CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

On April 6, 2005, L’Arche celebrated the successful completion of its $2.5 million “Opening the Heart” capital campaign. Board President Malcolm Young and Campaign Chair W. Shepherdson Abell welcomed many friends to the renovated Ontario Road home for good food shared among good friends

L’Arche undertook the “Opening the Heart” campaign for two main reasons:

To secure the quality of life of our community members, and
To double its size by welcoming new community members.

There is nothing like L’Arche for people who want the family-like relationships, active community life, and deep spirituality that L’Arche offers.

The Campaign transformed L’Arche. Two homes have been renovated, making it possible for aging community members and people using wheelchairs to share life in the community. The community will double in size with the opening of two new homes, and new friends made during the campaign are increasing the fundraising capacity necessary to support growth.

Renovation of Ontario Road and Euclid Street

Our home on Ontario Road has been renovated and expanded, and bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas have been made wheelchair accessible. The installation of an elevator serving the basement, first and second floors enables aging core people to continue living in the home when they can no longer navigate stairs. The Euclid Street home has also been renovated. Improvements include new windows and extensive remodeling of the basement, some much-needed structural repairs to stabilize and correct sagging in the first and second floors, and roof repairs. The basement now includes a new guest room, storage area, and meeting space, along with a much-improved fourth bedroom and bathroom.

Purchase of Two New Homes

To double the size of the L’Arche community, L’Arche is expanding into Northern Virginia where we will welcome eight additional people with developmental disabilities. L’Arche purchased two homes in Arlington Virginia in June 2004 and plans to open the first new home this summer when renovations are complete.
In the first Arlington home on South Highland Street, L’Arche will add three bedrooms, a dining room, a den and a study/office to the house. It will also expand the size of the kitchen. To accommodate people in wheelchairs, L’Arche will make an accessible entrance to the house and will make accessibility changes to an existing bedroom and bathroom in the house.Since July 2004, L’Arche has been celebrating a monthly prayer night in Virginia with a growing group of friends.

The second new L’Arche home is around the corner from the first home. L’Arche plans to start renovations on this home in 2007. This will give L’Arche time to grow with care. Until renovations begin, L’Arche is leasing the second home.