Sarah’s Way Foundation, Inc.
About SWF
Overview
SARAHs Way Foundation Inc (SWF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Woodbridge, Virginia (Neabsco District). Service, Assessment, Restoration, Awareness, and Honesty are the values that SARAH Way Foundation Inc embodies. SARAH is a foundation with a mission to bring assistance to disadvantaged neighborhoods through initiatives that promote family wellness and stability. By aiming to enrich the lives of our neighbors, we contribute to enhancing our community “Touching The Community With Love”. Current programs host initiatives in food assistance and employment assistance to Prince William County residents impacted by food insecurity, unemployment, or underemployment. The foundation has objectives to help its district reduce the county’s rates of child food insecurity, to reduce black residents rates of food insecurity, and to empower program participants in securing long term employment. SWF has been working on their survivor ’empowerment program called "R.I.S.E" beginning with peer support groups that offer survival and self-defense instruction, resource information, and referrals. SARAHs Way Foundation is unique, as its programs are designed to offer culturally sensitive/culturally appropriate services to the clients its serves and operated by those living and working in the PWC area for many years.
History
SARAHs Way Foundation was formed by a board of directors, in the development and planning phase since Fall of 2023, incorporated in March of 2024, and officially launched in March of 2025. All of the volunteer board members are either residents of Prince William, Virginia or are current/former employees of a PWC business. The President, and acting Executive Director, Mr. James M Gaines was inspired to establish the organization by his late Mother, Mrs. Sarah Henry. Sarah was a Charlotte Courthouse native who maintained a strong religious faith that led her to being a community pillar for the children and African Americans within her community. She continuously invested the time, energy, and money she could into guiding children and helping her neighbors - whether she was providing a meal, shelter, sound advice, or a general helping hand. Mr. Gaines has recruited a volunteer Board of Directors to help him establish a foundation that carries on his mother’s charitable legacy.
Meet the Board
Mr. James M Gaines, President & Executive Director
Mr. Gaines established his own family and career in Prince William County in the Spring of 1989. He is a
Virginia native, leading a 35 year career as a federal contractor of Virginia’s DBVI. He is an expert in Food
Service Management, as an operator of various contracts including educational and military dining
facilities and vending solutions for public and private institutions. Mr. Gaines formerly provided private
catering, events management, and commercial cleaning services, while mentoring and inspiring fellow
visually impaired entrepreneur. He currently operates food and vending services in multiple locations of
Quantico Marine Corps Base, and he has recruited and appointed the following volunteer Board of
Directors, and long time colleagues/friends, to assist in the planning, development, and expansion of the
foundation:
Larry Forney, Vice President of Operations
Mr. Forney is also a career federal contractor, with expertise in Food Service Operations Management. He has led a 20+ career in the federal food service. He is a Maryland resident, employed at a Northern Virginia business.
Virginia Ford, Vice President of Programs
“Kitty” (as most affectionately call her), is an Ordained Minister of Faith & Worship, recently retired from a 30 year career in health care, and is a published author of Christian novels. She holds a degree in Health Care Administration and is currently pursuing a BA in Business. She is a Virginia native and resident, employed as a General Manager at a Prince William County business.
Darsheen Simmons, Treasurer
Ms. Simmons maintains a career in administrative support and as a dedicated Medical Caregiver. She has a talent for AR/AP, marketing, and unwavering dedication to helping others. She is a Virginia native, resident of Prince William County, and a mother to PWCPS students.
Kristen Murray, Development Coordinator
Kristen H. Murray started her career as a direct response copywriter for various advertising agencies in New York City, Richmond, VA, and Washington, DC. Her clients included Disney Vacation Club, pharmaceutical drugs, tax publications for CPAs, Camel Cigarettes, an Antique Gun Collectors club, and Johnnie Walker (basically, she was the ATF of direct response). After being a stay-at-home mom (albeit with hard gigs like being a three-time Girl Scout Cookie Mom and a Santa’s Elf for Gander Mountain), Kris returned to work as a grant proposal writer. Here, she worked at a mental health nonprofit, two arts nonprofits, and a government contractor (ask her about working with 200-column/50,000 row excel spreadsheets). Kristen received her BA in English literature from the University of Connecticut with her Jr. year abroad at Oxford where she met her husband. Kristen has lived in Woodbridge VA for over 20 years with her British husband whom she has married five times (so far) and never divorced. Her interests include cooking, reading, watching a broad spectrum of documentaries, nature photography, and trying to convince her adult children to give her grandchildren.