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History and Purpose
The Black Family Reunion Celebration (BFRC) is a two-day cultural event that is recognized as the largest, most significant family event in the nation, attracting more than 500,000 people each year! The 3-day festival celebrates the enduring strengths and traditional values of the African American family.
The BFRC features themed pavilions that showcase African American businesses and organizations. Health, education and economic empowerment are just a few of the pavilions exciting themes.
The weekend celebration begins on Friday evening with a VIP Gala Recognition Ceremony and Reception honoring sponsors and volunteers.
Saturday features the official Opening Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast and all-day themed pavilions, which showcase celebrities, prominent experts, performing artists and product promotions. Saturday ends with an enchanting evening R&B concert on the National Mall.
The BFRC closes on Sunday with all-day themed pavilions and an evening Gospel concert on the National Mall.
History
In response to the negative publicity regarding "the vanishing Black family," Dr. Dorothy I. Height, NCNW Chair, developed an idea for a positive, culturally-based event that would celebrate the enduring strengths and traditional values of the African American family. Most importantly, this event would serve as a rallying point for government agencies, private and public sector institutions, corporations, community-based organizations and families of all ethnicities to work together on solutions to issues affecting families.
The result of this idea was realized when NCNW hosted the first Black Family Reunion Celebration in 1986, which featured Betty Shabazz, Coretta Scott King, The O'Jays, Lou Rawls, Alex Haley, Lerone Bennett and Arthur Ashe. With a program agenda that combines service, information and entertainment, the BFRC continues to unify the community for constructive action today.
Support The Festival
Now in its 21st year, the Black Family Reunion Celebration, located on the Washington National Mall in Washington, DC, provides a program agenda combining service, information and entertainment with workshops, issue forums, exhibits, health checks and demonstrations. The Black Family Reunion Celebration unifies the community for constructive action in the face of national concerns impacting the African American family in education, economic development, health and employment. Most importantly, the event serves as a rallying point for government agencies, private and public sector institutions, corporations, community-based organizations and families of all ethnicities to work together on solutions to the issues affecting families.
Each year, this free-of-charge festival relies solely on charitable contributions from corporate sponsors and individual donors. You can show your support by providing a tax deductible donation of any amount towards the operation costs of the Black Family Reunion Celebration. Your generous support ensures the festival will continue to go on for another year.
Thank you in advance for your donation, and we hope to see you and your family at the next Black Family Reunion Celebration!
Mail Donations To:
National Council of Negro Women, Inc.
Friends of Black Family Reunion Celebration
633 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20004
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