Governor-Elect Bob McDonnell Announces Inaugural Week Activities
For Immediate Release: Contact: Tucker Martin
January 5, 2010 TMartin@mcdonnellinaugural.com
(804) 955.4267
Inaugural Theme: “A Commonwealth of Opportunity”
McDonnell to Volunteer at Food Banks and Homeless Shelter; Speak to Children at Boys and Girls Club; Meet with Military Families; Visit with Inmates
The Federation of Virginia Food Banks and The Salvation Army Named as Official Partners in Inaugural Week
RICHMOND- Governor-elect Bob McDonnell today announced his full Inaugural Week schedule and unveiled the official theme of the Inauguration during a morning press conference at the State Capitol.
Promoting his theme of “A Commonwealth of Opportunity,” McDonnell will spend the eight days leading up to his Inauguration on January 16th volunteering at Food Banks in Abingdon, Richmond and Norfolk and a homeless shelter in Alexandria; meeting with military families in Hampton Roads; speaking with Boys and Girls Club members in Virginia Beach and visiting with inmates at a Richmond-area jail. The Federation of Virginia Food Banks and the Salvation Army will both be honorary partners in Inaugural Week.
Speaking about the Inaugural Week, McDonnell remarked, “These are difficult times in the Commonwealth. Virginians face high unemployment, fiscal pressures and uncertainty about their economic prospects. In these difficult times I believe it is more important than ever to highlight the daily acts of kindness and charity that Virginians are freely performing in every city and county. Virginians generously volunteer their time, talents and treasure to help each other. And their selfless actions are crucial in the effort to build ‘A Commonwealth of Opportunity’ for all our citizens. As we mark the orderly transition of power in our state government, always one of the defining moments in the life of our Commonwealth, we will also promote the positive work being done by charities and philanthropies statewide.”
He continued “We have officially partnered with The Federation of Virginia Food Banks and The Salvation Army for Inaugural Week. I look forward to volunteering at Food Banks around the state. I have been a longtime advocate for the tremendous work they do for our fellow Virginians who are in need of the simple necessity of a warm meal. I strongly support the $1 million Governor Kaine has put in the budget for Food Banks. The Salvation Army works in every city and county in the Commonwealth to comfort, clothe and care for the less fortunate. It is an honor to join with them as part of Inaugural Week as well. And our work with these two great charitable organizations will be just one component of the week. I also look forward to volunteering at a shelter in Alexandria to learn about what we can do in state government to reduce the incidence of homelessness. In Hampton Roads, Maureen and I will visit with families of deployed military personnel, and help put together care packages for our brave Americans serving overseas. I will join NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith in Virginia Beach to speak to area children at a Boys and Girls Club about making good choices today to ensure the best possible tomorrows. And, outside Richmond, I will make a visit to a local jail to discuss successful programs that can help prisoners turn their lives around, and highlight our efforts to prove prisoner re-entry programs.”
The Governor-elect concluded by commenting on the theme of the Inaugural, “I believe Virginia’s future will depend on the presence of a constant of our past: Opportunity. It is opportunity, both the creation of and the desire for, which has made our Commonwealth what it is today. Now, in these challenging times, it is our shared obligation to put in place the opportunities for all Virginians to achieve their dreams and live productive and positive lives. That is the key to our future prosperity. It will be the basis for every action my Administration takes. We will create new jobs and more opportunities in every region of the state. We will create ‘A Commonwealth of Opportunity’ for all Virginians.”
As part of the partnership with The Federation of Virginia Food Banks, the Governor-elect is encouraging all attendees of the Inaugural Balls to bring non-perishable food items. The Inaugural Parade will feature receptacles along the route for those goods as well. A statewide coat drive will benefit The Salvation Army. Coat bins will be in place at a number of Inaugural Week events and locations, and also along the Inaugural Parade route.
A full schedule of public Inaugural Week events is below. Information can also be found at www.McDonnellInaugural.com.
The Inauguration Ceremony will take place at the State Capitol in Richmond at noon on Saturday January 16th. The public is invited to attend both the formal ceremony as well as the Inaugural Parade which will take place immediately following. In addition, the Inaugural Committee announced today that the Ceremony will be streamed live at www.McDonnellInaugural.com.
Schedule of Public Events
Friday, January 8, 2010
2:30pm Governor-elect Bob McDonnell Volunteers at the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank
21452 Gravel Lake Road
Abingdon
6:00pm Southwest Inaugural Ball
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
One Partnership Circle
Abingdon
Saturday, January 9, 2010
4:00pm Northern Virginia Inaugural Concert
Clarendon Ballroom
3185 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington
Sunday, January 10, 2010
6:30pm Hampton Roads Inaugural Ball
Chrysler Museum of Art
245 West Olney Road
Norfolk
Monday, January 11, 2010
10:00am Governor-elect McDonnell Visits with Military Families
Brashear Conference Center
Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story
1432 Hewitt Drive
Norfolk
11:30am Governor-elect McDonnell Visits USO of Hampton Roads
USO of Hampton Roads - Little Creek Division
1604 Amphibious Drive
Norfolk
1:00pm Governor-elect Bob McDonnell Volunteers at the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia
800 Tidewater Drive
Norfolk
4:00pm Governor-elect McDonnell and Bruce Smith, NFL Hall of Famer and Former Virginia Tech All-American, Hold Youth Outreach Event
Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Virginia
1505 Competitor Ct.
Virginia Beach
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
2:30pm Governor-elect Bob McDonnell Volunteers at the Central Virginia Food Bank with General Assembly Leaders and Legislative Spouses
1415 Rhoadmiller St.
Richmond
Thursday, January 14, 2010
10:00am Governor-elect Bob McDonnell Volunteers at the Carpenter’s Homeless Shelter
930 N. Henry St.
Alexandria
2:00pm Governor-elect McDonnell Visits Henrico Jail East & Holds Roundtable on Successful Prison Programs
Henrico Jail East
7320 New Kent Highway
Barhamsville
Friday, January 15, 2010
2:00pm Governor-elect Bob McDonnell, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli Visit St. John’s Episcopal Church for a Historical Reenactment of Patrick Henry’s Famous “Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death” Speech
2401 East Broad St.
Richmond
**Additional logistics regarding this event will be released on Thursday, January 14, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
8:00am Inaugural Prayer Breakfast
Richmond Marriott Hotel
500 East Broad Street
Richmond
12:00pm Swearing-In Ceremony of Governor-elect Bob McDonnell as the 71st Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Along with Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling and Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli
State Capitol
South Portico
Richmond
**Press logistics for this event will be released in a separate media advisory later today
1:15pm Inaugural Parade
State Capitol
Richmond
*The parade will begin from the South Portico Reviewing Stand; the route has been extended this year to be more accommodating to families
8:00pm Inaugural Ball
Greater Richmond Convention Center
403 North 3rd St.
Richmond
Sunday, January 17, 2010
12:00pm The First Lady’s Luncheon
Richmond Omni Hotel
100 South 12th Street
Richmond