What a day on the courts! Our Pickle with Friends Pickleball Tournament was a smashing success, and we’re so grateful to everyone who came out to play, cheer, and support Friends of the Children–Boston.

We welcomed 36 players—with 6 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams, including a father-son duo and even a grandfather-son team! Over 50 spectators came to watch the action, and together, we raised an incredible $20,000 to support our work.

The competition was fierce—folks meant business out there—but in the end, these players took home the bragging rights:

🏆 Women’s Doubles Champions: Hope & Maureen

🏆 Men’s Doubles Champions: Lou & Chris (our father-son duo!)

🏅 Women’s Doubles Consolation Winners: Anna & Jennifer

A special thank you to Friends of the Children–Boston Board Co-Chair Robert Hallagan for welcoming everyone and sharing his gratitude for the group’s support. Our Executive Director also welcomed the crowd—and attendees got a first look at our brand-new organizational video.

We’re grateful to Steve Hauck and Brooke Pinkham at Boston Pickle Club for hosting us and to Bully Boy Distillers for keeping spirits high as our official cocktail sponsor.

We had a blast and can’t wait to do it all again next year—thank you for making this such a memorable day in support of Friends of the Children–Boston!

Advancing Social-Emotional Learning Through Our Stand Strong Partnership

We’re excited to share that our Achievers are once again participating in the Stand Strong Program, a 12-week interactive experience designed to build strong character through sports while strengthening core social-emotional skills. The program focuses on values like Teamwork, Fairness, Courage, Determination, and Responsibility—all deeply aligned with our mission at Friends of the Children–Boston.

At Friends-Boston, we know that social-emotional learning is critical to helping youth develop the resilience, self-awareness, and relationship skills they need to thrive. It’s a core part of our long-term model, and we’re proud to continue this partnership with Stand Strong to provide our Achievers with meaningful opportunities to explore and practice these skills in new ways.

This collaboration continues to strengthen our shared commitment to mentorship, character development, and social-emotional growth.



Each year, we proudly participate in the Rodman Ride for Kids—a powerful event that directly supports our Achievers and thousands of youth across Massachusetts.

This year, the Ride is being held on Saturday, May 17 -- a perfect time for ride weather! For the first time ever, the Rodman Ride is creating a space for our younger riders to test their trikes! Now, the Ride will include a mini obstacle and mini ride along with the 12+ 25 mile course for all of our Rodman Superstar Riders! Sponsor an Achiever's ride or join our community of riders (and bring your family along too) this May!

How You Can Ride or Support:

Adult Rides: Choose between 25 or 50 miles, or ride virtually from anywhere.

Ride for Kids Jr.: Two fun experiences for kids ages 4-12 (and those needing accessibility):

• Tiny Obstacle Course (Ages 4-7): Bubbles, ramps, and cones—kids can ride as many times as they like.

• Mini Ride (Ages 8-12): A fully supervised 1-mile loop, with up to 5 laps.

Sponsor an Achiever!: Sponsor a young Achievers ride by contacting daniella@friendsboston.org.

Location: 38 Neponset Ave., Foxboro, MA

The best part? 100% of the funds raised go directly to supporting our Achievers and helping them reach their full potential.

THE MOST EPIC FRIENDRAISER YET – Don’t Miss It!

Join us on Friday, May 9th at The Connector at The Winthrop Center at 6:30 PM for an unforgettable night celebrating community, impact, and the power of showing up.

This year, we’re honoring Liberty Mutual with the Power of One Award for their dedication to Greater Boston youth. Be there to celebrate, connect, and make a difference!

What’s happening:

• Games with Achievers – Experience their brilliance and joy firsthand.
• An exciting live auction – Bid on exclusive experiences and must-have items.
• A diverse silent auction – Score incredible finds while giving back.
• Food, drinks, and plenty of good energy – A night you won’t forget.

Buy your tickets now and be part of something big!

Do you love these stories? Then help us spread the word about jobs available at Friends-Boston. You can find current openings here.