This summer’s 11th Annual Peace In Da Paint will once again have financial support from the city.
At their monthly meeting Monday morning, the Fredericksburg EDA approved $5,000 in funding to the community event focused on violence prevention. The amount is the same the group allocated in 2021.
Organizer Kentrale Washington briefed the board on the progress the intiative has made over the past decade, which started with 500 kids and has since grown to include more than 3,000. In addition to this basketball tournament, this year’s installment will feature a job fair, clothing giveaway and an appearance from Washington Wizard Bradley Beal. An effort is also being made to organize with FXBGO! to coordinate transportation for those in need to and from the event.
In his presentation, Washington cited a “very harsh year” that included two recent shooting deaths, one of which being James Monroe High School student Jasiah Smith, as added motivation behind this year’s event. He intends to use the EDA funds for added security and more giveaways. Last year saw more than 125 bikes, 400 pairs of shoes and 12 PS5s given away to area kids, in addition to clothes, toys and back-to-school supplies. Washington says that effort cost him more than $22,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. He did not seek any funding from the EDA in 2022.
The 11th Annual Peace In Da Paint takes place Saturday, July 22nd from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at the W.L Harris Playground in the Mayfield community.
