Amanda Marshall, founder of Fair Chance, addresses the 2017 Butterfly Bash on Oct. 13.

The MusicianShip, a DC nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the lives of youth through music, recently turned to Fair Chance, a nonprofit that acts as a kind of consultant to other nonprofits, to build capacity and reach more young people.

At the Fair Chance 2017 Butterfly Bash, the organization’s annual charity fundraising gala, Jeffery Tribble Jr., Executive Director of The MusicianShip, took a few minutes to explore his experiences with Fair Chance and to thank the nonprofit for its capacity-building resources. But perhaps more importantly, his group’s Washington Youth Choir got the party started on Friday night with a stirring rendition of “Love Train” by The O’Jays.

Roughly 800 people gathered at Dock 5 of Union Market, which was transformed into an elegant ballroom on Oct. 13, for the 2017 Butterfly Bash. The Butterfly Bash takes its name from a quote by Maya Angelou, who once said, “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

With the understanding that change also is a thing of beauty, gala attendees raised money to improve the lives of children in underserved DC communities. The Butterfly Bash also recognized Marie and Wendell Johns for their charity work to support DC education and youth.

Butterfly Bash co-chairs Elizabeth Spratt Cooper and Elisabeth Cohen led a short program that honored Marie and Wendell and put a spotlight on some of the good works that Fair Chance partners have accomplished along with introductory remarks from Fair Chance founder Amanda Marshall. Over the span of 15 years to date, Fair Chance has assisted an estimated 100 nonprofits and roughly 80,000 kids in need as it strengthened the capacities of community-based nonprofits to achieve results for children stricken by poverty.

The evening raised roughly $100,000 for Fair Chance programs, exceeding its goal of $80,000. And of course, folks danced the night away with great music, fine cocktails, and yummy hors d’oeuvres.

For more information on Fair Chance and to track news for next year’s Butterfly Bash, visit http://www.fairchancedc.org.