Great Success at The Guidance Center Gala!

What a night!  Last Friday, March 27th, was our Guidance Center Gala at The Charles Hotel in Cambridge. We are proud to announce that through live and silent auctions, sponsorships and ticket sales, the event raised over $267,000 for children and families we serve in Cambridge and Somerville.

This year’s Gala client speaker, Kevin Alegria, moved our guests with his story. Kevin, a senior at Somerville High School, grew up in El Salvador and traveled to the US to be reunited with his mother and family.  Kevin experienced much trauma as a child and began working with therapists from The Guidance Center when he was diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), anxiety and depression.  After extensive therapy with his two clinicians (Heather Percy and Gabby Chew, both of whom joined him on stage), he has made great strides and is now preparing to go to college.

Following Kevin’s speech Gail Roberts and Ryan Welch worked the room as our fantastic auctioneers. With great style, they led an impassioned live auction of items including a one week stay for four in Manciano, Italy, a luxury weekend at the Castle Hill Inn in Newport Rhode Island, an Instant Wine Cellar and more! Long-time auctioneer, Eric Lander, fresh from the White House, jumped on stage to help get the room going.

We would like to thank our speakers, sponsors, auction donors and bidders who came together to celebrate families with The Guidance Center.  Special thanks to The Guidance Center and Riverside Community Care staff volunteers, our Co-Chairs, Gail Roberts, Ed Feijo and Lauren Harder and Board members who helped make this event such a huge success!  Thank you also to Lolo Event Design for making our twelfth annual gala shine!

~Scott M. Bock, Founder/President/CEO