25 Kingston Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02111 | Phone: 617.423.6633 * Fax: 617.422.0626 | www.generationsinc.org
PRESS RELEASE Contact: Jennie Woo, Communications & Development Coordinator Telephone: 617-399-4701 Email: jwoo@generationsinc.org Website: www.generationsinc.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 7, 2017
Executive Director of Generations Incorporated Mary Gunn to Retire
Generations of Mentors Celebration to Honor Mary Gunn’s Service to Greater Boston BOSTON, MA - March 7, 2017 - Generations Incorporated announces today that after a 15-year tenure Mary Gunn, Executive Director, will step down from the organization, effective June 30, 2017. Prior to Generations Incorporated, Mary served as Executive Director of the Bird Street Community Center in Upham’s Corner for 12 years, and in 2002, took over leadership at Generations Incorporated as its new Executive Director. Under Mary’s guidance, the organization has grown to a nationally-recognized and innovative intergenerational organization focused on supporting the literacy skills of young readers in Boston and Revere. There will be a celebration of Mary’s work and service to the Greater Boston community from 6-8pm on June 1, 2017 at the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts at 85W Newton Street in Boston’s South End. Generations of Mentors will bring together over 200 civic leaders, business members, and community supporters to honor Mary Gunn’s 40 years of service to Greater Boston’s children and families. Heading the Honorary Committee of the event as Event Chair is Mayor of the City of Boston, Martin J. Walsh. David Shapiro, CEO of MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, the unifying national champion for expanding quality mentoring relationships for young people, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event. The two-hour cocktail reception will feature a night celebrating the importance of mentorship in Mary Gunn’s life, both as a mentor and mentee. Event committee members include (but are not limited to): Tommy Chang, Superintendent of Boston Public Schools; Dianne Kelly, Superintendent of Revere Public Schools; Joshua Kraft, Nicholas President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston; Phyllis Segal, Vice President of Encore.org; Keanne Henry, CEO of AARP Foundation Experience Corps; Jason Sachs, Director of Early Childhood Education at Boston Public Schools; Doug Dickson, Founder and President of Encore Boston Network; Emily Shea, Commissioner of Elderly Affairs at the City of Boston; and Mike Festa, State Director of AARP MA. Generations Incorporated’s Board of Directors is thankful for the 15 years of service to the organization and has engaged Third Sector New England (TSNE) to assist with the transition process. Board President Harvey Salgo states, “Generations Incorporated has grown to be a successful and highly-impactful organization under Mary’s leadership. It has been a great honor for me to serve as Board President for an organization that dives so deeply within the community to help uplift its families and young children.” (cont’d pg.2)
Mary Gunn states, “It has been an absolute pleasure to serve at the helm of this powerful organization to help redefine the impact that an older adult has in the lives of the youngest children in our schools. They are community leaders, mentors, and close friends. I have learned so much from my volunteers.� About Generations Incorporated Generations Incorporated works to improve the literacy skills of young children by the third grade by engaging older adults to serve as literacy tutors in local schools and after-school programs. Literacy is the key to academic success, and by utilizing the power of intergenerational relationships, Generations Incorporated acts as a major player in Greater Boston to help support community volunteers helping young readers grow. During the 2016-2017 academic year over 270 older adult volunteers provide critical literacy support to over 3,400 students at 18 program locations in Boston and Revere. The organization is also a recipient of a Social Innovation Fund Subgrant, provided by AARP Foundation through the Corporation for National and Community Service, to support its expansion within Boston Public Schools over the next three years. To learn more, visit www.generationsinc.org, or call 617-423-6633.