LATEST CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE TO BE SWORN IN CEREMONIALLY: He has been on the bench since springtime, and now Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Patrick Blanch has been presented with his official commission during a ceremony slated for Friday, Sept. 20 at the Fairfax County Courthouse.
Blanch was presented his commission by state Sen. Scott Surovell, and was ceremonially sworn into office by Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judge Todd Petit.
Elected to an eight-year term by the General Assembly, Blanch has been serving since April. Prior to joining the court, he served as a substitute judge for the district courts of Fairfax County and practiced law for 17 years at Blanch & Hart PLLC and its precursors, focusing on criminal defense, appellate litigation and providing court-appointed and pro bono legal representation to low-income members of the Fairfax County community.
Having earned his law degree at the George Washington University, Blanch began his legal career as an assistant public defender in Fairfax County.
‘PLANE PULL’ RAISES NEARLY $600,000 FOR CHARITY: The 2024 Dulles Day Plane Pull raised about $580,000 for Special Olympics Virginia and related charitable organizations, officials with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority reported Sept. 18.
A total of 84 teams tested their mettle against the metal of 80-ton aircraft lent for the event by United Airlines and FedEx. The amount raised through the plane pull brought to $6 million the total over the past 32 years, officials said.
About 10,000 people attended Dulles Day events, held at Washington Dulles International Airport. The event always proves to be “a great way to meet and engage our neighbors,” said airports authority president/CEO Jack Potter.
‘GIRLS ON THE RUN’ AUGMENTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia had added Esther Klinger and Courtney Tsai to its board of directors.
Klinger, a senior systems-design manager for Clark Construction, began her journey with the organization in 2017 as a 5K volunteer and quickly expanded her involvement. As co-chair of the board’s executive committee, she spearheaded efforts to secure raffle items for fund-raisers, attract event sponsors and organize hands-on activities.
An attorney, Tsai is senior manager of the Charitable Strategies Group at DAFgiving360, formerly known as Schwab Charitable. She has extensive charitable-gift-planning experience, previously serving at George Washington University, Pepperdine University and the Easter Seals’ national office.
Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia is one of the largest independent affiliates of Girls on the Run International, offering programs for students in elementary and middle schools.
“We envision a world where every girl knows she has the ultimate power to be her best,” the organization notes.
For more on the initiative, see the Website at www.gotrnova.org.
