The Blackstone/Franklin Squares Neighborhood Association offers a chance to warm your hands and heart just before Valentine's Day with its Heart of Gold benefit on February 12 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Gold Gallery, 655 Tremont Street. The soiree, a fundraiser for B/FSNA's annual college book and supplies scholarship for South End youth, will feature appetizers and cocktails catered by local event planners the Ki Bar Society; jazz by former scholarship recipient and Berklee College of Music student Matt Hull; and a wide array of live and silent auction items.
The scholarship program, founded by past B/FSNA president Andrew Parthum, awards scholarships of $500-1,000 each plus the larger Andrew Parthum Service Award to South End residents who are starting or continuing their college studies. The silent auction will offer gift certificates to local restaurants and retail establishments, Celtics and Red Sox tickets and gift baskets from local stores, while live auction items include a South End Experience for up to 10 people including lunch from Flour and a flower design class with Table and Tulip; tickets to a Red Sox vs. Yankees game at Fenway Park; a private reading with psychic medium John Holland and a one-week trip to Provincetown during the week of July 4th.
The scholarship program has seen a number of winning dynasties since its inception in 2006. Sara Ann LaValle Dartley, a 2014 recipient, was accompanied to last year's scholarship reception by her sister Anna Nicole, a previous scholarship winner and a 2014 graduate of Mt. Holyoke College. Brothers Daniel and Jeffrey Liang of the Castle Square apartments won in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Daniel went on to study pharmacy at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) University, while Jeffrey enrolled at the College of the Holy Cross.
Frankie Correa, a 2014 winner, is attending U.Mass. Boston with a major in criminal justice. As a volunteer with the college and workforce development, community technology center and youth arts programs at IBA, Correa, a Villa Victoria resident, continues his family's tradition of service to the community. His great-grandmother, Doņa Paula Oyola, was a civil-rights activist and one of the founders of Villa Victoria. "I have been learning to improve my management skills, conflict resolution and computer literacy by getting the chance to attend college. I continue to develop as a learner and leader," Correa said. Correa, who applied his award to textbooks, hopes to attend the Heart of Gold fundraiser along with other past winners who will be on hand to share their experiences with scholarship supporters.
Adam Gold, owner of the Gold Gallery, is glad for the opportunity to support the fundraiser. "We are very happy to donate our space for such a good cause. As a former South End resident and the owner of a business in the South End, I try to give back to the neighborhood when I can and hosting these types of events is a nice way of doing it. We cannot do them too often, unfortunately, but I always enjoy the times we do," he said via e-mail.
Tickets for the Heart of Gold B/FSNA scholarship fundraiser cost $75 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit The Blackstone/Franklin Squares Neighborhood Association offers a chance to warm your hands and heart just before Valentine's Day with its Heart of Gold benefit on February 12 from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Gold Gallery, 655 Tremont Street. The soiree, a fundraiser for B/FSNA's annual college book and supplies scholarship for South End youth, will feature appetizers and cocktails catered by local event planners the Ki Bar Society; jazz by former scholarship recipient and Berklee College of Music student Matt Hull; and a wide array of live and silent auction items.
The scholarship program, founded by past B/FSNA president Andrew Parthum, awards scholarships of $500-1,000 each plus the larger Andrew Parthum Service Award to South End residents who are starting or continuing their college studies. The silent auction will offer gift certificates to local restaurants and retail establishments, Celtics and Red Sox tickets and gift baskets from local stores, while live auction items include a South End Experience for up to 10 people including lunch from Flour and a flower design class with Table and Tulip; tickets to a Red Sox vs. Yankees game at Fenway Park; a private reading with psychic medium John Holland and a one-week trip to Provincetown during the week of July 4th.
The scholarship program has seen a number of winning dynasties since its inception in 2006. Sara Ann LaValle Dartley, a 2014 recipient, was accompanied to last year's scholarship reception by her sister Anna Nicole, a previous scholarship winner and a 2014 graduate of Mt. Holyoke College. Brothers Daniel and Jeffrey Liang of the Castle Square apartments won in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Daniel went on to study pharmacy at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) University, while Jeffrey enrolled at the College of the Holy Cross.
Frankie Correa, a 2014 winner, is attending U.Mass. Boston with a major in criminal justice. As a volunteer with the college and workforce development, community technology center and youth arts programs at IBA, Correa, a Villa Victoria resident, continues his family's tradition of service to the community. His great-grandmother, Doņa Paula Oyola, was a civil-rights activist and one of the founders of Villa Victoria. "I have been learning to improve my management skills, conflict resolution and computer literacy by getting the chance to attend college. I continue to develop as a learner and leader," Correa said. Correa, who applied his award to textbooks, hopes to attend the Heart of Gold fundraiser along with other past winners who will be on hand to share their experiences with scholarship supporters.
Adam Gold, owner of the Gold Gallery, is glad for the opportunity to support the fundraiser. "We are very happy to donate our space for such a good cause. As a former South End resident and the owner of a business in the South End, I try to give back to the neighborhood when I can and hosting these types of events is a nice way of doing it. We cannot do them too often, unfortunately, but I always enjoy the times we do," he said via e-mail.
Tickets for the Heart of Gold B/FSNA scholarship fundraiser cost $75 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets, their web site