WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Baby Einstein Child Development Center in Southeast D.C. suffered significant damage after a neighboring convenience store exploded due to a gas leak on January 18, 2024. As a result, the daycare has been operating out of a temporary space since January 25, 2024, leaving a void in the community it served.
To support the recovery efforts of Baby Einstein, the owner of Agua 301 in Navy Yard, Stephen Briggs, has announced that he will be hosting a fundraiser on Monday, February 5th. The goal is to raise funds to help with the center’s recovery, whether it involves purchasing a new building or restoring the items that were lost in the explosion.
Traci Johnson, a realtor with Compass and a colleague of Briggs’ wife, expressed the community’s desire to support the daycare beyond the GoFundMe campaign that had already been initiated. Johnson emphasized the importance of helping Baby Einstein recover from the traumatic incident and providing some relief to the children and teachers who experienced the ordeal firsthand.
The fundraiser, scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. and last until closing at 9:00 p.m., will see 25% of every check donated to Baby Einstein’s recovery efforts. Johnson highlighted the valiant efforts of the daycare’s teachers, who led 16 children out of the building upon smelling gas, ensuring everyone’s safety.
Regina Snead, the owner of Baby Einstein, expressed her gratitude for the support and mentioned that she would attend the fundraiser after work. She also mentioned that she is waiting to hear from fire officials about updates on the investigation into the incident at Baby Einstein.
Snead has not been inside the daycare since the explosion, and the community’s show of support at the fundraiser is a beacon of hope during a distressing time. The outpouring of support from the community reflects a collective effort to help Baby Einstein recover and rebuild, underscoring the resilience of the neighborhood.