Celebrating our 70th Anniversary

2021 marked our 70th year of service to Greater Boston’s girls. Well before the Equal Pay Act was signed into law, the National Organization for Women was established or Title IX was implemented, Big Sister Boston was founded because no such youth mentoring organization for girls existed in Boston as it did for boys. Throughout the year, Big Sister not only celebrated our legacy as a foundational organization in the City, but also looked to the future and those who have and continue to help shape it. We honored 70 individuals, couples, and groups who have given their time, talent, or treasure over the years to invest in Greater Boston’s girls.

Honorees Kathy Kiely and Lianne Hughes-Odom at our 70th anniversary honoree reception in September 2021.

...praise the family for shaping 70 years strong, 70 years long ode to the road just ahead, this beacon of light this tunnel of hope bringing us closer to each other moving us closer to ourselves

-excerpt from “Keeper” an ode to Big Sister Boston in honor of our 70th anniversary by Porsha Olayiwola

Honoree Tim O’Brien (past Board Chair) and his wife, Linda; honorees Jeff Bellows and Carolyn Clancy Honoree Lisa Holmes (right) with her friend Tracie Allen Honorees Mark Lund, Mariann Youniss, and Andrew Graff

70TH ANNIVERSARY HONOREES

Gov. Charlie Baker & First Lady Lauren Baker Jeff Bellows Big Sister Board Chairs Big Sister Executive Directors Big Sister Founders Big Sister Staff Linda Brennan Andrea Cabral Bithiah Carter Carolyn Casey Joanne Chang Carolyn Clancy Denise Coll Lisa Collins Eileen & Jack Connors Joe Corcoran (in memoriam) Christine Creelman & Carol Moriarty Joyce & Bill Cummings Deborah Daccord Richard Daley Jane Deery Sandy & Paul Edgerley Atsuko & Larry Fish Betty Francisco Rosie Gill Suzanne Fay Glynn Rachel Goodman Andrew Graff Neva Grice Diane Hammer Lisa Holmes Lianne Hughes-Odom Lisa Hughes Janet Humdy Morrison Patricia Jacobs The Hon. Denise Jefferson Casper Heidi Johnson Karen Kaplan The Kelly Family Kathy Kiely Nancy Korman Reneé Landers Harriet Lewis Robert Lewis, Jr. Amy & Mark Lund Melissa MacDonnell Kelly McDermott Sharon McNally The Menino Family Allyce Najimy Katy O’Neil MA Rep. Smitty Pignatelli Regina Pisa

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley Jean Rhodes & Reneé Spencer Fran & Charles Rodgers Don Rodman (in memoriam) Eneida Roman Dan Romanow & Andrew Zelermyer Jeffrey Sanchez Jean Tempel Beth Terrana Marie Turley Rev. Liz Walker Kathy Wallace Sec. Marty Walsh Katie Wheeler Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, MD & Rev. Ray Hammond Jeanne, John & Abby Yozell Mariann & Andy Youniss Big Sister Boston is a dynamic, proactive organization, always evolving to ensure it continues meeting the needs of girls. The organization truly exemplifies how to collaborate with other institutions to maximize strategic partnerships and access additional resources. We are most grateful for the meaningful impact Big Sister Boston has had during the past seven decades. Thank you for investing in, and empowering, girls in Greater Boston. -Joyce & Bill Cummings The Cummings Foundation multi-year $250,000 funder of Big Sister Boston