35 Years of MENTOR — Relationships Powering Opportunities
Looking ahead to Tuesday, October 14 at the renowned Tribeca Rooftop + 360 in New York City, known for its outstanding culinary expertise and impeccable service, MENTOR will host its 35th Anniversary gala highlighting our theme for the year, “Relationships Powering Opportunities.” This theme invites guests to reflect on their own mentoring stories, while joining MENTOR on the continued journey of working to power a future of quality access to mentoring opportunities for all.
The curated evening will honor impactful leaders and stewards of propelling MENTOR’s mission and vision forward. Former MENTOR CEO, David Shapiro, who now serves as the President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston, will be honored as a champion of mentoring by receiving a lifetime achievement award. Shapiro led MENTOR for a decade and spent 18 years with the organization, helped to grow MENTOR’s Affiliate footprint throughout the country, oversaw the National Mentoring Resource Center implementation, and led the team on passage of the Child Protection Improvements Act.
The late, great Hall of Famer and civil rights activist Bill Russell, who served as a founding board member of MENTOR, will also be honored in memoriam not too far from the city of Boston where he played 13 seasons and earned 11 championships for the Boston Celtics. In a 2016 USA Today penned letter, Russell called joining the MENTOR board the proudest accomplishment of his life, giving him the opportunity to work with an organization helping to drive support for thousands of programs mentoring millions of kids. Russell’s lasting legacy continues to live on as part of MENTOR’s core values.
Over 300 guests are expected to be in attendance at the event in the heart of New York City. The night will begin with a special cocktail hour beginning at 5:00 PM, when guests will be privy to special items as part of the event's live auction. The program will feature a celebrity emcee to take us through the evening and include remarks from MENTOR’s board chair, Ernesto Anguilla. The evening will include a live auction, a youth performance, and a touching tribute that speaks to the power of mentoring relationships.
MENTOR Affiliates, MENTOR New York and the Connecticut-based The Governor's Prevention Partnership, will also partake in the evening highlighting the work MENTOR leads on the ground in different states across the country. MENTOR CEO, Jermaine Myrie, will deliver a keynote and the organization will release a new anniversary video that highlights the organization's past and present, while paving the way for the future of the work that includes us all. The evening will end with guests having an opportunity to dance the night away under the Manhattan skyline.
To learn more please visit our website, where you can purchase tickets, secure sponsorship, and donate to the evening.
Stay tuned for special announcements on the influential names who will join us throughout the event, and to hear about our event host committees.