Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester will recognize the achievements and accomplishments of more than 100 former New England Women’s Leadership Awards (NEWLA) honorees at a breakfast on Wednesday, May 16 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. The event will be co-chaired by Susan Menino Fenton and Alma Wahlberg. Fenton, who lives in Dorchester and is an active member of the community, is a mother of three and the daughter of Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. Alma Wahlberg is originally from Dorchester where she raised her nine children; three girls and six boys, many of whom are generous supporters of the Clubs.

“I am excited to have this opportunity to work with an organization that provided so many great opportunities to my children and now my grandchildren,” says Wahlberg, whose granddaughter performed at NEWLA in recent years. Her youngest son, Mark Wahlberg, is a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester’s Board of Directors and is the founder of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, an organization that supports the Club financially and sends 150 Club members to an overnight camp in Maine for one week each summer. Mark recently appeared on The Anderson Cooper Show and credits much of his success to time spent at Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester.

For 19 years the New England Women’s Leadership Awards have celebrated the accomplishments of women in the Boston community. Not only are NEWLA honorees role models for the young girls at Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, but they also represent what many women aspire to become. By sharing their challenges and leading by example, the honorees teach young girls the importance of determination, compassion, and self-confidence. This event will kick off a year-long celebration, culminating with a 20th anniversary event in the spring of 2013.

Among the former NEWLA honorees is MA State Representative Linda Dorcena Forry.

“I was honored to receive the New England Women’s Leadership “Woman of the Decade” Award in 2002. As a youth, I was a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, my husband was a member, and now our three children are members. I am so proud to be a part of this incredible organization which builds lasting relationships with families throughout the community. I look forward to seeing all of my fellow honorees from over the years on May 16.”

The breakfast reception will begin with a brief reception at 7:30a.m. and breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Seaport Hotel, where more than 300 guests including past honorees, past presenters and local leaders will have a chance to network, celebrate the accomplishments of the women, hear from a number of distinguished speakers and see performances by members of the music clubhouse at Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester.
“Guests will be in good company at this event as all NEWLA honorees are truly exceptional women. They are not only influential leaders, but they are an inspiration for the kids of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester,” said Bob Scannell, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester. “We are so thrilled to be able to welcome them back and recognize their accomplishments and what they mean to our community."

The New England Women’s Leadership Awards raise vital funds for the three Dorchester Clubhouses and directly impacts more than 4,000 children that the club supports. The clubhouses provide children with a safe, positive place to go after school and all day throughout the summer. The Club offers more than 200 programs in education, social recreation, athletics, art, aquatics, Project BIND (Boston Inclusion Network for Disabilities), early education and care, music, teen programs and more all for just $5 per year for members.

A variety of sponsorships for this event are still available including an Anniversary Sponsorship with benefits for both this year and the 20th anniversary celebration in 2013. Current event sponsors include Anniversary Sponsor: BNY Mellon, Benefactor Sponsor: Marr Companies, Patron Sponsors: The Boston Globe and Rodman Ford and more. For more information about sponsorships and tickets for NEWLA or Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, bgcdorchester.org.