best of Reston Award recipient in the Small Business Leader category; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Mayflowers as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for the business's tireless dedication to Reston.