WHEREAS, for 25 years, Acting for Young People has provided professional performing arts instruction in a supportive environment to youths in the Fairfax community; and

WHEREAS, Acting for Young People was established in 1997 by local resident Mary Lechter after she noticed a lack of acting classes for children in the Fairfax area; she began renting out spaces to offer classes and subsequently expanded to after-school and summer camp programs; and

WHEREAS, through Acting for Young People's summer programs, Mary Lechter began working with George Mason University and helped the institution coordinate a nonprofit arts academy, of which she serves as the executive director; and

WHEREAS, Acting for Young People proudly offers the Time to Shine Program, a tuition-free program for students in Title 1 schools that provides theater instruction as well as take-home meals and other support to young people in need; and

WHEREAS, Acting for Young People has earned numerous awards and accolades, including recognition as one of the region's best summer camps by Northern Virginia Magazine and as a "Top Parent Pick" by Washington Parent; the organization has received grant funding from ArtsFairfax, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Acting for Young People has fulfilled its mission to make the performing arts accessible to young people through the hard work and generosity of its staff members, volunteers, and community partners; many former students have achieved success in the performing arts as adults and several have also returned to become teachers with the program; and

WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Acting for Young People helped provide a sense of normalcy and community engagement for young people in the Fairfax community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Acting for Young People hereby be commended on the occasion of its 25th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Acting for Young People as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's legacy of achievements and contributions to the advancement of the performing arts in Northern Virginia.