Members of the Virginia Branch of The King’s Daughters and Sons attended Saturday’s 127th Annual Fall Convention at the Sheltering Arms Institute in Richmond.

Kelly del Campo Merricks, CFRE, MBA, Vice President of Philanthropy, Sheltering Arms Foundation spoke about Sheltering Arms and its connection with the King’s Daughters and Sons, its history and what is happening today.

Awards were presented at the convention. A Standard of Excellence award was presented to the Chesapeake Bay Circle in Mathews and the York River Circle in Gloucester. The Ware River Circle of Gloucester received a citation for having 130 years of service.

Three Unsung Hero awards were presented to Janice Bohannon of Chesapeake, Mary Anna Bryant of Ware and Della Garrett of York. This award is presented to those who do the behind the scene activities for their circle. Two Founders Awards were presented to Jane Worthington of the Ware Circle and Louise Klebitz of the York Circle. This prestigious award is given to the nominee who possesses qualities of the original 10 founders of the organization.

Sue Buck of Ohio, Branch President Representative to the International Board, spoke on the current project of funding a Design Outreach LifePump to Chilajile, Malawi, a village in Africa. The engineers of Design Outreach have designed a waterpump that can provide gallons of fresh, clean water to villages who are currently relying on dirty, stagnant pools of water to meet their daily needs.

The branch is raising funds for this project and is having a Christmas basket raffle containing items valued at over $600. Tickets will be available at the Gloucester Christmas Parade and the Ware River Circle Christmas Open House on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Tickets are $5 each or five tickets for $20.