The mysterious, voluminous white tent in the quad housed eclectically dressed parents, faculty and prominent members of the town for the 21st Century Fund’s annual gala on the evening of Nov. 17.
The fund, established in 1998, finances programs unique to Brookline that provide students with the opportunity to explore different fields and succeed academically.
According to 21st Century Fund Director of Programs Gaelen Harrington, the fund has a $300,000 annual budget for its programs; both new and already-existing. All proceeds from the gala are directed towards that budget. According to 21st Century Fund Executive Director Jessica Conway, the gala raised just over $300,000.
Harrington stressed the importance of the gala for the community.
“When faculty know that there are resources to support their creative ideas to help students, then you have a really energized faculty,” she said, “and then energized students.”
The night showcased food. The program distributed to guests was titled The Secret Ingredient: Stirring the Passion in a Child’s Life, a reference to honoree Jody Adams. Adams is the chef and owner of the restaurant Rialto in Cambridge and chef and co-owner of the restaurant TRADE located in Boston. She is also the mother of Oliver Rivard ‘08 and junior Roxanne Rivard.
Under the tent, patrons dined on samples from local restaurants such as Clear Flour Bread, La Morra and Oishii Sushi Bar, bid on silent auction items and socialized with other attendees. The evening continued in the Schluntz Gymnasium with a series of speeches including those by Rivard, junior Miles Morris and Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator Gary Schiffman.
During the speeches, the patrons, seated around circular tables, dined on a savory course prepared by Adams followed by a cupcake dessert. After the meal, the dance floor opened up for the rest of the evening.
In her speech, Adams complimented the school’s interactions with students.
“Brookline High School is committed to paying forward by investing in kids as individuals who will continue to be members of the community,” Adams said. “At BHS, it’s not just about what happens in the classroom. It’s about what happens beyond.”
Attendees seemed pleased with the gala.
“It’s a beautiful event with lovely offerings,” PTO Co-president Nancy Parker said. “And it supports such a fabulous cause.”
As a first time attendee, Headmaster Deborah Holman said she did not know what to expect. During the gala, however, she said she thought it was an amazing event that was “an overwhelming show of support by the community for the school.”
“For me,” former Interim Headmaster John Ritchie said, “it was just a good way to support the fund and see old friends.”
Along with honoring a member of the community, the gala’s goals include sharing the fund’s mission with the community.
“I think every gala, whoever the honoree is, tries to enforce the message that we’re doing this for the students,” Harrington said.
While the fund encourages donors to contribute year round, it relies on the gala as a primary source of fundraising, according to Harrington, a fact the fund hopes to change.
“There’s the status quo in education, from MCAS to the SATs,” Adams said. “And then at the other end of the spectrum is the 21st Century Fund.”
Pearl Choi and Emmanuel D’Agostino can be contacted at [email protected].
