The Home for Little Wanderers' Gala to Honor Rick Loughlin and Steve Pemberton
Friday, March 25, 2011

Voices & Visions 2011 Celebrates Cultures of the World

The Home for Little Wanderers, the nation's oldest child and family service agency and one of New England’s largest, will hold its annual fundraising gala, Voices & Visions, on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. The Home is delighted to honor Rick Loughlin, President of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage New England, for his role as a business and community leader who champions the cause of good corporate citizenship.

"Rick has put an enormous effort into raising funds for The Home’s Coldwell Banker House which provides short-term residential stabilization, assessment and rapid reintegration services for teenage boys in crisis," said Joan Wallace-Benjamin, President and CEO of The Home. "Rick’s good corporate citizenship is astounding. Under his leadership, Coldwell Banker has also demonstrated its commitment to helping at-risk children and their families in the Boston area through support of The Home’s Big Wishes for Little Wanderers Gift Drive held during the holiday season."

In addition to honoring a community leader at each year's Voices & Visions gala, the Sabino Marinella Award is presented to recognize individual achievement and/or dedication to The Home's mission. The award, named in memory of Board Member Sam Marinella, will be presented this year to Stephen Pemberton, Divisional Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Walgreens, for overcoming the challenges of growing up in the foster care system and providing support to The Home as a role model for youth.

The gala also features a cocktail reception, silent auction, an exhibit of children’s art, dinner, and a program in addition to the presentation of these awards.

Voices & Visions is the culmination of a year-long, innovative arts project throughout The Home’s many programs. The project teaches positive ways of self-expression and is very therapeutic for children with emotional and behavioral challenges. This year’s theme is "Cultures of the World" – as seen through a child’s eyes. Learning how to use 3-D art, poems, stories, symbols and colors allows children to share their many emotions.

Event co-chairs for Voices & Visions 2011 are Robert K. Sheridan, The Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts (SBLI), and Paul Morrissey. Title sponsors include Natixis Global Asset Management and The TJX Companies, Inc. All proceeds from the event, which raised almost $1 million in 2010, will enable The Home to continue supporting programming for children and their families. For Voices & Visions 2011 sponsorship and ticket information, visit www.thehome.org/vv11.