Calendar-Past Events Archive
April 24, 2010
The City Singers and The Youthful Spirits - 7 p.m. at the Westfield High School Auditorium, 4700 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, VA 20151
To benefit the Reema J. Samaha Memorial Scholarship and the Erin Peterson Fund.
May 22, 2009
Joe and Mona Samaha, along with the Angel Fund they co-founded, and the much-appreciated support of the Westfield High School Theater Boosters, hosted a Remembrance Cabaret in memory of their beautiful daughter, Reema. Reema was their inspiration; because of her love of dance and the theater, Joe and Mona wanted to pay tribute to her memory in song and dance. The performance featured current Westfield High School students and alumni, who danced, sang, recited poetry and showed visual art projects created in Reema’s memory.
Joe and Mona accepted donations to either the Reema J. Samaha Memorial Scholarship Fund (http://www.reemasamaha.org/funds/funds1.htm) which provides scholarships to seniors at Westfield and Herndon High Schools and/or the Angel Fund.
List of acts and songs performed include:
- Charlie Makes Rockets:“Twist and Shout,” “Brown Eyed Girl,””Mustang Sally,””La Bamba” and other” rockin' oldies...” (Scott Pafumi, Charlie Manship, Mark Murgia and Pat Mitchell (WHS ’02);
- Dancensations Dance Center: Meredith Murgia (WHS ’09) dance troupe, “True Colors;”
- Jade and Dan Trio, “Reema’s Song”, Jade Jones (WHS ‘08) and Dan Hrebenak (WHS ’08)
- Sarah Cowdery (WHS ’08), "La Meme Histoire"(Leslie Feist)
- Contemporary Dance Ensemble of Virginia Tech Dancers, “Slow Me Down;”Adrienne Ginter (WHS ’07), Vanessa Bush, Mellissa Dozier, Lee Gibaldi, Rachel Wunderlich and Leah Zacherl
- Brian Moon (WHS ’06), “The Light House”
- Mayzsoul, “God Only Knows;, Michelle Murgia (WHS ’05) dance troupe
- Pat Mitchell Quintet, “Stand by Me”, Kevin Knickerbocker (WHS ’04) Trevor Knickerbocker (WHS ’11), Pat Mitchell, Jon Lawlor (WHS ’04) and Jeremy Rommel (WHS ’09)
- B-Film Extras, ““Signs of Waking Up;” Jon Lawlor and John Holt
- Megan Meadows (WHS ’05), Randa Samaha (WHS ’04) Omar Samaha (WHS ’02 )and Monica Murgia”(WHS ’05), “Fat Fighters Sketch;”
- Claire Manship (WHS ’09) The Call" ( Regina Spektor);
- Murgia Trio, “I Miss You;” Michelle, Monica and Meredith Murgia
- Kickrocks Crew, “Principal’s Office;” Chelsea Cooper ( WHS ’04), Nathalie Blanco, Christina Nontanovan, Jasmine Artis, Christine Malabanan, Emily Winters, Kim Arteche
- Jones Catcher and Ugly Thrash Demon – “in the Aeroplane Over the Sea” [Jones Catcher comprised of Jordan Wilson (WHS ’09), Jeremy Rommel, Chris McNabb (WHS ’09) and Cody Jones (WHS ’08); members of Ugly Thrash Demon who performed: Jed Lingat (WHS ’10), Philip Eberhart (WHS ’09), Christophe Lejeune (WHS ’09)
- Jones Catcher, “Reema’s Lullaby”, accompanying video of visual artists
List of Artists/Poets:
Caitlin McNabb (WHS ’09) Angel Logo
Preston Regis (WHS ’02), Matt DaSilva (WHS ’02), Carlos Hernandez (WHS ’02) Gift of Pastel of Reema
Reema Samaha (WHS ’07), Poem entitled “Peace”
Contemporary Dance Ensemble Virginia Tech – posters of Reema at benefit dances
Quilters Around the World – VT Quilt
Monica Murgia and Brian Hickey (WHS ’07) – Photo Collage
Postcards from counselors in France where Reema would have worked Summer of 2007
Scott Pafumi – Poem entitled “Cloud”
Chris Ercolano (WHS ’06)
Melissa Munse (WHS ’06) – Black/yellow butterfly
Diana Pharo – Box with Butterfly Cupcakes
Brian Hickey – Pencil Sketch of Reema with Butterfly
Notes from friends and family, April 2007
Tuan Pham-Photo Collage of Reema
Diana and David O’Brien, Mike Darby – Gift of Photo of Lights
Catalina Rodman-Painting of Reema
Siwar Bizri-Graduation Cap
Caitlin McNabb – Six-Panel Cartoon
Westfield High School promotion fliers
Randa Samaha – Photo Collage
Jay Blount- Portrait of Reema Dancing
Patrick McNabb (WHS ’07)- Portrait of Reema (see above)
We intend to host an annual cabaret in addition to hosting other performances.
September 14, 2008
On Sunday, September 14, 2008, the Angel Fund held a Panel Discussion, entitled, Women to Women: Virginia Tech from a Mother’s Perspective, before the The Democratic Women of Clifton. Panelists included:
1) Carroll Ann Ellis, member of the Virginia Tech panel and Director of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Victim Services Division;
2) Martina Leinz, Virginia State President of the Million Mom March;
3) Mona Samaha, mother of Reema Samaha and co-founder of the Angel Fund;
4) Celeste Peterson, mother of Erin Peterson;
5) Lori Haas, mother of Emily Haas, survivor;
6) Lily Habtu, Virginia Tech survivor and a founding member of Students for Gun-Free Schools (SFGS); and
7) Randa Samaha, sister of Reema Samaha and also a founding member of SFGS
The panel discussed the parents’ experience and aftermath, their efforts to initiate change and honor their children’s memories, helping victims of crime, particularly family members of homicide, support services, legislation and practical solutions and ideas that can help prevent another tragedy.
June 10, 2008
The Angel Fund held a panel discussion at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 with the following guests:
1) Carroll Ann Ellis, member of the Virginia Tech panel and Director of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Victim Services Division;
2) Senator Janet Howell, member of the Virginia State Crime Commission and Commission on Mental Health Law Reform;
3) Delegate Chuck Caputo, representing the 67th District;
4) Joe Samaha, father of Reema Samaha and founder of the Angel Fund;and
5) Peter Read, father of Mary Read.
February 28, 2008
The Westfield High School PTSA, in conjunction with Angel, hosted a panel discussion on Thursday, February 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall with the following guests:
1) Dr. Roger Depue, Ph.D., member of the Virginia Tech panel and founder of the Academy Group, Inc., spoke about the "red flags" of a killer, citing the examples of Seung Hui Cho and the Columbine killers
2) Jim Sollo, vice-president of the Virginia
Center for Public Safety, spoke about present gun legislation in Virginia
3) Sergeant Bill Fulton and MPO Luis Munoz of the Sully District Police station answered questions about high school security and safety
4) Joe Samaha, father of Reema Samaha who was killed at Virginia Tech, and founder of Angel (www.angelfundva.org), a fund to educate and advocate
5) Andy Goddard, father of Colin Goddard who was wounded at Virginia Tech, and the president of the Richmond chapter of the Million Mom March