Crossroads celebrated its 8th Annual Crossroads Urban Campfire at the Boston Harbor Hotel. With 250 guests that evening and the amazing support of more than 70 sponsors we raised over $500,000 to support Crossroads’ work with under-resourced, Massachusetts youth.
All of the proceeds from this event directly impact the lives of over 1,000 under-resourced youth living in Greater Boston. Thanks to our long-standing partnership with the Rodman Ride for Kids, every dollar we raise through this event receives an additional 6% matching gift!
The evening began with a celebration of Crossroads’ inspiring alumni before Ronique Williams, member of the Crossroads Class of 2016, took the stage to reflect on her Crossroads experience:
“The first person I met was Lisa. I remember shaking her hand and her firm grip felt reassuring. Somehow her grip on my tiny hand was saying ‘I am going to help you, don’t worry about your brother and your sister… you just worry about Ronique.’ I was only six but I was a little old woman. It was my job to make sure that my older siblings were taken care of. This was my norm. But at Crossroads, for the first time ever I found a place where people understood that and until then, I hadn’t realized how much I needed that.”
Crossroads Alumna Tatiana Joyce, who is currently working as a Crossroads Fellow, took the stage after Ronique to close out the event and summarize how now as a young adult, and recent Tufts grad she can see the full impact that Crossroads has had in her life. “Crossroads is the turning point where you discover everything you are capable of, learn to derive strength in overcoming your circumstances and shine your light out into the world. Crossroads doesn’t help young people survive, it shows us how to THRIVE.”
The success of the event is the result of the hard work of the Urban Campfire Committee, led by Crossroads Trustees Jason Feitelberg, Kathy Kasper, Jeff Karp and volunteer Lee Nordblom. 2016 Urban Campfire Committee – Tim Brett, Bernie Haffey, Jackie Osborne, Maura Murphy, Caroline Warren, Steve Ricciardi, Margaret Rimmler, Steve Vasconcellos, Kevin Phelan, Joe Swan, Bob Foley, Michael Phalen, Anna Geraty, Tripp Neville, Jack Murphy, Deb Samuels, Beth Tucker and Joe Robbins.
“At Crossroads we are laser-focused on making sure each young person we have the privilege to serve, has the opportunity to do more and be more than their zip code,” says Crossroads President, Deb Samuels. “This year’s Urban Campfire has been an enormous success thanks to the amazing work of our Urban Campfire Committee and we could not be more grateful for their hard work will allow us to help even more young people dream bigger dreams.”
Many thanks to our lead sponsors: Mary Baldwin Foley, Anonymous, Bill and Lynda Glavin, George Macomber Family Charitable Gift Fund and LAZ Parking.
And many thanks to all of our sponsors for making the event a tremendous success: 20/20 Management, 360 Talent Advisors, Alan Goldstein, Amy and Alan Meltzer Family Foundation, Amy and Daniel O’Connor, Aon, Arbella, B Clean, Bern, Bill Cates, Birch Hill Investment Advisors, Birmingham Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, BNY Mellon, Bob and Jane Palmisano, Campanelli Companies, Carl Martignetti, Chuck and Teak Hewitt, Cigna, Daniel A. Mullin, David Lerman, David Lipman, Denise and Joe Swan, Devin and Erin Condron, Dr. and Mrs. Peter Grape, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Spagnuolo, Eaton Vance, EMC, Emily Kirby, Ernst & Young, Friedman Family Charitable Fund, Hanscom Charitable Foundation, Holly and David Bruce, Insurance Marketing Agencies, Integrity Merchant Solutions, Island Creek Oysters, Jenna and Jason Feitelberg, Jill and Mitch Roberts, Jon and Pat Baker, Karl and Sonya Feitelberg, Kathy Kasper and Richard Luppy, Kay Kim and Tony Downs, Kelleher Family Charitable Trust, Kevin and Anne Phelan, KNF&T, Natixis, Maura Murphy and Michael Racette, Michael Price, Morgan Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Malatesta, Paul and Sandra Edgerley, Powder Horn Press, PWC, Pyramid Hotel Group, Rackemann Sawyer and Brewster, Retreat 2 Wellness, Siegel O’Connor O’Donnel and Beck, Superior Plumbing Co., Inc., The Phalen Family, Thomas Swan, III, Tim and Liza Brett, TriCore, Urban Property Management, Wayfair and Westfield Capital Management.
