ABCD Community Heroes Celebration brings over a thousand people together to celebrate community volunteers
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On Friday, November 8th, ABCD held its annual Community Heroes Celebration (CHC) at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. Over a thousand people from all sectors, including business, government and not for profit, and people from different communities gathered in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom for a night of celebration and comradery. Emceed by WCVB’s Karen Holmes Ward, the CHC highlighted the contributions of 23 community volunteers who use their resources, skills and time to Illuminate the Path for those in need in their respective communities. Heroes such as Justin Springer who has proven to be a tremendous asset to ABCD by lending his vast branding and marketing skills, talents and resources to help bridge gaps in how communities access public health education and engage with various initiatives.
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In addition to honoring the heroes, we recognized five organizations who are pillars in the community. Boston Public Schools, Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Greater Boston Labor Council & Massachusetts AFL – CIO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the NAACP, Boston Chapter all received the ABCD Luminary Award which recognizes and celebrates the 50 year partnerships each of these organizations have shared with ABCD as active members of the ABCD Board of Directors. Each of these organizations, in conjunction with ABCD, have used their unique voices to help serve millions of low-income people in Greater Boston.
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Stop & Shop Customers and Employees Raise over $6,000
for ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway Food Pantry
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Stop & Shop associate Lillian Bennet (left) was the top fundraiser in the Food & Friends program.
Here at ABCD we are always grateful for people and organizations who help in whatever way they can. Over the summer, as part of their Food and Friends program, employees at the Mission Hill Stop & Shop raised $6,135.32 from customers as well as dozens of boxes of in-kind shelf-stable food donations. Their generosity will directly support our food pantry at our Parker Hill/Fenway Neighborhood Service Center.
Thanks to the Stop & Shop associates’ efforts, and to their customers’ generosity, we’ll be able to put turkeys on Thanksgiving tables and food in low-income families’ pantries throughout the holiday season.
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ABCD 2018 Community Hero Evelyn House will be missed
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Photo by
Nile Hawver/Nile Scott Studios
The ABCD family lost a beloved longtime early childhood advocate and champion of the elderly when Evelyn Irene House passed away in October at the age of 77.
Evelyn was an ABCD Foster Grandparent since 2011 and a 2018 recipient of ABCD’s Community Heroes award.
As a former chair of the ABCD/Senior Corps Foster Grandparent Advisory Board, Evelyn advocated for the intergenerational program by sharing her experiences to potential volunteers, the Greater Boston early education community, and political platforms for funding.
ABCD childcare site supervisors described Evelyn’s connection to infants and toddlers as “amazing, loving, and nurturing.” The ABCD Head Start children she so lovely cared for and helped nurture affectionately referred to her as “Nana”.
A native of Boston’s South End, Evelyn was a force for good in the Boston community for 70 years.
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ABCD First Steps Receives $50,000 Grant from the City of Boston’s Neighborhood Jobs Trust
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Breaking into a new field can be hard, even when you have a knack for the job and a desire to excel. This can be especially challenging when the position requires certification encompassing college level study and 480 hours of work-based experience in the field. Few low-income people can dedicate that much time to career advancement while not earning a wage.
To combat this catch-22, ABCD launched the First Steps Into Childcare (First Steps) program. First Steps prepares low-income Boston residents for high-demand jobs in Early Education and Care (EEC). The program responds directly to employer requirements for Infant & Toddler Teachers in center and home based facilities, where there is a current shortage in the workforce. Participants are provided with and 480 hours of classroom based work experience, and industry-standard training for the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential—including First Aid/CPR, the Massachusetts EEC StrongStart online curriculum, and the Child Growth and Development college course. Participants are also paid a living wage for their participation in the program so they can provide for their families while advancing their careers.
ABCD partners with Urban College of Boston and ABCD Head Start & Children’s Services to meet this complex goal of college course study and classroom based work experience. Starting this month, ABCD will also be partnering with the City of Boston’s Neighborhood Jobs Trust as the lead funder for First Steps. The Neighborhood Jobs Trust awarded ABCD a $50,000 grant in the most recent funding round.
ABCD and First Steps participants are grateful for the City’s investment in this important program!
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Communities Make a Difference
Monday, December 2nd
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ABCD Head Start at Savin Street
Ribbon Cutting and Rededication
Tuesday, December 17th
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Give Today.
Your gift supports ABCD in its mission to empower low-income people by providing them with the tools to overcome poverty, live with dignity, and achieve their full potential. Interested in other ways of giving? Please contact the Planning and Grants Department at 617-348-6559.
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Action for Boston Community Development | 617-348-6000 |
bostonabcd.org
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