10 Year Anniversary Celebration
When:
Wednesday,
November 12th, 2025
6 – 9 PM
Where:
The Substation
4228 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02131
Event Recap
Dear Friends,
What a wonderful night! Our 10-Year Celebration was beyond incredible, filled with community, joy, and tremendous generosity.
As I reflect on the night, I am filled with gratitude and pride for all we’ve accomplished together. Looking out at the room—filled with friends, family, longtime and new supporters, alumni and current students, civic leaders and champions of our mission—I was reminded just how powerful a community truly committed to uplifting young men can be.
This event was more than a celebration; it was a gathering of hearts and minds united by a shared belief in the promise and potential of every young man we serve. Over the past decade,your generosity—whether as a sponsor, donor, volunteer, or advocate—has propelled our growth and inspired us to dream even bigger. Our journey has not always been easy, but reaching this milestone together made it clear just how far we’ve come and how much more we can accomplish ahead.
Your presence, partnership, and investment are what make our impact possible. On behalf of the entire YMWAP family, thank you for celebrating with us and for believing in the next generation of leaders. We are excited to share with you some of the highlights and successes from this truly memorable evening.
– Dr. Jay Simpson
Executive Director
Young Man with a Plan
Honored by City Council
We were honored to be joined by Boston City Councilors Enrique J. Pepén, Brian Worrell, and Henry Santana, who came together to present a City Council Resolution recognizing Young Man with a Plan’s decade of impact. Their presence underscored the importance of investing in Boston’s young men and the collective belief in the work YMWAP has led for the past ten years.
We also extend our sincere gratitude to State Representative Liz Miranda, who made a special appearance and offered powerful, inspiring words about leadership, community, and the importance of supporting the next generation. Her encouragement resonated deeply with our young men, families, and partners in the room.
Thank You to our Sponsors and Partners
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all of our sponsors who made this celebration possible. Your generosity and partnership allowed us to honor a decade of impact in a truly meaningful way.
A special thank you to our event partners who brought the evening to life: The Substation – Boston for generously hosting us in their beautiful space; Boston Pro Sounds for crafting an incredible atmosphere; NOIRE CHEF BOSTON for the delicious food and warm service; Oby (Oby Boston) Ojimba for capturing every moment so thoughtfully; Che Bills for setting the tone with an unforgettable music mix; and Eric Schindler for elevating the evening with his live saxophone performance.
Supporting Our Village
THANK YOU to each attendee, guest, volunteer, and donor — your support makes the next 10 years possible.
The room was filled with 144 people who, together, raised an incredible $83,190 for Young Man with a Plan through this event.
If you couldn’t make it, you can still make a donation today and be part of this movement!
Celebrating 10 Years of Young Man with a Plan
Funds raised from the 10 Year Anniversary Celebration will directly support programming, staff, and young men.
Young Man with a Plan helps over 375 young Black and Latino men in the middle find a place to belong, make academic and social emotional gains, and access sustainable futures.
Through a powerful combination of weekly after school groups & in-school mentoring, YMWAP’s 5+ year holistic mentoring program delivers deep support for young men from 8 Boston schools in grades 7-12, and beyond.
Launched in 2015, YMWAP was a direct response to a 2014 meeting of cross-sector Boston school leaders who, deeply troubled by achievement gaps, academic disengagement, and increasing neighborhood violence, named their most urgent concern as “high school men of color in the middle.”
YMWAP creates a culture of brotherhood, respect,and aspiration for Boston’s Black and Latino teens to help them achieve college, career, and life success. Since our initial seed funding from the Charles Hayden Foundation, YMWAP has grown from one program director, 8 school-based mentors, and 30 students to a full-time staff of 8, a mentor team of 18, and over 300 students and alums. We’ve extended the curriculum into 7th & 8th grades, expanded college and career readiness curriculum, built a near peer youth mentoring program, and introduced the digital arts.
This November, join us as we gather at The Substation in Roslindale to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished in these past ten years. In addition to our plans for the future, we look forward to securing sustained growth by launching our capital campaign and finalizing the purchase of our building at 1178 River Street.
Our B.E.A.S.T Sponsors
Brotherhood Partners
(Platinum)
Enthusiastic Investors
(Diamond)
The Charlotte Foundation
Accountability Advocates
(Gold)
Anonymous
Corporation
Plymouth Rock Foundation
ALKU Foundation
Jean and Jordan Krasnow
Nellie Mae Education Foundation
Scholarship Supporters
(Silver)
Valerie Godhwani and Family
Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation
Tenacity Builders
(Bronze)
Karen Engelbourg
Jason Warwin
Mary Brown
William James College
Boston Children’s Hospital
Patricia Felth
For more information, please contact:
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