Gabriel Chapter Supports NRO Back-to-School Event

The Charles Gabriel Chapter of Northern Virginia supported the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) families with a Back-to-School event at their Chantilly, Va., location on July 28, 2023. The event was made possible thanks to a $500 grant from AFA through its United Forces & Families (F2) initiative, and another $500 as a matching grant to support this effort.

Led by Martha Ryder, the Gabriel Chapter’s Vice President for Family Programs and Outreach, the Gabriel Chapter provided backpacks filled with school supplies to the kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school children of Airmen and Guardians.

Representing the chapter were Mike Sinisi, President; Jack Diamond, Secretary; Joe Burke, Past Chapter President; and his wife and fellow AFA member Ann Burke. The NRO personnel who helped make the event possible were Senior Master Sgt. Aaron Carleton and Senior Master Sgt. Jenn Emerson. Maj. Gen. Christopher Povak, the NRO Deputy Director, and his staff stopped by to thank the Chapter for their support.

The Gabriel Chapter also provided $1,000 to the National Capital Region’s First Sergeants Association to help 10 young families in line with AFA National’s legislative priority to fight food scarcity in the military.

The back-to-school event was just part of the Gabriel Chapter’s continual engagement with the NRO, their leadership, members, and families to demonstrate how AFA can support their organization.