On Wednesday, November 6, 2013, Wheelock College will host its fourth biennial Passion for Action Leadership Award Dinner at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum from 6 to 9pm. Year Up and its founder, Gerald Chertavian, will be presented with the 2013 Passion for Action Leadership Award to honor their work in closing the Opportunity Divide for thousands of young adults across the United States. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Passion for Action Scholarship Program for deserving Wheelock students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to community service and social justice.
The Passion for Action Leadership Award Dinner celebrates the spirit of the College through its students and those who support its mission. Honorees of previous Passion for Action events were Chris Gabrieli (2007), The Lowell Family (2009), and Dr. Carol R. Johnson and Dr. Linda N. Nathan (both in 2011), for their contributions to the Boston community.
Combining his entrepreneurial skills and his passion for working with urban young adults, honoree Gerald Chertavian founded Year Up in 2000 in Boston to provide a one-year, intensive training program for low-income individuals, ages 18 to 24. Year Up's mission is to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education. The program emphasizes academic and professional rigor, setting high expectations for quality of work and professional behavior.
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The event will feature a keynote address by Anuradha Koirala, the Founder and Executive Director of Maiti Nepal, who CNN recognized in 2010 as one of the TOP 10 Heroes of the world. Born in Nepal and an English teacher for more than twenty years, Ms. Koirala started Maiti Nepal with her own savings in 1993 to provide services for both children and women who endure untold pain and suffering, often in silence, as a result of sex trafficking. Maiti Nepal provides direct services to 1000 children every day. Ms. Koirala will speak to the vital need for each of us to do whatever we can to address injustice and inequality where we find it.
“We are thrilled to be honoring Year Up and its founder Gerald Chertavian,” said Jackie Jenkins-Scott, President of Wheelock College. “Gerald and his organization, as well as our keynote speaker Anuradha Koirala, have made positive and long lasting impressions on the lives of children and young adults; they are truly inspirations to our Passion for Action Scholarship winners.”
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The event will bring together more than 400 civic leaders, corporate executives, and philanthropists to demonstrate how Wheelock educates and inspires a community of students eager to lead as agents of change.
Funds raised through the event support the Passion for Action Scholarship Program for incoming Wheelock students from Greater Boston. These four-year scholarships are given to students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to community service and involvement. The scholarship is paired with a unique academic program that will develop these students' leadership and community service skills. The first Passion for Action Scholars graduated from Wheelock in May 2012, and there are currently 18 Passion Scholars enrolled, with an additional five scholarships awarded to each incoming class.
Leading sponsors of the event include The Jenzabar Foundation, Lee Kennedy Co., Inc., Sodexo, The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation, Santander Bank, Tufts Health Plan, BNY Mellon, Eaton Vance Investment Managers, Fidelity Investments, Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP, and The TJX Companies, Inc.