Date: November 26, 2013 By:
Every November, the Ragon Institute looks forward to volunteering at the Boston Living Center’s Celebration of Life, which provides a full Thanksgiving dinner and entertainment for anyone living with HIV/AIDS, their family and loved ones, as well as raising money for Boston’s HIV positive community.
The Boston Living Center (BLC) is a non-profit community and resource center whose mission is to foster the wellness of all HIV positive people and respond to the changing needs of the HIV/AIDS community. The Annual Celebration of Life dinner began more than twenty years ago and today is the is the BLC’s largest yearly event and accounts for the majority of its annual funding.
Since 2008 the Ragon Institute has gathered a team to serve BLC clients at the event. In addition to serving, the team members also actively fund raise. This year the Ragon team of 25 fellows, techs, and admin staff and InterSystems employees, under the leadership of Alyssa Clark and Meghan Hart, raised over $2,070 which will go toward the community outreach programs of the BLC. This year the Ragon team fund raising activities included an event at the Pour House on Boylston Steet.
“I was so impressed with the enthusiasm and joy that all of the Ragon teammates bring to this event,” said team leader, Alyssa Clark. “Everyone stayed on their toes to help the guests in any way they could.”
The dinner which was held November 19 at the Hynes Convention Center, Boston and in total, raised $45,000 to benefit those affected locally by HIV.
