News

South Enders show Hearts of Gold

by Michele D.  Maniscalco
Wednesday Feb 14, 2018

BFSA scholarship benefit

The Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association's college book and supply scholarship program for South End students started in 2006 with an intimate cocktail-party fundraiser in its founder Andrew Parthum's living room, and over the years, the benefit, now called Heart of Gold, has drawn a bigger crowd, netted more money and endowed a greater number of scholarships each year.

On Thursday, February 8, approximately 150 people enjoyed Spanish snacks and wine accompanied by upbeat jazz, bid on a wide array of appealing products and experiences in the live and silent auctions and listened to inspiring remarks from two 2017 scholarship recipients at the Heart of Gold fundraiser at Estragon, 700 Harrison Avenue.

Supplementing ticket sales and auction proceeds, individuals and local concerns sponsored scholarships and application fees, while local concerns including Washington Gateway Main Street, Orinoco Venezuelan restaurant, RG Lathrop Consulting LLC, Old Boston Restorations and Boston University endowed full and half scholarships.

Dozens of residents and businesses donated silent and live auction items to satisfy a wide variety of desires such limited-time memberships and classes at Boston Sports Clubs and Endurance Pilates, an evening of dinner and drama at Kava Restaurant and the Lyric Stage and a pair of Red Sox tickets donated by diehard fan and scholarship supporter Nancy Wall Farrington.

Trumpeter Matt Hull, a Berklee graduate and former B/FSNA scholarship recipient, set a festive musical mood with his trio. Hull's mother, Deborah, a member of the scholarship committee, made a donation to cover college application fees.

Among the ten-member committee are David Wisholek, who greeted guests at the registration table at Heart of Gold and his husband Christopher McBride. The couple got involved in the scholarship committee early on and have remained active since moving to Winchester in the summer of 2015.


Guests included South End/Bay Village liaison Faisa Sharif, state representatives Byron Rushing and Aaron Michlewitz and Mayor Martin J. Walsh, who was unable to appear at last year's Heart of Gold due to a snow emergency. Walsh congratulated the scholarship committee on the success of its program and, looking around at the room filled with well-educated professionals, exhorted the young adults in the group to share their knowledge and talents with neighborhood youth as mentors.

Rushing echoed that message, inviting guests to visit and become familiar with neighborhood schools and students and to volunteer with local youth to provide inspiration. "I just want to tell the Mayor he stole my speech," Rushing quipped, "but he's absolutely right. We have public schools in the South End: the Blackstone, the Hurley and the Quincy. Everybody here should visit the public schools in our neighborhood. Just go in and they will take you around. Go and see what it's like and find a space for yourself [to volunteer]."

The 2017 scholarship recipients, Kenny Mei, a freshman at Northeastern University, expressed his gratitude for the scholarship, noting that many things cost more than he expected once he arrived at Northeastern, while Nicholas Antoine, who started out in community college before transferring to Mount Ida College, said that the scholarship will pave the way for him to join his family's funeral home business.

The event brochure and auction-bidding card offered a timeline of the scholarship's growth, starting in 2007 with two scholarships totaling $550. Shortly before press time, Wisholek reported 2018 proceeds of $30,775, with additional donations still arriving.

Reflecting on the event, Jenks said in a follow-up e-mail, "What I love about our Heart of Gold event is that it appeals to South End neighbors from all neighborhoods, all ages and all backgrounds. There were twenty-somethings and eighty-somethings and everything in between. Our friends from United South End Settlements (USES), South End Community Health Center (SECHC), St. Stephens Youth Program (SSYP), IBA, Boston University, Washington Gateway Main Street, South End Soccer, and many local business owners and professionals came out to show support for the B/FSNA Scholarship Program benefitting our young, college bound neighbors.

It feels good to live in a community that cares about young people and enjoys coming together to make a difference in their lives." Scholarship founder and co-chair Andrew Parthum commented, "Every year I'm excited and pleased with the fundraiser. It keeps exceeding my expectations."