Center for the Arts' Sally Lay Named 'Woman of the Year'

Sally Lay has served the art communities of Manassas and Prince William County for the past 23 years and this weekend will be honored for her contribution as Woman of the Year for the 2011 Greater Manassas Christmas Day Parade.

"I feel so honored that the committee chose me from the many, many nominees," Lay said. "I am very, very pround to represent the city that I love so much."

Lay said she plans to celebrate by attending the tree lighting ceremony Friday at the Manassas Museum before heading into Old Town for dinner and shopping with friends who are coming in from out of town.

Lay serves as the executive director of the Center for the Arts of Greater
Manassas/Prince William County. She has overseen the development of programming at the center, including The Pied Piper Children’s Theatre, Pied Piper Theatre Camps, extensive arts education classes, the SummerSounds Concert Series, and “Arts on the Go."

She also spearheaded a five-year campaign to win community, government and private support for the restoration of the old Hopkins Candy Factory, which would become the new home for the Center for the Arts in 2002. The Candy Factory houses an art gallery, classrooms and a multi use theater space.

Parade Committee Chair President John Martin said this is the third year Lay has been nominated, among 10 others.

Sometimes it is harder to decide Woman of the Year , Martin said, but "she really qualifies."

Martin said the WOTY is not a popularity contest, but about people who are concerned about the community and do what they do because they want to, not because they want to be recognized for it.

The 20-person parade committee chose Lay because of her ongoing efforts to keep the arts alive for the community.

Lay studied at the University of Kentucky, earning her Bachelor's degree in Advanced Studies in Arts Management. She has been married to her husband, Carl for "more years than I can remember," and they have three children and three grandchildren.

Woman of the Year candidates are nominated by the parade committee or by online entries from the public.

Memberships include:
• Leadership Prince William, Board of Regents (2005 - present)
• Leadership Prince William Class of 2012
• Prince William Arts Council, Board of Directors (2006 - present)
• Prince William County CVB, Board of Directors (2007 - present)
• Rotary Club of Manassas (1997 – present) (President, 2002-2003)
• Rotary District 7610 World Peace Scholarship Chair (2005 - 2010)
• Virginia Commission for the Arts, Grants Panel (1998-2001, 2003-2005)
• Virginians for the Arts, Board of Directors (2001 – present) (President – 2007)
• Virginians for the Arts Foundation, (2006 – present) (President – 2007)
• Arts Council of Fairfax, CAPS Advisory Panel (1994 – present)
• United Arts Organization of the Greater Washington Region Board of Directors
(2001 – 2003)

Personal Awards include:
P.W County Arts Council/PWC Chamber of Commerce Seefeldt Pioneer Award, Sept. 2005 (for extraordinary contributions that benefit the entire arts community)

Center for the Arts Awards Include:

• PWCGM Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Arts & Entertainment Member of the Year
• P.W. County Arts Council & PWC Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce Seefeldt
• Mayor’s Small Business Award, November 2005
• PWCGM Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit Arts & Entertainment Member of the Year
• Agnes L. Colgan Community Service Award for “Arts on the Go” February 22, 2011

The 66th Annual Greater Manassas Christmas Parade will take place on Saturday, December 3 at 10 a.m.