David Brown to serve as
“Growing Together” Gala Auctioneer
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Television veteran, childcare advocate, and onetime Italian Home neighbor David Brown will serve as auctioneer at our “Growing Together Gala” on Friday, May 2, at Artists For Humanity
David spent 17 years at WCVB-TV as a meteorologist, a profession he’d dreamt about since his childhood in Iowa, where he saw his first tornado. New England’s “wait-a-minute, it will change” weather and four varied seasons attracted him to the region and he became a television fixture. He is currently Vice President of Communications and Development at Vinfen, a Cambridge-based nonprofit that aids people with autism, behavioral health challenges, brain injuries, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and mental health conditions.
David cares passionately about underserved young people and recently toured the Home with our Development staff. He lived in the neighborhood behind IHC for many years and brought his then-young children to our campus to distribute holiday gifts for our kids.
David is an experienced auctioneer with a compelling stage presence. He starred as a Moth storyteller on the popular PBS radio program that broadcasts script-free accounts of true personal milestones. A physical fitness buff, he has run the Boston Marathon and rappelled up the side of the Hyatt Regency Hotel to raise funds for the Special Olympics. Fun fact: David once sang backup for Fifties/Sixties teen idol Paul Anka. He lives in Dedham, with his husband Ben Perkins.
By the way, David forecasts beautiful weather—comfortable and in the 70s—inside Artist For Humanity on the evening of the Gala! |
Intensive Residence Program (ITR)
kids celebrate Black History Month |
Cheyanne Hasberry, an ITR Residence Counselor, came up with a great way to celebrate Black History Month: get a move on! Cheyanne (at far right in photo) and the kids created an elaborate step-dance plus an exhibition describing the history and culture behind the event. The show was held in the Pallotta School cafeteria on Thursday evening, February 13. The evening included the performance, cultural information booths, and, after the step-dance, dancing for all attendees plus take-home goodie bags. The kids rehearsed the step dance for three demanding weeks. What lessons did they learn? “Patience,” Cheyanne says. The project took hard work, steady commitment, and lots of youthful energy. The kids were super-enthused. “This is about love, respect, and maturity,” Cheyanne added. “And it symbolizes power.”
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Her road led from Rome to the Home!
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Versace, eat your heart out! Jacqueline (Jacqui) Duren is marrying her fashion smarts to her Italian heritage and passion while giving back to the community. Through her online boutique and recent brick-and-mortar store, Cosmo Capri, she’s selling distinctive red, heart-spangled tutus for girls ages 2 to 10—and donating 20% of the profits to IHC. “Female empowerment is very important to me,” she emphasizes. And these spunky, pretty but tough-for-play tutus shout that message from the rooftops.
By day, Jacqui works as a communications professional for a major healthcare company. She founded Cosmo Capri as a fun, creative side gig. After the birth of her first daughter, Capri (below), she realized the intensity of the duties of motherhood and thought with compassion about new mothers struggling with finances and support. She wanted to help. |
She created her “Tiny Dancer Collection” line of Cosmo Capri tutus, with varied versions that support nonprofits bolstering women’s journeys from pregnancy into motherhood and girl empowerment initiatives from health, shelters, education, and so much more. She began offering the tutus at her pop-up shop at Tuscan Village in Salem, NH. “Parents and children loved them. We sold hundreds!”
“I come from an Italian background,” Jacqui says. Her great-grandmother, Rosalie, immigrated from Sicily where Italian blood flows on her mother’s side with 19 cousins. While a Suffolk University undergraduate, she spent a semester abroad near Rome in a small village, Trastevere. She wanted to give back and thought Italian Home combined many facets of her interests—Italy, girl empowerment, and her rich Italian heritage. “It was coming full circle,” she says. Jacqui also sponsored our team at the Tuscan Village 5K road race and serves on our Gala Committee! Grazie, Jacqui!
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