GNAC Has Strong Presence at West End House Fundraiser

BOSTON, Mass. – On May 5, four members from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference community attended the 2012 West End House Boys & Girls Club Gala titled Passport to Belonging, an annual event put on to raise money for the local Boys & Girls club in Allston, Mass. In attendance for the event were Joe Walsh (Commissioner – GNAC), Andy Yosinoff (Head Women’s Basketball Coach – Emmanuel College), Alexis Mastronardi (Associate Athletic Director/Sports Information Director – Emmanuel College) and Mark DaCruz (Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach – Emmanuel College).

Event Chairs Susan & Neal Yanfosky, along with special guest presenter, Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine, welcomed more than 250 sponsors and guests who raised more than $330,000 to support the transformative programs at the West End House.

The 2012 Passport to Belonging celebration focused on celebrating journeys, particularly those of two outstanding West End House alumni, Miles and Elena, who have both been members for more than a decade. At the event, Miles and Elena each received a $1,000 scholarship to help them pursue their dreams of earning a college degree.

The evening also included a live auction featuring sports, travel and food packages. The auction also included a special item from special guest presenter Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine, who auctioned off two unique packages that will take the lucky winners behind the scenes with him!

The West End House Boys & Girls Club is an independent Boys and Girls Club in the City of Boston that has been transforming the lives of immigrant and urban youth since its founding in 1906. A century ago, many of the club’s members were the sons of immigrants escaping the pogroms of Eastern Europe. Today, they are the sons and daughters of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, China, Vietnam, Haiti, Cape Verde and three dozen other countries, often fleeing political unrest and poverty to seek a better life for their children in the U.S.

With 75% of West End House families earning less than $25,000 per year and 70% of the young people served coming from single-parent households, the West End House is truly reaching the children and teens most in need. The membership fee is only $15 annually, to ensure there are no financial barriers to participation. Even with such a low fee, more than half of the young people are provided scholarships by the West End House.

The West End House offers its 1,500 members an integrated array of programs across four broad areas: leadership and life skills; academic support and college preparation; sports, fitness and nutrition; and visual and performing arts. In support of these programs, the West End House also serves over 1,200 healthful hot meals to members every week.

For more information or to make a donation to the West End House, visit www.westendhouse.org.

Andy Yosinoff, Bobby Valentine & Joe Walsh
at the WEH Gala on May 5.

Pictured in main photo are Gerry Walsh, Mark DaCruz & Alexis Mastronardi.