Special to the Patriot-Bridge
On Feb. 7, nearly 700 guests gathered at House of Blues Boston to celebrate the power of youth mentoring during Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts’ (BBBSEM) 27th annual Big Night. This year’s celebration, with its electric Totally Tubular theme, honored the agency’s mission to transform children’s lives through meaningful, one-to-one mentoring relationships. Guests danced the night away to performances by headliners Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, and Boston’s own French Lick. Big Night raised nearly $1.8 million to support the organization’s year-round community, site-based and campus-based programs.
During the event, Mark O’Donnell, President and CEO of BBBSEM, spoke about how meaningful connections empower young people to thrive in school, in life and beyond. The event also honored Wyc Grousbeck, two-time NBA champion owner, investor and philanthropist, with the James J. Pallotta Award for his generous support to help youth reach their fullest potential.
Big Night is BBBSEM’s signature fundraiser. Since 1998, the cocktail party and concert has raised more than $43 million, resulting in the creation of more than 19,000 new mentoring matches between young people and adult mentors across the region.
“Every child deserves to feel seen, heard and cared for,” says O’Donnell. “The funds raised through Big Night help us provide more young people with mentors who believe in their potential. We are thankful for the community’s ongoing commitment to our mission.”
BBBSEM is the state’s leading one-to-one mentoring program for youth. Over the past seven decades, the organization has supported more than 25,000 young people. By 2028, BBBSEM aims to expand its reach to serve 10,000 youth in 150 communities across Eastern Massachusetts.
For more information, to become a volunteer or to register your children, visit: www.emassbigs.org.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is an innovative, energetic organization that is making a real difference in the lives of over 4,000 youth annually by providing them with an invested, caring adult mentor in long-term, professionally supported relationships. With research and proven outcomes at its core, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is working to defend the potential of children facing adversity and ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. The organization’s vision is to inspire, engage and transform communities in Eastern Massachusetts by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, more confident futures and stronger communities. Throughout its 77 years, the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England has created and served more than 25,000 youth. For more information about the agency and its mission, visit www.emassbigs.org.