More than 500 community residents turned out on sparkling day May 10 to help THEARC kick off its 20th anniversary at the annual Spring Fling.
The event featured a full menu of food, entertainment and resources for attendees, including a moon bounce, live DJ and the highlight of the day, the Eggstravaganza Hunt for 2,000 treat-filled Easter eggs and 10 golden eggs with hidden special prizes.
THEARC opened May 7, 2005, and has grown to a 240,000 square foot campus with four buildings (the newest to deliver later this year) and farm across 16 acres. THEARC’s 14 resident nonprofit partners provide programs and services worth more than $60 million to more than 60,000 community members annually.
The campus is operated by Building Bridges Across the River, a nonprofit organization co-founded by WC Smith Chairman Chris Smith.
Building Bridges, WC Smith and Institute for Justice were among the sponsors that support Spring Fling.
Several of THEARC’s partners participated in Spring Fling, including Bishop Walker School for Boys, the Phillips Collection, DC Central Kitchen, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, Trinity University and Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound.
Cutie Cuisine satisfied the guests’ appetites with a tasty buffet. And Building Bridges President and CEO Rahsaan Bernard revived his gig as grill master extraordinaire, keeping the burgers and hot dogs coming.
Also represented were the 11th Street Bridge Park and Skyland Workforce Center, two programs operated by Building Bridges.
MANNA Housing, DC Public Library, DC Bikeshare, Howard University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Center for Collective Healing were among the other vendors.
More celebrations of THEARC’s 20th anniversary are in store, including the THEARC Gala on Sept. 6, as the campus reflects on its legacy of impact and future of promise.
