Banner for the "Wacky & Whimsical Washingtonian Tea" at THEARC, featuring colorful stars and a red-striped design, all with a touch of AfterDark@THEARC magic. Perfect for setting the mood before our Gala night unfolds.

16th Annual Wacky & Whimsical Washingtonian Tea


Thank you for joining us!

The 16th Annual Wacky & Whimsical Washingtonian Tea was a fantastic afternoon filled with fun, performances, and community spirit in celebration of Building Bridges Across the River’s dedicated service to residents East of the Anacostia River.

Missed the event but want to contribute? Donate here!

A special thank you to our 2025 Tea Co-Chairs:
Kate Azevedo
Gwendolyn Lohse
Emily Sower

Questions? Contact Sarah Shindler at sshindler@thearcdc.org.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Washington Monument

The Alisann & Terry Collins Foundation

Smithsonian

DC Plastic Surgery Boutique

Joshua Easterly, Sixth Street

Kennedy Center

Kate & Romeu Azevedo

Tidal Basin

Brendan & Tara Coleman

Emily Sower Residential

The Ritz Family

Phillips@THEARC

Cherry Blossom

Gwendolyn Lohse & James Assey

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Samantha Branchaud

Lisa Helem

Juve Beauty Lounge

Eve A. Lilley

Occasions Caterers

RBC Wealth Management

Lisa F. Smith

Spun Cotton Candy Art

Host Committee

Hastie & Amir Afkhami

Diana & Michael Allen

Veronica & Daniel Bahar

Kimball & Eric Bruce

Lucia & Chuck Cassidy

Betsy DeLaney

Katelin Dial

Darah & Clarence Franklin

Julia & Bob Ghafouri

Alison Harris

Johanna & Barclay Howe

HRGM Corporation

Jennifer Chilton & Christoph Hundack

Kathryn Minor Jones & Geoff Jones

Suzanne & Colin Kimpel

Sara & Chris Lange

Melissa & Zach Leonsis

Amy Markopoulos

The McBrady Family

Shannon & Andrew McMahon

Courtney & Carl Metz

Katie & Carter Mitchell

Sandy & Jay Morse

Erin & Matt Ritz

Allison & Zeke Roeser

Molly & Matt Saxon

Julie & Ryan Sciullo

Stacie & Chris Seline

Lauren Crawford Shaver

Peter & Lindsay Snell

Chris Taylor

At the AfterDark@THEARC Gala, three people are smiling at a formal event. Two young girls in lavender dresses stand with an older woman in a floral dress, capturing the elegance of the evening.
Two musicians seated on chairs, one playing a saxophone and the other a clarinet, perform on stage with a podium and large screen displaying the words "Annual Wacky and Whimsical Washingtonian Tea" in the background.
Guests at the Gala, seated at tables in a vibrant event space adorned with pink, yellow, and blue curtains, attentively watch the large screen where a man speaks. The air buzzes with excitement as AfterDark@THEARC brings the evening to life.
The Annual Wacky and Whimsical Washingtonian Tea presents a set dining table adorned with tiered trays of pastries, plates, utensils, glasses, and small bowls of fruit. A dark blue tablecloth drapes elegantly over the setting, surrounded by silver chairs.