Crossroads celebrated its 9th Annual Crossroads Urban Campfire at the Boston Harbor Hotel. With more than 230 guests that evening and the amazing support of more than 50 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 Eastern Massachusetts. Thanks to our long-standing partnership with the Rodman Ride for Kids, every dollar we raise through this event receives an additional matching gift!

 

“This year’s Urban Campfire has been an enormous success thanks to the amazing work of our Urban Campfire Committee and the support of our many sponsors and guests,” says Crossroads President Deb Samuels.  “Crossroads strives to be the turning point where youth discover who they are and everything they are capable of. Thanks to everyone who supported Urban Campfire so we can continue to offer youth the stability and community they need to succeed, whatever that may mean to them.”

 

During the event, Crossroads awarded their first ever Crossroads Change Everything Award to First Lady of Massachusetts Lauren Baker. Crossroads honored her for all the work she does on behalf of the young people of Massachusetts. The award is given to those individuals who have shown dedication, diligence, and commitment to helping young people to be more and do more than they ever thought possible.

 

“Mrs. Baker’s involvement with Crossroads is not only inspirational to the organization, it shows the young people we serve that they matter. That person outside the organization believe in them and their futures,” said Samuels.

 

The speaking program also featured Class of 2017 Crossroads C5 Leaders Graduate Justin Fournier.

 

Fournier joined Crossroads in eighth grade and has spent five years as a part of the program while enduring constant change and transition as a member of the foster care system.

 

“Crossroads is where I found my forever family… I don’t feel like I’m alone in this world when I’m with them. And now that I’m moving on, I know I’ll always have them in my corner.”

 

The success of the event is the result of the hard work of the Urban Campfire Committee: Adam Earle, Beth Tucker, Bob Foley, Caroline Warren, Devin Condron, Ed Smith, Jeff Karp, Joe Robbins, Joe Swan, Kathy Kasper, Mary Renner, Maura Murphy, Orlando Watkins, Steve Ricciardi and Steve Vasconcellos.

 

Many thanks to our premier sponsors: Anonymous, Bill and Lynda Glavin, The George Macomber Family Charitable Gift Fund and LAZ Parking.

 

And many thanks to all of our sponsors for making the event a tremendous success: 360 Talent Advisors, Allen Kamer and Stacy Rubtchinsky, Aon, Arbella Insurance Foundation, Bain Capital Children’s Charity, Birch Hill Investment Advisors, Birmingham Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Bob and Jane Palmisano, Campanelli Companies, Carl Martignetti, Chuck and Teak Hewitt, Denise and Joe Swan, Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, Ed and Laura Smith, Erin and Devin Condron, Event Tech, EY, Friedman Family Charitable Fund, Goldman Sachs, Gruber Family Fund, Hanscom FCU Charitable Foundation, Inc., Island Creek Oysters, Joseph and Deborah Robbins, Kathy Kasper and Rick Luppy, Kay Kim and Tony Downs, Kelleher Family Charitable Trust, Kevin & Anne Phelan, KNF&T, Morgan Lewis, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, Natixis Global Asset Management, One8Foundation, Pat and Jon Baker, Paul & Marybeth Finn, Paul and Sandra Edgerley, PwC, Pyramid Hotel Group, Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster, Superior Plumbing Co., Inc., The Anthonakes Family, The Boston Foundation, The Phalen Family Fund, Thomas Swan III, Webster Bank, Wells Fargo, WilliamsMarston LLC.