June 28, 2019 — College Bound Dorchester, a nonprofit that aims to equip students living in the Dorchester section of Boston with the attitude, skills, and experience to graduate from college, announced that it raised $500,000 at its recently held annual gala, beating its goal by 25%.
College Bound Dorchester (CBD ) said the funds raised at the We Are Uncornered Gala, which attracted 300 people to The State Room in Boston on June 5, surpassed the $390,000 raised last year from a similar number of attendees.
“The success of this year’s gala, which showcased the Uncornered Photo Documentary Project, was driven in part by having champions like Bank of America, PJA Advertising. and photographer John Huet partner with us to demonstrate the potential of gang-involved young people to become positive change agents for Boston,” said Mark Culliton, CBD’s chief executive officer.
The funds will be used to support CBD’s Boston Uncornered solution to generational urban poverty, which sets the expectation of college for former gang members and supports them with a weekly $400 stipend and support from peer mentors as they pursue college degrees.
The gala generated 10% of the funds CBD aims to raise this year. Helping to raise the funds were a call for attendees to donate during the speaking event and corporate sponsorships.
Sponsors included Bank of America, State Street, Eastern Bank, Rode Architects, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way.
Speaking at the event was Karyn Polito, lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.
At the gala, College Bound Dorchester (CBD) displayed giant versions of 26 photos from the Uncornered Photo Project, an exhibit of stunning photographs by renowned photographer John Huet coupled with stories featuring both public figures and College Bound Dorchester students, leaders and mentors.
At the gala, CBD displayed giant versions of 26 photos from the Uncornered Photo Project, an exhibit of photographs by photographer John Huet coupled with stories featuring both public figures and CBD students, leaders, and mentors.
“Uncornered” refers to being freed being “cornered” by a negative narrative, such as racism, anti-Semitism, people not believing in students or supporting them, or by an event that threw them off course.
Photograph participants include Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, Mayor of Boston, Congressional Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, Sherriff Suffolk County Steven Tompkins, Suffolk Construction Vice President Linda Dorcena Forry, Boston Chamber of Commerce President Jim Rooney, NFL Hall of Fame sports broadcaster Andrea Kremer, and State Street Corporation Chief Diversity Officer Paul Francisco.
The full photo exhibit will be on display on Boston Common Aug. 13-25.
CBD was established in 2009 from Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses, a multi-service agency which had served Dorchester residents since 1965. It adopted its current name in 2010.