Family Album Celebration

Our Family Album Celebration at the Mandarin Oriental, Boston, was a huge success! Thanks go to the hard work of the event committee, led by Jennifer Kordell; board; sponsors; silent auction donors; and attendees. Nearly $60,000 was raised for Families First!

Three courageous mothers—Kim, Erin, and Linda—spoke about how Families First has transformed their families and how they parent. These mothers were facing serious challenges with their children, but when it felt like there was no hope, they learned that by approaching their children in a different manner, they could successfully turn around their relationships.

Kim, a mother of five, spoke about the deterioration of her relationship with her son, her “pride and joy.” After several years of screaming matches and watching him struggle in school, Kim got to the point where she “couldn’t stand to look at his face.” Through Families First workshops, she was able to consider alternatives to fighting back—such as asking her son to tell her more about not wanting to go to school. The yelling slowly stopped. There was more listening. Now her son is working hard in school and has a job. She proudly said, “It’s a Friday night and I am raising a son in South Boston and I know exactly where he is right now and I know exactly when he will be home, and I have Families First to thank for that.”

By financing first-rate parenting programs at homeless shelters, hospitals, daycare centers, schools, and other organizations that help at-risk, low-income parents, the funds raised at the Family Album Celebration will have an impact on over 4,000 families in over 50 Massachusetts communities—including parents like Kim, Erin, and Linda.

Thank you for your support. You help communities thrive by strengthening families first.