Friendship Place Walk to End Homelessness brought the community together on the National Mall to support real solutions in the nation's capital
On a beautiful, sunny Saturday with clear skies and temperatures in the low 70s, hundreds gathered on the National Mall for the 15th Annual Friendship Place Walk to End Homelessness. The uplifting community event took place on May 3rd and drew more participants than ever before and successfully surpassed its fundraising goal-raising over $110,000 to support real, lasting solutions to homelessness in the D.C. region.
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“This Walk is more than a fundraiser-it's a demonstration of what's possible when a community comes together,” said Jean-Michel Giraud, President & CEO of Friendship Place. “Thanks to the dedication of our walkers, volunteers, and generous sponsors, we can continue helping thousands of individuals and families find stability, dignity, and a place to call home.”
Among the attendees were Sarah and her young son Kyle, former program participants who once faced homelessness after the sudden loss of Kyle's father. Sarah delivered a moving speech at the Walk, sharing how Friendship Place helped her rebuild her life and secure stable housing through The Brooks family facility. “Today, I stand here as a mom who finally feels safe and hopeful again,” she told the crowd. “Thanks to Friendship Place, once I found stability, I was able to start my cleaning business-which has been going great.”
Participants of the event enjoyed a wide array of activities, including live music from DJ EZ Street, who has generously donated his talents to Friendship Place events for years. This year, he quietly shared with attendees that his own father once experienced homelessness-a powerful reminder of how personal this cause can be. Friendship Place will honor EZ Street at our annual gala later this year for his continued dedication and impact.
This year's Walk was made possible by the generous support of our corporate partners-most notably Delta Air Lines, our major sponsor-as well as many others who share our commitment to ending homelessness.
Proceeds from the Walk support the work of Friendship Place, which serves over 5,000 people each year through programs like Veterans First, The Welcome Center, and family and youth housing services.
To learn more about our work or to get involved, visit FriendshipPlace.org.
About Friendship PlaceFriendship Place is a leader in the Washington, D.C. region in the movement to end homelessness. Through innovative, person-centered programs, we empower people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to achieve stability, housing, and long-term self-sufficiency. Each year, we serve more than 5,000 individuals, including veterans, families, and youth, through services such as housing, employment, medical and psychiatric care, and case management. Learn more at FriendshipPlace.org.
Contact: Yimka OdebodeMedia, Marketing & Communications DirectorFriendship Place(202) 306-1958 | yodebode@friendshipplace.org
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SOURCE Friendship Place
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