More than 200 local families gathered at on October 1, at The Tall Ship Boston for Eastie Social, East Boston Social Centers’ annual celebration, which featured a free Family Celebration followed by a formal reception honoring the Hestia Fund and Friends of East Boston. Rescheduled from September 27, the evening centered on the Social Centers’ motto: When all give, all gain.
The Family Celebration offered fun for all ages, including a magic show, program highlights, treats, games, face painting, and a wide range of activities. It was followed by the reception, also at The Tall Ship Boston, where the Hestia Fund was represented by Christine Letts.
“We connect people across difference, and we weave together the social fabric that makes East Boston a great place to live, for all of our neighbors,” said Nicki Ruiz de Luzuriaga, Chief Community Advancement Officer at East Boston Social Centers.
Presenting the award, Claire Carney, Region 1 School Superintendent for Boston Public Schools, praised the honorees’ collective impact. “The awardee is not one person, it’s a group of 50 that have come together to have a bigger impact than any one of them could have alone,” said Carney. Since its founding in 2000, the Hestia Fund, a grant-making organization of approximately 50 women, has distributed over $6 million in grants. Its Friends of East Boston subgroup has focused on the neighborhood, including support for the Social Centers’ community kindergarten readiness initiative.
“They personify ‘when all give, all gain,’” said Justin Pasquariello, CEO of East Boston Social Centers. “We are all working on a vision to make East Boston the world’s most joyful place.”
Attendees also heard from those who have benefited from the initiative. Souad Hajjani, a Social Centers Parent Partner, said, “There is no East Boston community without the Social Centers. They have made it so we all have something we can be a part of.” In a video shared with guests, Maria Fernanda Lopez, owner of Little Steps Child Care and a member of the Home-Based Early Childhood Educators Action Team, described the power of the neighborhood’s network: “Before, I gave my families what I had. Today I give them what all of us have.”
The evening also drew leaders from across the community. Sen. Lydia Edwards recognized East Boston Social Centers with an official citation, and Rep. Adrian Madaro and Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata joined attendees at the celebration.
East Boston Social Centers thanks its financial sponsors, Massport, Eastern Bank, and Speaker Robert DeLeo, as well as its board, staff, attendees, and community members for making the evening possible.
Founded in 1918 to welcome immigrants arriving through East Boston’s Golden Stairs, East Boston Social Centers provides vital services for all ages, from early education to senior programs, and serves as a convener for the community. This year, it has served more than 1,100 neighbors across more than 700 families.
