Such efforts to be a leading, mobilizing presence in the THE ARC has provided BGC Greater Washington with clear advantages in its mission to serve D.C. youth. They include the sharing of space- the FDR Branch used the middle school’s facility and THE ARC’s 300-seat cinema/arts theatre to expand its summer camp activities. They also include fundraising- foundations look favorably upon agency collaborations and BGCGW’s pursuit of consolidated funding for THE ARC has been very successful. But the most important advantage is that THE ARC provides Club members with services outside of their regular program reach. It allows BGC Greater Washington to envision even more outlets of development for its youth. Sheahan explains, “Our goal is to enhance our own programming and really affect the lives of the kids in this community for years to come. This is what it takes to change communities like “South of the River”. If you do it strategically, there is strength in numbers.”