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2022 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 435
Commending Thomson Hirst and Magaly Galdo-Hirst.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 8, 2022
Agreed to by the Senate, March 9, 2022

 

WHEREAS, Thomson Hirst and Magaly Galdo-Hirst, philanthropic supporters of Alexandria and its many nonprofit organizations, were inducted into the Living Legends of Alexandria Class of 2020 and will be honored with the award at an event in 2022; and

WHEREAS, Thomson “Tom” Hirst grew up on a family farm in Fairfax County, graduated from St. Stephen’s School in Alexandria, and studied urban planning at Princeton University and Harvard University before ultimately founding his real estate business, the Mason Hirst Company, in 1972; and

WHEREAS, Magaly Galdo-Hirst was born in Bolivia and moved to the Mount Vernon area after attending American University and Catholic University of America, pursuing a rewarding career promoting health care equity with the Pan American Health Organization, the American regional office of the World Health Organization; and

WHEREAS, in 2007, Tom Hirst started the Mason Hirst Foundation and began to dedicate his time and efforts to helping as many nonprofit organizations as possible in Alexandria and beyond; and

WHEREAS, in 2010, Magaly Galdo-Hirst joined the board of ACT for Alexandria, a community foundation that strives to increase charitable investment and community engagement in Alexandria; and

WHEREAS, Tom Hirst and Magaly Galdo-Hirst first engaged with many local nonprofit organizations through their work with ACT, learning about their objectives, their efficacy, and the communities they serve; and

WHEREAS, Tom Hirst and Magaly Galdo-Hirst supported many organizations that matched their philanthropic mission through the Mason Hirst Foundation, particularly groups addressing disadvantaged, abused, or at-risk youth, such as the Campagna Center, Casa Chirilagua, the Center for Alexandria’s Children, the Child and Family Network Center, and many more; and

WHEREAS, during ACT for Alexandria’s Spring2ACTion event in 2011, a 24-hour fundraiser held annually for the benefit of Alexandria nonprofits, Tom Hirst and Magaly Galdo-Hirst offered to match donations made to certain nonprofits through grants from the Mason Hirst Foundation, inspiring others to set up matching grants and leading to an even greater impact throughout the city; and

WHEREAS, with the support of Tom Hirst and Magaly Galdo-Hirst, as well as other individuals and organizations inspired by their generosity, the Spring2ACTion event had raised more than $2 million for Alexandria’s charitable organizations by 2019; and

WHEREAS, Tom Hirst and Magaly Galdo-Hirst are recent recipients of the Champion of Children Award from the Center for Alexandria’s Children, a testament to the positive difference they have made in countless young people’s lives; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Thomson Hirst and Magaly Galdo-Hirst for being named 2020 Living Legends of Alexandria; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Thomson Hirst and Magaly Galdo-Hirst as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for their contributions to the Commonwealth.