The Seaport Boston Hotel hosted Roca’s Sixth Annual Breakfast Event on Wednesday morning, an occasion sponsored by TD Insurance, TD Bank, Palmer Paving Corporation and Greenberg Traurig LLP. Two distinguished honorees—Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Patti LaBelle and actress, model and cosmetic entrepreneur Keisha Whitaker, wife of Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker—received special awards recognizing their philanthropic contributions. Governor Deval Patrick served as the breakfast’s honorary chairman. “I am honored and excited to support Roca and their work; it is so important to pay attention to a model that really works to save the lives of these young people, and they have outcomes to prove it,” Patti LaBelle remarked. “Roca’s work is so important in this world. They are a working on a solution that keeps young people alive. The young people we tend to forget about, Roca loves and nurtures.” According to Molly Baldwin, founder and executive director of Roca, “Roca has tremendous support from a host of sources including law enforcement, private donors and philanthropies, as well as federal, state, and local government officials – and we are so grateful,”
Nationally recognized for its work with young people, Roca operates an intervention model grounded in long-term relationships, education, employment programming, and organizational partnerships designed to create sustainable individual and community change. The organization helps participants alter their behaviors and return to mainstream society. Since launching six years prior, the Annual Breakfast has expanded considerably—last year’s attendance surpassed 400 guests. This year’s theme, “Change Can Happen,”, embodies Roca’s core conviction that lives can be transformed. The organization aims to increase its presence among Greater Boston’s leadership and attract additional supporters committed to lifting young people out of poverty and violence through the breakfast event.
Chelsea City Manager Jay Ash received the 2011 Vichey Phuong Peace Award for his exceptional backing of Roca and his role in advancing statewide initiatives addressing health, youth violence, and public safety. “We all need to play a part in ending violence, and Roca has set a great example for us all to follow,” Ash stated. “Roca helps thousands of young people improve their lives and we are grateful. I hope we come together to defeat youth violence and help high-risk young people to live healthier and more productive lives.” Sulai Rosa, a Roca participant who has transformed personal childhood hardships into a commitment to community contribution, also earned the Vichey Phoung Peace Award. Working at ROCA, Rosa collaborates with peers on violence prevention efforts and mentors fellow program participants. “The challenges our young people face today are greater than ever and we need to find more resources to help them. All of these supporters will help.”