RECAP: SUP Auction 2019
On April 16, PBHA students, staff, friends, supporters, participants, and community partners came together in the Harvard Kennedy School's Wexner Commons to celebrate the Summer Urban Program (SUP). The event, held for the first time in this beautiful venue, welcomed more than 200 attendees with over 50 available silent auction packages alongside food and drinks provided by Harvard University Dining Services and live music provided by former PBHA staff member Phyllis Fallon and her amazing jazz band.
The live program was then kicked off by Institute of Politics Director Mark Gearan, who welcomed guests to the Kennedy School. After a brief inspirational SUP video, Adele Fleet Bacow, on behalf of Harvard University, joined Summer Programming Group Officer Carmella Verrastro '19 in explaining the importance of the Summer Urban Program before Carmella introduced longtime friend of PBHA and auctioneer, Charlie Rose. This year's honorees included Jorge Palmarin Rising Leader Luis Pires of Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE), who made an inspirational speech and received the award from members of the Palmarin family. PBHA then honored longtime SUP funder Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare. Our last honoree was Rep. Marjorie Decker, who has made a career fighting for youth and families in the Massachusetts Legislature. Following an amazing slate of live auction items, we thanked our amazing sponsors and partners, before closing out the night!
Thank you to all who joined this year's auction! Your support ensures a full summer of academic and extracurricular enrichment for 800 campers, leadership and employment opportunities for 100 teens, and transformative summer experience for 130 college students. We hope you will join us again next year! To stay involved with SUP this summer:
- Join us at Midsummer Celebration on Wednesday, July 24 at 4pm at Stony Brook Park in Jamaica Plain.
- Visit a camp! To see our students and campers in action, contact Michael Leonard (mike@pbha.org) to coordinate a site visit.
Special Thanks to our Auction Co-Chair!
