A Decatur-based nonprofit for intellectually disabled adults recently won second place in an international lip-syncing competition.
Members of L’Arche Atlanta participated in the virtual contest and fundraiser, which was sponsored by L’Arche Canada. Both organizations are among the 130 branches of L’Arche (pronounced “larsh”), a French nonprofit founded in 1964 that provides housing and community for adults with intellectual disabilities.
The monthlong competition featured 28 L’Arche branches, whose members created lip-sync videos to popular songs that were uploaded to YouTube. Winners were determined based on which video received more views, likes and prompted donations.
More than $100,000 was raised throughout the event, which was called “Battle of the Fans 2020.” The participants’ videos have garnered more than 90,000 views since Nov. 23.
L’Arche Atlanta and Ontario-based L’Arche Daybreak were the two finalists. The final song was “We’re Not Going to Take It” by Twisted Sister, and L’Arche Daybreak was dubbed the winner on Christmas Eve.
“To everyone who donated, watched, ‘liked,’ and shared our videos, THANK YOU,” L’Arche Atlanta posted on Facebook. “YOU have given us so much joy the last five weeks.”
L’Arche Atlanta was founded in 2012 and operates a home in Oakhurst. It also recently purchased a property in the Clairemont Avenue Historic District, which is in the process of being redeveloped into more living space.
Many of the organization’s events were cancelled or shifted online this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. L’Arche Atlanta was among 15 nonprofits that received a financial assistance grant from Decatur to help weather the effects of COVID-19.
More information on L’Arche Atlanta is available at www.larcheatlanta.org.
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