WC Smith

WC Smith's Summer Youth Employment Program participants spent a day during their final week enjoying the interactive exhibits and learning experiences at DC's Planet Word museum. We wish this year's group much success in the upcoming school year and their future endeavors.

We're celebrating another milestone for Terrace Manor, WC Smith's recently delivered affordable multifamily housing property, as its construction loan financed by Wells Fargo successfully converted to a permanent loan provided by DC Housing Finance Agency through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Risk-Share program. The transaction was DCHFA's only conversion this year that didn't require an extension of the construction loan. Congratulations to the team behind the deal: Clare McCabe and Erik DiGirolamo from WCS Mortgage; Conor Law, Mike Petrosinelli and Rochelle Williams MBA, MPM Williams from WCS Development and CFO Daniel Moreno, CPA. Thanks also go to the Terrace Manor site team, Ashawna Johnson and Jo'Vontay J. Johnson, for their speedy lease-up efforts.

Such a great talk on financial literacy and wellness by Milton Steele for participants in WC Smith's Summer Youth Employment Program. He and his team from the Skyland Town Center branch of PNC Bank covered a wide range of topics, including traditional banking tools, credit and app-based financial instruments. The students were engaged and energized about planning their financial success.

Thanks to the staff at DC Central Kitchen for hosting WC Smith's Summer Youth Employment Program participants at a volunteer day. The students lent a helping hand to the kitchen staff as they prepared food for DCCK's many programs and clients, gaining valuable insight into the important work the organization does for the DC community.

WC Smith is thrilled to welcome Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School as the newest resident nonprofit partner at @THEARC. Opening in late fall as the District’s first community-focused outdoor education campus, the new site will include custom-built high and low climbing elements designed to serve as an outdoor classroom, engaging students from across D.C. in experiential, adventure-based learning.  The campus is being developed by CBOBS and Building Bridges Across the River, WC Smith's nonprofit partner, with a $2 million investment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. WC Smith Chairman Chris Smith founded Building Bridges as the nonprofit organization to manage THEARC, and serves as chair of the Building Bridges board.

Thanks to Morgan State University, which hosted WC Smith's Summer Youth Employment Program participants for a college tour. Now in its 33rd year, SYEP offers a 6-week paid job and weekly field trips for DC youth ages 14-17. Each summer we visit a college campus, and appreciate the Morgan State students and staff for arranging the tour.

WC Smith welcomed its Summer Youth Employment Program participants June 26, kicking off our 33rd year of providing DC students with paid summer jobs at our properties, Splash Park and THEARC. We were honored to hear from Ian Callender, owner of Suite Nation and Sandlot Southeast, Rebecca Winn, Senior Vice President of Marketing for the Washington Wizards, and Delia Houseal, PhD, MPH, chief of staff for DC Councilmember Wendell Felder.

WC Smith welcomed ALDI USA to H Street NE, as the supermarket opened its 3rd location in Washington, DC at our property Avec on H. Joining the many local residents excited for the ribbon cutting were Charles Allen Ward 6 Councilmember and DC Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Nina Albert. Congrats to our retail partner Rappaport for facilitating the deal to bring more fresh food options to the District.

WC Smith is proud to be among the 55 Washington, DC-area companies to be honored as a top corporate philanthropist by the Washington Business Journal. Giving back is core to our commitment to the District, and this year we were pleased to announce a $100,000 contribution to Building Bridges Across the River in honor of the 20th anniversary of THEARC.

Thank you to our partners at 11th Street Bridge Park for opening its 7th urban farm at Washington View, a WC Smith-managed apartment in DC's Ward 8. The garden plots will provide critical fresh produce to the community, in a part of the city where access to quality food can be challenging. The farm is part of three year partnership with DC Central Kitchen, Black Nurses Rock, National Housing Trust, American Diabetes Association, Novo Nordisk and Bank of America.