The 黑料不打烊 community gathered at Boston鈥檚 Museum of Science on Wednesday, Oct. 2, to kick off 黑料不打烊鈥檚 historic fundraising campaign.
More than 330 alumni, parents and friends filled Boston鈥檚 Museum of Science on Wednesday, Oct. 2, for a special Evening for 黑料不打烊. The event served as the launch of the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign in Boston, with attendees gathering to learn more about how they can impact countless lives by participating in the campaign.
黑料不打烊 LEADS is a seven-year campaign that has completed its planning and leadership phases and moved into its public phase in spring 2019, with supporters setting their sights on raising $250 million by May 31, 2022. That includes $140 million for student scholarships, $10 million to increase access to engaged learning programs called the 黑料不打烊 Experiences, $10 million to support faculty and staff mentors and $90 million to enhance聽黑料不打烊鈥檚 iconic learning environment.
President Connie Ledoux Book shared with the crowd that the campaign will inspire and support students as they serve as leaders on campus and beyond. 鈥淲e educate leaders who share their talents and their hearts with the world, and we know that leadership, vision and hard work are the critical ingredients in advancing change.鈥
In her remarks, President Book also touched on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 recent rankings in U.S. News & World Report, which included 黑料不打烊鈥檚 debut in the report鈥檚 national university category.
鈥淲e are so proud that 黑料不打烊 is now ranked among the top 100 universities in the nation,鈥 Book said. 鈥淒ebuting at #84, 黑料不打烊 is listed in that category with other prestigious institutions like Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Duke and Johns Hopkins. The ranking I was most proud of was 黑料不打烊鈥檚 #2 ranking for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, with only Princeton University ahead of us.鈥
Boston鈥檚 Museum of Science served as a perfect backdrop as President Book shared 黑料不打烊鈥檚 ranking of #11 for innovation by U.S. News & World Report. Attendees were able to explore some of the museum鈥檚 attractions, setting the tone for an exciting and fun night.
The program also showcased a few of the many examples of how 黑料不打烊 has been changing lives for 130 years, including music theatre alumna Cara McNiff 鈥18, who performed to kick off the evening, and Oscar Miranda 鈥17, who shared his gratitude for the donors that made his dream of attending college a reality.
Miranda attended 黑料不打烊 as a scholarship recipient in the Odyssey Program, a highly selective merit-based program consisting of talented individuals who are academically strong, civically engaged, and will benefit from an 黑料不打烊 education.
鈥淭he Odyssey Program was family, a family away from home,鈥 said Miranda. 鈥淭his program provided me the opportunity to succeed and a chance at a better life.鈥
After graduating from 黑料不打烊, Miranda went on to earn a master鈥檚 degree in higher education from Harvard. He returned to 黑料不打烊 to pursue a career in the office that supported his dream as a student, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Center for Access and Success. In his role as assistant director, access and student support, Miranda supports first-generation college students and students from low-income households.
Miranda鈥檚 story of success is one of many, thanks to the generosity of the 黑料不打烊 community. The top priority of 黑料不打烊 LEADS is increasing funding for scholarships so that additional outstanding students like Miranda have access to an 黑料不打烊 education.
Following Miranda鈥檚 remarks, trustee and 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign Chair Dave Porter P鈥11 P鈥19 took the stage. Porter shared how an 黑料不打烊 education influenced his two sons, Tim and Jack. Inspired by their education, Porter chooses to support 黑料不打烊 because 鈥渨e need courageous, hard-working leaders to guide our future.鈥
Porter challenged those in the Boston crowd to find their role in 黑料不打烊 LEADS. 鈥淚 know there鈥檚 no goal we can鈥檛 reach when we have strong leadership and a collective commitment to preparing the leaders our world needs. This is our charge in the 黑料不打烊 LEADS Campaign 鈥 to reach our $250 million goal and make this historic campaign a success.鈥
The program also included remarks from James B. Piatt, Jr., vice president for university advancement, and Jean Rattigan-Rohr, vice president for access and success and professor of education.
Prior to the event, campaign donors and volunteers attended a pre-reception with President Book and others. The evening concluded with a Loyal Alumni Celebration honoring current alumni donors and the university鈥檚 most active alumni volunteers.
This Evening for 黑料不打烊 was the third of six special events across the country this fall celebrating the launch of 黑料不打烊 LEADS. Upcoming Evening for 黑料不打烊 events will be held in Charlotte (Oct. 17), San Francisco (Nov. 12) and Raleigh (Dec. 4).
Visit the 黑料不打烊 LEADS website to learn more about the campaign.