The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (Fairfax Chamber), in partnership with the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness, The Connection Newspapers and Apple Federal Credit Union, has announced the 2nd Annual Jeans Day to Put the ZIP on Homelessness (http://jeansday2012.eventbrite.com).

On Jeans Day 2012—Friday, Dec. 14—businesses, county agencies, non-profit organizations and civic and faith-based groups in Northern Virginia will allow employees or members to wear jeans to work or gatherings in exchange for a $5 contribution to End Homelessness. Last year, more than 100 employers, representing 3,000 employees, participated in the initiative.

Twenty-two organizations, representing nearly 2,000 employees, have already signed up to participate in Jeans Day 2012, including:

• City of Fairfax Regional Library

• CPS Professional Services, LLC

• Ernst & Young

• Fairfax County Department of Housing

• Fairfax County Department of Human Resources

• Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood & Community Services

• Fairfax County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court

• Fairfax County Office of the County Attorney

• Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness

• Fairfax County Retirement Administration Agency

• Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board-Chantilly Center

• Helios HR

• Holland & Knight LLP

• The ILEX Group

• Kositzka, Wicks & Company

• M&T Bank

• The O'Reilly Law Firm

• Reston Association

• Steve Gladis Leadership Partners

• Tysons Corner Center

• Virginia Commerce Bank

• WSP Environment & Energy

“We’re proud to partner with the county, through the Office to Prevent & End Homelessness, The Connection Newspapers and Apple Credit Union to provide an opportunity for businesses and their employees to participate in the robust work to end homelessness going on in our community,” said Fairfax Chamber President & CEO Jim Corcoran. “Northern Virginia businesses step up every day to support our community in many ways, but we’re especially excited about this opportunity because it’s a chance for employees to get involved directly.”

“Now, more than ever, we need you to get involved as we move forward with the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness. Everyone is in need of some type of help at one point in time or another. Now, we need your help, and Jeans Day is a great way for you and your business to get involved to prevent and end homelessness in our community as we know it,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova.

“In Fairfax County, it’s easy to forget that there are homeless families here, homeless children in the schools, and that many people who are homeless here are actually working, but don’t make nearly enough money to afford housing,” said The Connection Publisher Mary Kimm. “The Connection is committed to raising awareness of homelessness and the need to provide permanent shelter, and to recognizing the good works of individuals and businesses in Northern Virginia.”

Nearly 3,000 children, women and men face homelessness and the threat of severe temperatures and hunger today in the Fairfax County-Falls Church community. The majority of people without homes in our community are children and working families. Homelessness affects everyone, with social and economic costs to the community, including increased public costs for medical care and education.

Interested organizations can register to participate in the initiative any time between now and Dec. 14, and can do so at http://jeansday2012.eventbrite.com.

More information about homelessness in Fairfax County, and the partnership to end it, is available at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/.