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Boston, January 28, 2018 — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, one of the nation’s leading one-to-one mentoring programs, today announced that the agency received $1.8 million in donations at its annual Big Night cocktail party, concert and fundraiser. The money raised will help the agency expand its service and reach the more than 1,500 children on its waiting list, creating new one-on-one matches between young people and adult mentors in Massachusetts.
More than 1,000 of New England’s brightest dignitaries, biggest philanthropists and trendiest fashionistas attended Big Night 2018 – Under the Big Top, which has been consistently named “the party of the year” by the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald. Held on Saturday, January 27 at House of Blues Boston, the event was emceed by Jenny Johnson and Bill Costa, and featured performances by artists Misterwives, Saint Motel, and Matoma.
Allen Arsenau – a former “Little Brother” and current “Big Brother” – also addressed the crowd to share the story of his nearly 30-year involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, specifically describing how being a Little changed the trajectory of his life and the importance of being someone else’s role model now.
Additionally, Margot and Jonathan Davis were honored as the recipients of the 9th Annual James J. Pallotta Award at the event, an accolade that recognizes individuals who have successfully engaged in supporting at-risk children in Greater Boston and beyond. As avid supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay and dedicated philanthropists who have made a significant impact on the Boston community, the Davis’ were a clear choice for this year’s award.
“There is simply no way we could continue to grow, scale and reach the amount of in-need youth across Eastern Massachusetts as we do now without the generosity of Big Night attendees. Every year, we are increasingly overwhelmed by the support this event generates and cannot thank the attendees, our donors and the volunteers enough,” said Wendy Foster, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay. “For the last 20 years, Big Night has been a celebration of both the agency’s mission and the community that supports it, and we will continue leveraging that support with the goal of matching every child on our waiting list with a positive, adult mentor.”
Since its first Big Night in 1998, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay has raised more than $30 million to help foster more than 12,000 one-on-one friendships between young people and adult mentors in Massachusetts. These donations have allowed the nearly 100 percent donor-supported agency to carry out its mission and continue to change the lives of children, making healthier families, better schools and stronger communities for all.
Featured image by Matt Tetrault/Pretty Instant Photography, courtesy of V2 Communications.