On Thursday May 10, Crossroads celebrated its 10th Annual Urban Campfire at the Revere Hotel Boston Common. With 325 guests in attendance, this signature event was the most successful to date, raising over $760,000 to support Crossroads’ multi-year summer and school-year empowerment programs for Massachusetts youth. The event also honored Crossroads Board Chair and Boston youth advocate Kevin Phelan with the Crossroads Change Everything Award for his dedication, diligence, and commitment to the next generation of Massachusetts young leaders. Since first being introduced to Crossroads in 2008, Kevin has been an integral member of the Crossroads Family. He remains a tireless advocate for the over 1,000 Massachusetts youth that Crossroads serves annually, and his leadership as Board Chair since 2013 has been unprecedented.
“Tonight’s Urban Campfire showcased the true spirit of possibility that lives at the heart of all we do at Crossroads. The generosity and dedication of our board, donors, volunteers, and staff reflect an extraordinary commitment to advance our mission. We are delighted to recognize Kevin Phelan’s amazing leadership over the past decade, and Unique Hodge’s words bring to life the impact that intentional community and access to opportunity can have on the life a young person. We are a Crossroads Family,” said Crossroads President Simon Hess.
The speaking program also featured Class of 2018 Crossroads C5 Leaders graduate, Unique Hodge.
Unique joined Crossroads when she was seven years old and has been a part of the ten-year Crossroads Grow-Build-Lead pathway ever since. Despite dealing with difficult personal hardships, Unique learned to meet every challenge head-on, break down barriers, and thrive. Seeing her mom power through such adversity inspired and motivated Unique to “be more and do more” than she ever thought possible, even at such a young age. In whatever she does, even to this day, Unique uses her life experiences as motivation and an opportunity to grow and build from, and not as an excuse.
“Two things kept me sane through it all: my mother’s strength and the support of Crossroads. My mother worked hard to give me a better life and Crossroads supported my family so we could get away from the daily struggle. They both taught me to believe in myself and to push myself out of my comfort zone,” Hodge said. Unique will be attending Harvard University in the fall, and we cannot wait to see, hear, and be inspired by all of the amazing accomplishments she has during the next chapter of her journey.
All proceeds from the Urban Campfire will receive a match thanks to Crossroads’ longstanding partnership with Don Rodman and the Rodman Ride for Kids.
The success of the event is the direct result of the hard work of the Event and Honorary Committees. The 2018 Urban Campfire Event Committee consisted of: Devin Condron (co-chair), Jeff Karp (co-chair), Adam Earle, Beth Tucker, Caroline Warren, Carolyn Campanelli, Catherine Curtin Dyroff, Chuck Hewitt, Dan Kinan, Ed Smith, Jason Feitelberg, Joe Robbins, Kathy Kasper, Mary Renner, Maura Murphy, Megan Smith, Steve Murphy, Steve Ricciardi, and Steve Vasconcellos.
The Honorary Committee consisted of: Ann D. Macomber, Bill and Lynda Glavin, Bink and Weezie Garrison, Carol S. Parks, Cathy Minehan, Chuck and Gloria Clough, David Fialkow, Deb Samuels, Demond Martin, Dennis Kearney, Don Law, Don Rodman, Dusty Rhodes, Frank Doyle, Frank H. McCourt, Jr., Gary Saunders, Jay Calnan, Jay Hooley, Jeff and Kristi Leerink, Jeff Kaneb, Jim Skeffington, Jr., Joe and Denise Swan, John and Carolyn Fletcher, Jonathan Davis, Joseph Craven, Joseph P. Campanelli, Josh Kraft, Judi Lambert, Kate and Tom Gilbane, Leo J. Corcoran, Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Nancy and Rick Kelleher, Patrick Centanni, Paul and MaryBeth Finn, Richard J. Henken, Robert and Jane Palmisano, Robert F. Rivers, Robert T. Foley, Ronald M. Druker, Sandy and Paul Edgerley, Sean McGrath, Steven Duffy, Tom and Marsha Alperin, Thomas P. O’Neill, Vicary Graham, and William G. Finard.
Many thanks to our Lead Sponsors: LAZ Parking, Bill and Lynda Glavin, the George Macomber Family Fund, the Demond and Kia Martin Foundation, Denise and Joe Swan, Devin and Erin Condron, the Kelleher Family Charitable Trust, Kevin and Anne Phelan, and an anonymous donor. Thanks also to Island Creek Oysters who have donated local fare to Crossroads events for over 10 years, and to White’s Bakery in Brockton, MA for providing us all with delicious macaroons as a party favor.