$16,000 Raised in Three Days for Homeless Centreville Teen, Family

In less than a week, Centreville has given in a large way to one of its own. 

On the eve of the undefeated Centreville High School Wildcats football team's play for the state championship, some of the focus is on a single player, senior lineman, Isaac Samuel.  

Isaac, his mother and a younger sibling are homeless and living in a Fairfax County shelter, but not for much longer— if his team and the community have anything to do with it. 

Centreville resident Ashley Stewart said she started a GoFundMe page for Isaac on Monday night and in three days it raised more than $16,000 for the teen's family. The goal is to raise $25,000. 

"(I) originally set (it) up so I could spread the word and reach out to any alumni through social media to see if we could do a little something to give back," said Stewart, a Centreville High School graduate and former varsity cheerleader. 

And it doesn't stop there. Stewart and Centreville resident John Purvis are working with a realtor to find a place with reduced rent for Isaac's family.
 A deal is being finalized with Harvest House Community Development Corporation to donate 500 pounds of food to the family, she said.  

Plans are also the works for a check presentation event for Isaac's family and the community at a local restaurant. 

"...  It is my hope to present the check to Isaac and his family in person, but have a place where the entire community can gather so they can feel even more involved and can see the outcome of their generosity," Stewart wrote in an email to Patch. "The restaurants I am working with are agreeing to donate a portion of the proceeds made on the night of the event back to Isaac and his family." 
School officials said on Friday that Isaac doesn't know about the fundraising efforts that are underway. They hope to keep it from him until after the fundraising goal is met. 

To donate money to Isaac and his family, go to the Support Football Lineman Isaac Samuel GoFundMe page here. 

There's no date set for the presentation event yet, but it will held in the weeks after the state championship game on Dec. 14 against Oscar Smith High School. The game begins at 4 p.m. at the University of Virginia's Scott Stadium in Charlottesville. More details are here.