On November 7, 2024, Ellis hosted our much-anticipated annual fall celebration, Celebrating Ellis and the Magic of Childhood, at the Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama. The enchanting evening featured illuminated butterfly stilt walkers, sparkling cocktails, a live photo booth with whimsical costumes, a swinging bench, and an impressive spread of diverse cuisines from Capers Catering. Over 300 guests gathered to show their support for Ellis’s mission, with its focus on excellent early childhood education for all.
During the event, we had the honor of recognizing our long-time friend, Natixis Investment Managers (Natixis IM), as the Champion of Early Education. David Giunta, Natixis IM’s CEO of the U.S., graciously accepted the Hero Award on behalf of the company. Natixis IM has been a friend of Ellis for over 16 years, contributing over $1 million in donations and providing an invaluable number of volunteers throughout the years.
Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our supporters, we raised more than $676,000 that evening to further our vital work. Highlights of the evening included a lively auction with prizes such as a weeklong stay in Palm Springs and VIP tickets to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A Fund-a-Mission was also held to raise funds for teacher salaries, ensuring our dedicated educators continue to inspire and nurture the next generation of leaders.
The evening was made even more special by the return of our Event Co-Chairs for a second year: Sean Curran of Waterville Consulting (an Ellis board member and former student) and Jerome Smith of Amazon. Their long-standing friendship and passion for Ellis were evident in their engaging and fun-filled role as masters of ceremonies.
Ellis CEO Lauren Cook delivered an inspiring speech, sharing the incredible story of Ellis and its profound impact on the community. Pamela Schenck, an Ellis foster mother, also spoke movingly about how Ellis has positively influenced her foster son’s life as well as her own.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this event possible, especially our Honorary and Host Committees, Event Committee, Board of Directors and Trustees, corporate partners, donors, and the Ellis development team.
We can’t wait to celebrate again next year, on November 6th, 2025, as we mark Ellis’s 140th birthday and continue our work in advancing excellence in early childhood education.
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