Communities United, Inc. 9th Annual Gala: Pages of Possibility

Communities United, Inc. (CUI) – whose mission is to provide high-quality education and family services throughout eleven MetroWest cities and towns, while striving to ensure the success of children, empowering the family and strengthening the community – announces its 9th&nbsp;annual gala on Saturday, October 19, 2024. CUI’s&nbsp;Pages of Possibility&nbsp;Gala will take place at the Lexington Depot, located at 13 Depot Square, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Earlier in the day, CUI will also host a children’s reading event from 10:00 a.m. to 12.00 noon featuring three dynamic authors reading their own children’s books to the over fifty families registered to be in attendance, as well as literacy themed arts and crafts. The evening gala will be hosted by NESN Dining Playbook’s Jenny Johnson, who will be joined by special guest Ed Harding, news anchor at WCVB-TV Channel 5. The gala will recognize four notable authors with the “Literary Luminary” awards, highlighting their dedication to children’s literacy and the importance of books in children’s lives. The event will also feature “Novel Nosh” passed dishes named after beloved children’s books cooked up by regional chefs from Woods Hill, Sweet Basil, Boca Bella, Via Lago, Fiorella’s, John Brewers Tavern, Spirit of India and Baker’s Best, as well as a live and silent auction with items including a Celtic’s jersey signed by Jayson Tatum; a one-week stay at a beachside condo in Cape Canaveral, Florida; Boston Red Sox tickets; wine tastings at Total Wines and so much more. Funds raised from the event will directly support initiatives that feed hungry minds and bodies, ensuring CUI families have access to nutritious food and educational resources. “CUI’s programs support children’s growth through services that support early learning and development, health, nutrition and family well-being” said Terri Natale, executive director at Communities United, Inc. “Our staff actively engage parents, recognizing family participation throughout our programs as key to strong child outcomes. If we have a strong attendance at the gala, and those attendees are generous while bidding on our auction items, CUI will generate much-needed funds to help elevate the programs and services we offer to serve those same children and families.” CUI’s featured Literary Luminaries who will be honored at the gala include Wellesley native Elizabeth Suneby, Mia Wenjen, Brooke Bourgeois and Shana Gozansky who resides in Watertown. Elizabeth Suneby’s award-winning titles include board books for babies, picture books from children and non-fiction for teens. Mia Wenjen founded Multicultural Children’s Book Day to celebrate diverse children’s books. Her debut book,&nbsp;Sumo Joe, was selected as a Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year, and Food for the Future made the Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best list. Brook Bourgeois’ work as a cartoonist and illustrator has been published in the&nbsp;New Yorker&nbsp;and&nbsp;Harvard Lampoon&nbsp;and she recently completed her master’s degree in children’s book illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. Shana Gozansky has written Phaidon’s&nbsp;My Art Book&nbsp;series, selected as one of&nbsp;Oprah’s Favorite Thingsin 2023, and co-authored RISE x Penguin Workshop’s&nbsp;How to be a&nbsp;Witch&nbsp;with Gabrielle Balkan. Elizabeth, Brooke and Shana will attend the morning event as well.&nbsp; The last comprehensive study on literacy conducted by CUI revealed that 75% of the families they serve reported having fewer than ten books in their home. Furthermore, food insecurity is a common challenge for many CUI families as an estimated 21.1% of households in Massachusetts with children are facing food insecurity. Children’s food security and literacy are interconnected as adequate nutrition is essential for cognitive development and learning. Addressing both issues is crucial for ensuring that children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Communities United, Inc. provides educational programs and family services to families within the local community with a priority in serving our communities most vulnerable children. Currently, 87% of children enrolled in our programs are living at or below the federal poverty level. The CUI team is made up of 70 employees including teachers, family support specialists, social workers and administrators at our 4 Creative Start Children’s Centers. Independent of economic background, CUI offers a breadth of services to local children and families that are geared towards early childhood development. They focus on children four months to five years of age by providing hands-on activities that promote discovery, exploration and growth in all developmental areas. In addition to helping children learn and develop through play, CUI staff strive to build strong relationships as the foundation for early learning.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our teachers and social workers play a key role in engaging families in their child’s learning by recognizing parents as the child’s first and most important teacher. Our onsite social workers also provide parenting support and strategies through parent meetings, workshops and parenting groups.&nbsp;&nbsp; For more information on CUI and its 9th&nbsp;annual gala,&nbsp;Pages of Possibility, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.communitiesunitedinc.org/">www.communitiesunitedinc.org</a>. About Communities United, Inc.&nbsp; Founded in 1970, Communities United, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose goal is to give preschool children and families an opportunity to experience growth by providing an environment that encourages participation and interaction in a full range of developmentally appropriate activities. While CUI serves children from the full socio-economic spectrum, the organization’s focus is on identifying the most at-risk families and ensuring that their needs are met. CUI actively serves families living in the communities of Arlington, Belmont, Brookline, Burlington, Lexington, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley and Woburn, MA.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Communities United, Inc. 9th Annual Gala: Pages of Possibility

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