Fund Raising Update 2007

Brighton, MA      Friday, May 4, 2007

We are pleased to announce that Brighton High School's 2nd Annual "Live and Silent Auction Extravaganza" to raise funds on behalf of the school was a terrific success.  The event raised over $13,700 to continue the academic and enrichment programs reinstituted last year, thanks to the 1st fundraising auction and to benefit the Brighton High School Alumni Association's Scholarship Fund. 

This year, the event was chaired by Dr. Margaret "Ranny" Bledsoe, a BPS Principal Fellow assigned to Brighton High for the 2006-2007 academic year. Other staff members included Sara Bouvier, Andrea Armandt, Gustavo Pereira and many more that supported the planning committee behind the scenes.  Headmaster Toby Romer served as advisor to all the sub-committees.  The students, staff, parents, alumni and community volunteers all deserve much praise for a job well done!

The BHSAA was well represented on the Planning Committee.  Members included Juliette Johnson (Johnson), Diane Elliott (McGrath), Lillian Johnson, Evelyn Williams (Johnson), and Scott Ployer.  

The event this year had three had fantastic co-sponsors.  The Samia Companies from Brighton and the Law Offices Burns & Levinson in Boston again this year stepped-up and this year we added Harvard University to the list. The personal and financial support from these three sponsors is greatly appreciated.  Sincere appreciation also goes out to the many businesses throughout the greater Boston area that donated goods and services to the auction and purchased ads in the program book.

The Top Ten Raffle and Silent Auction featured items like beautiful oil and water color pieces de arte', golf outings and hotel stays, an IPOD, Savings Bonds, fitness services, autographed sports and historical memorabilia, career and financial planning services, sports tickets, hand-made jewelry, martial arts packages, precision tools, beauty services, three beautiful gowns...in time for the prom, and many, many more. 

The "live" auction was the highlight of the evening with Rosie Hanlon, a well known public figure in the Allston-Brighton community.  She energized the attendees and helped push the bids up.  The "live" auction raised almost $7,000 itself.  Featured items included weekend stays at a number of Boston area hotels including the Doubletree Downtown, the Doubletree Boston/Bayside and the Hampton Inn and Suites Boston ~ Crosstown Center ( all donated by Corcoran Jennison Hospitality) two great Red Sox Fan's packages complete with tickets and dinner for two great games, over twenty beautiful pices of artwork, golf foursomes at two of the City of Boston's golf courses (Franklin Park and George Wright in Hyde Park) another great golf foursome at the Glen Ellen Country Club in Millis, and a weekend stay at one of Cape Cod's premeir vacation destinations, The Ocean Edge Resort & Club on Cape Cod (both again, donated by Corcoran Jennison Hospitality) and the "big daddy" of the night...a billboard for 30 days anywhere in Boston donated by ClearChannel (valued at $3,500).  WOW !!!

Additional kudos and special thanks also go out to the BHS Jr. ROTC cadets in full uniform handled  the parking areas, the students, BHS administration and staff and to the scores of volunteers, without whom the event would not have taken place.  Special thanks to the BHS custodial staff for their assistance before, during and after the event.

Interim Superintendent of Schools, Michael Contompasis was in attendance commending Brighton High School again, on its continued strides in excellence and achieving high marks in the area of academic improvement over the past few years. Notable dignataries in the room included State Representative Kevin Honan (Allston-Brighton), City Councillor Jerry McDermott, City Councillor Sam Yoon, among others.  Estemeed alumni spanning over 50 years were also in attendance, many back for the first time since leaving "the castle" years ago.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Clementina Chery, an anti-violence advocate who founded the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute after her 15 year old son, an innocent victim of violence, was tragically gunned down, caught in gang crossfire in Dorchester on December 20, 1993.  Clementina addressed the attendees and spoke to the need for all in the communtiy, no matter who or where to become involved. On Mother's Day, the 11th Annual Mothers Walk For Peace took place with well over 1,000 participants wakilng the 3.6 mile walk through Dorchester's neighborhoods.  The walk is designed to raise awareness and to promote peace and justice; honor mothers; publicly commit to protect all our children; remember all victims of violence and to raise funds for the Lousis D. Brown Peace Institute. We were all inspired by Mrs. Chery's words and actions. SHe is truly a remakable lady.

For more information on Mrs.Chery's endeavors, please log onto www.mothersforpeace.org or www.louisdbrowninstituteforpeace.org

Thank you again for your support!