The Ruby Bridges Foundation, in conjunction with Twiddy & Company, is holding an event to celebrate the launch of Camp Bridges, a transformative summer camp opening in 2025 in northeastern North Carolina. The event, “An Evening with Ruby Bridges,” will take place on Friday, December 20, 2024, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the KDH Resort in Kill Devil Hills.

Camp Bridges, a new initiative of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, is “dedicated to empowering children and teens by fostering leadership skills, personal growth, and community engagement,” noted the event announcement. “The camp will provide a unique opportunity for children from Northeastern North Carolina to connect with peers from across the country, creating bonds that transcend geography and background.”

“Camp Bridges is about giving children the opportunity to grow, learn, and lead,” said Ruby Bridges, civil rights icon and founder of the Ruby Bridges Foundation. “We want to inspire the next generation to build bridges in their communities and beyond, just as I have tried to do throughout my life. This camp is about hope, opportunity, and creating something truly meaningful.”

Event guests will enjoy an unforgettable evening featuring:

• Cuisine curated by Chef Wes Stepp. Savor dishes inspired by Ruby Bridges’ childhood, blended with fresh, local ingredients from the Outer Banks, including regional farm produce and seafood.
• Beer, wine and signature drinks to complement the evening’s menu.
• Live music performed by SOULone and the Jazzmen.
• Silent and live auctions offering exclusive items and one-of-a-kind experiences.
• Exciting door prizes for attendees.
• A personal book signing with Ruby Bridges.
• A special screening of Disney’s Ruby Bridges movie, a powerful retelling of Ruby’s courageous story.

“It’s a privilege to create a menu that honors Ruby’s upbringing while celebrating the flavors of our region,” said Stepp. “This event brings together history, culture, and community in a way that’s truly special.”

Proceeds from the evening will directly support Camp Bridges, ensuring that children from northeastern North Carolina and beyond “can participate in this life-changing program. The camp’s mission aligns with Ruby’s lifelong dedication to building connections and promoting equality,” stated the announcement.

“Camp Bridges will create a space for young people to grow as individuals while forging bonds that span communities and cultures,” said Bridges. “This work is deeply personal to me, and I’m honored to share this vision with all of you.”

Tickets are available now at bit.ly/4gnWyK4.

“Ruby Bridges is a civil rights icon whose courage and resilience have inspired generations. At just six years old, she became the first African American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South, an act immortalized in Norman Rockwell’s famous painting, The Problem We All Live With. Her bravery in the face of immense adversity became a powerful symbol of the fight for equality and justice,” noted the announcement.

Over the years, Bridges has received numerous honors for her contributions to civil rights and education, including the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001 and induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2024. Her legacy is further celebrated through two schools named in her honor and a statue at William Frantz Elementary School, which commemorates her historic walk into the school.

Today, Bridges continues to advocate for education, inclusion and the empowerment of future generations through the Ruby Bridges Foundation.

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