Wayland Residents Raise Over $250,000 at Save the Children Gala

Save the Children’s Boston Leadership Council, including Wayland residents and event Co-Chairs M.L. and Larry Krakauer and Panelist Sejal T. Srinivasan, raised more than $250,000 for the Global Humanitarian Organization’s Work with Refugees at its Second Annual Gala

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power was honored by Save the Children’s Boston Leadership Council at their second annual gala held Friday evening, November 15, 2019. Ambassador Power was presented with the Refugee Advocate Award by Brad Irwin, Save the Children board chair and former president and CEO of Welch’s, for being a fearless advocate for human rights around the world.

Held at the Harvard Club of Boston and hosted by Audrey Asistio, NBC10 Boston & NECN Anchor/Reporter, the second annual gala, "Celebrate the Future of Every Child," raised more than $250,000 for the global humanitarian organization, which is celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2019. Funds raised will benefit Save the Children’s Return to Learning initiative which aims to get refugee children back in school within 30 days of displacement, and Save the Children’s programs for Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

In addition to honoring Ambassador Power, the evening included a presentation from five members of Save the Children's Boston Leadership Council who recently traveled to Lebanon. During their trip, Joe Ramrath and Zoher Ghogawala of Needham, Sejal T. Srinivasan of Wayland, Paige Hornor of Roslindale and Mahsa Khanbabai of North Easton personally witnessed the critical conditions of Syrian refugee families and the good works Save the Children is doing to help. The inaugural fundraising gala, held in November 2018, also raised over $250,000, which was used to purchase a mobile library van and free books for distribution to Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. The Council members shared stories of refugee children's experiences and spoke about how the funds raised last year continue to help children in need.

Save the Children’s Boston Leadership Council is a diverse group of volunteer child advocates in Greater Boston who are committed to supporting the work of Save the Children. The Council was founded on the principle that local neighbors with a shared passion can come together to raise awareness for vulnerable and marginalized children in the United States and around the world. To learn more about the Boston Leadership Council go to: savethechildren.org/boston.