Lancaster wellness group wins entrepreneurs award

Arcarea Adult Day Center in Lancaster is receiving a $50K award to support dementia care and Black entrepreneurship.

The Lancaster wellness organization has been selected by Famous Amos, in partnership with U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC) as one of the winners of its fifth annual Ingredients for Success Entrepreneurs Initiative (IFS).

Arcarea Adult Day Center, founded by Aracelis Rittenburg, addresses healthcare inequities and provides holistic care for seniors with dementia. Arcarea is one of three organizations to receive $50,000, in addition to mentorship, networking and educational resources.

IFS supports pathways for early-stage Black business owners by providing $50,000 to three organizations each, in addition to mentorship, networking and educational resources. Along with Arcarea, the 2025 winners include Terminal B, a Los Angeles-based fragrance company founded by Chris and Fay Breedlove that produces handcrafted candles and fragrances inspired by global destinations – redefining how we experience travel from home; and Money Honey LLC, a Los Angeles-based financial coaching company founded by Taryn Ferrer that provides money management strategies and education to help women build wealth.

Aracelis is the founder of Arcarea Adult Day Center and is a lifelong advocate for equity in senior care, and her organization aims to address disparities in treatment, according to a release.

“Our judges reviewed hundreds of applications from passionate business owners who are making a remarkable impact in their communities,” Rachna Patel, vice president of Marketing for Famous Amos, said in a statement. “Terminal B, Arcarea Adult Day Center and Money Honey LLC are incredibly deserving of these awards, and we’re excited to work with them to grow their businesses and help achieve their dreams. We’re humbled to champion the next generation of Black business leaders and carry on the legacy of our founder Wally Amos.”

Created in 2020, IFS has awarded 12 business owners a total of $600,000 over the past four years – promoting economic empowerment for early-stage Black entrepreneurs. Beyond IFS, USBC provides valuable resources that small business owners can take advantage of, including training, business development and engagement opportunities.

In addition to being the fifth year of IFS, this year also marks Famous Amos’s 50th anniversary. The IFS announcement further celebrates Wally Amos by honoring his birthday, July 1.

“My father built Famous Amos from the ground up to become one of the most recognizable cookie brands in the world,” said Shawn Amos, entrepreneur, author and son of the late Wally Amos. “His story is like a lot of other Black entrepreneurs who have passion and vision but often lack access to resources or funding to help them succeed long term. It means so much to my family that Famous Amos is continuing my father’s legacy and paying it forward to help rising entrepreneurs thrive.”