About Us

A Letter From Our Founder

Welcome to the Kathleen and Eddie Arthur Hearts of Love website! My name is Ed Arthur, Jr., and I am the proud son of Kathleen and Eddie Arthur, the individuals for whom the Hearts of Love Fund is named. I am pleased to have this opportunity to share information with you regarding the history of the Hearts of Love Fund and the purpose of our work.

History

My parents were lifelong residents of Alexandria, Virginia, and members of Grace Episcopal Church. Both worked at The Presidential Gardens (now Presidential Greens) apartment complex located in the Arlandria section of the City, which today is known as the Chirilagua neighborhood. My Mom was the office administrator, and my Dad oversaw maintenance of the entire complex. My parents were defined by their strong Christian faith and commitment to helping those in need. As children, my two sisters and I witnessed the cheerful way our parents gave free apartment stays to those needing shelter, jobs whenever possible to the unemployed, food to the hungry, clothing and money to those in need, and toys and gifts to families at holiday times. Looking back, we now marvel at how our parents provided well for their children, gave generously to others, and never seemed to have one material wish for themselves. What a blessing they gave us by showing us how to turn faith into action!

Our Father passed away in 1996. Upon the death of our Mother in March 2019, the family decided to ask friends and family to donate money to a memorial fund through Grace Church “in lieu of flowers.” The initial thought was that this would be a finite amount of money that could be distributed through the Church to help the less fortunate. Through this experience we learned two things: (1) there are many very generous people in the world; and (2) there are far more people in our hometown in need of the very basics of life than we ever imagined. And then came the Pandemic…and the needs increased exponentially.

Our Purpose

By the Spring of 2020, we decided that we needed to do more to honor our parents’ legacy by giving more generously and partnering with established non-profits who serve the needy in Alexandria. This necessitated growing the fund’s resources, building relationships with supporters and advisors, and creating an infrastructure to sustain our work. At this time, I assumed primary responsibility for moving the Fund forward, and my sisters continue to support this work as much as they can.

There are so many individuals and organizations to thank for believing in our work and helping the Fund grow into a full-fledged charitable organization. We were blessed upon our founding to have the support of the Grace Episcopal Church clergy in administering the fund. As the initial Kathleen Arthur Memorial Fund transitioned into the Kathleen and Eddie Arthur Hearts of Love Fund, the administrative support requirements increased, and we were again fortunate to be able to place the Fund under the umbrella of Act for Alexandria. I was and continue to be blessed by a small group of longtime Alexandrian friends (Dave Baker, Cathy David, John Porter) and a brand-new acquaintance (Allison Silberberg), who jumped on board early to educate and advise me on where to start, who to get in front of, how to fund raise and many other essential pieces of information. If not for them, I would not be writing this letter today. I am eternally grateful for this group of friends.

We are grateful to the families, organizations, and partnerships that have welcomed us with open arms and allowed us to be a small part of their journeys and stories. And, of course, we thank our loyal and generous donors who have fueled our success. We would not be able to continue our acts of giving without them.

With the ongoing support of my family, I plan to grow the Fund and help an increasing number of people in need. I strive to make a positive impact every day by providing many of the same services and supports my parents did many years ago. Like my parents, I believe God is lighting my path and providing direction to the steps that the Fund will take into the future.

And finally, my family and I wish to continue to honor our parents, Kathleen and Eddie Arthur, by embracing their core values and wishes to bless and serve others with acceptance, generosity, and love.

With gratitude,