John Fortuna; Laura Shea; (left to right) Senator Patrick O’Connor, Christopher White, State Representative Patrick Kearney
Road To Responsibility (RTR), one of the region’s largest and most successful non-profit organizations, announced today that their Making Lives Better Gala, held on September 27, raised a record more than $362,000 to directly benefit the organization. This amount greatly surpassed the goal set by RTR of $250,000, as well as last year’s 30th Anniversary Gala donations of $298,115, which was then the most raised at the Gala in at least 10 years, and almost doubled the amount raised from just three years ago.
A silent auction and raffle prizes (including 1.04 14K white gold diamond stud earrings valued at over $1,625 and donated by Hingham Jewelers and an assortment of premium whiskeys valued at over $800) contributed to the amount raised, as did numerous individuals who made donations throughout the evening ranging from $100 to $10,000.
Laura Shea
The Making Lives Better Gala also featured a cocktail reception, an elegant dinner and live music, short videos highlighting some of RTR’s programs, and a moving story that highlighted both John Fortuna and Jack Shea in a production entitled, “A Life Well-Lived, A Life Just Beginning.” Fortuna, affectionately referred to as “the mayor of RTR,” had been affiliated with the organization since before it was even officially in existence. He was an integral member of the RTR community, known for his love of his job at the RTR bookstore and his support of Special Olympics, and was a friend to all. He passed away earlier this year.
John Fortuna
Shea only just joined the RTR community as one of a growing population of individuals in need of autism services and aging out of the school system. His mother, Laura Shea, gave a moving speech that recounted Jack’s journey through the ups and downs of the school system and of the comfort and joy they felt when they discovered RTR and realized the services they provided specifically with regard to autism. The Shea family has been affiliated with Road To Responsibility for just one year, and they have already reaped so many benefits in the forms of support, care, and assurance.
Later in the evening, a special matching gift was announced to establish the John Fortuna fund, which will support continuing efforts for job placement of RTR individuals. Every donation of $1,000 was matched by an anonymous donor; 26 individuals committed to this gift, which resulted in a total donation of $52,000 to initiate this fund.
NBC10 Boston Meteorologist Michael Page emceed the event, which also included a presentation of commendations to RTR by State Senator Patrick O’Connor and State Representative Patrick Kearney. Senator O’Connor also praised RTR for their work to grow and expand their services in supporting individuals with autism.
Throughout its 31-year history, RTR has expanded their programs, built solid relationships with leaders and business partners, and become established as a resource in the community. Through donors’ support and their extended network, RTR has been able to serve more than 1,200 individuals and families, becoming one of the larger human service providers in the Commonwealth. RTR is also one of the largest employers in the region, providing jobs for nearly 800 people.
ITS Image Tech a Xerox company, based in Canton, Mass., served as the Presenting Sponsor for the Gala. This organization, a longtime supporter of RTR, offers managed print services and is among New England’s largest and most respected consultancy firms specializing in workflow assessment and optimization.
Additional supporters included Leadership Sponsors Apothecare Pharmacy LLC of Brockton and VHS Transportation Company, Inc./Patriot Investment Corp. of Easton; President’s Circle Sponsors Liberty Bay Credit Union and the Benoit and Parsons family; Diamond Sponsor Hingham Jeweler; Gold Sponsors AAX Insurance Education Foundation, Inc., Mr. & Mrs. Bob & Michelle Brait, M&T Bank, Copeland Family Foundation, HarborOne Foundation, A. W. Perry, Inc., and Unicorn Realty; Silver Sponsors Baker, Braverman, & Barbadoro, PC, Black Rock Advertising, Burke Distributing Company, Ms. Patricia Clark, Eastern Bank, LS Grace Foundation, Hub International, King Collision, Marcum LLC, SESCO Realty Trust; and Bronze Sponsors Callahan|Hoffman Construction, Legacy Resnik, LLC, Mr. & Mrs. Tim & Jody Nash, Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Pilgrim Bank, Roche Bros. Sudbury Farms, Rockland Trust, Twin Rivers Technologies, and Dr. Christopher White & Ms. Treva Sabin-White. Liberty Bay Credit Union served as the Photo Booth Sponsor and South Shore Bank was the Mobile Bidding Sponsor. Event Sponsors included Wicked Good Cupcakes, Three Phase, The Ink Spot, Field, Davine Events, and Granite Links Golf Club. The Dessert Reception Sponsor was Tiny & Sons Auto Glass, and Valet Sponsors included Campanelli and Signet.
“We are thrilled with the support demonstrated at this year’s Road To Responsibility Making Lives Better Gala,” said Christopher White, Ed.D., CEO of Road To Responsibility. “We are so grateful for so many individuals continuing and in some cases increasing their generous support of our organization, and we are excited to move forward and ever expanding our mission.”
About Road To Responsibility, Inc.
Celebrating over 30 years of making lives better, Road To Responsibility, Inc. (RTR) was established in 1988 with the overarching belief that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve to have full, rich, and rewarding lives in the community, and therefore works to provide the means, the opportunity, and the support necessary to allow citizens with disabilities to take their place as productive members of the community. RTR offers residential, work/employment, day habilitation and other day supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. RTR supports individuals with very diverse needs, including those with significant challenges who would otherwise go unserved if not for RTR. It succeeds where other organizations often fail, through the use of an integrated clinical behavioral approach. This model has proven successful and yielded positive results for the organization and the individuals served.
Road To Responsibility offers services to almost all the towns and communities throughout the South Shore and South Coast of Massachusetts, operates 49 residences as well as co-operative and supportive living apartments, and manages nine day-service locations that focus on education, employment, and community enrichment. Road To Responsibility’s main office is located at 1831 Ocean Street, Marshfield, MA. For more information, please visit www.roadtoresponsibility.org.
