Italian Home for Children

on a summer night. Hotdogs, crackerjacks, new ballcaps, and a whole lot of fun.

This week, some of our kids — and the staff who support them — were treated to a Red Sox game at Fenway courtesy of Highland Street Foundation.

It was a night out, a chance to just be kids, and a reminder that community generosity makes moments like this possible.

So grateful for Highland Street Foundation . Our kids — and our team — loved every minute.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month — and for us at IHC, it is not a campaign or a slogan. It is the 24-7 reality of the work we do every day with children, teens, and families across Greater Boston.

Mental health care is not a luxury. And it is not a last resort. It is what makes it possible for a child to go to school, for a teenager to imagine a future, for a family to stay together. This month, we honor the young people and families who trust us with their most difficult moments — and the clinical staff who meet them there with skill, compassion, and consistency. That work does not stop on June 1. Neither does our commitment to it.

And we encourage you to mind your own good mental health!

WE HIT our $500,000 goal! 🎉

Harbor of Hope 2026 is a night we will never forget. The Seaport. The energy. The auctions. And most of all — the people.

On May 1st at the Seaport Hotel Boston, the Italian Home for Children community came together in a way that was, simply put, extraordinary. And the stories told that evening — including a deeply moving and powerful account from guest speaker Kathryn Judge about raising her son Ellis and what Italian Home has meant to her family — reminded every person in that room why this work is essential.

Guest speaker Kathryn Judge took the stage and told the truth about raising her son Ellis, a child with profound autism, and what Italian Home did for her family. The room was never the same after that.

This goal belongs to every single person who gave, bid, cheered, and believed. That's you.

Watch Ellis's introduction 🎬 https://youtu.be/bF2j2zb_1xw

Italian Home for Children Italian Home Harbor of Hope: Portrait of Ellis

May is National Foster Care Month, and a time to recognize the foster families and all the champions who stand with children every day. At IHC, we've been part of this work for over 100 years — providing behavioral health care that helps children heal, grow, and stay connected to the people who love them.

One steadfast champion is State Rep. Kevin Honan, our Harbor of Hope Gala Honoree, and the longtime chair of the Legislature's Foster Care Caucus. For us, an organization that walks alongside so many young people who have experienced foster care, that kind of advocacy at the State House matters enormously to Italian Home and the kids and families we serve. Rep. Honan’s commitment to the most vulnerable members of our community mirrors the mission of Italian Home — and we are proud and grateful to call him a friend.

Learn more about National Foster Care Month at childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth

Friday night meant everything to us.

Our Harbor of Hope Gala brought together the people who make Italian Home's mission real — and we are so grateful for every single one of you.

Thank you to our sponsors, guests, in-kind donors, and volunteers. Thank you to the Seaport Hotel Boston event team for a flawless evening. Thank you to our emcee Dick Argys, COO of Boston Children's Hospital, for guiding us through the night. Thank you to our auctioneer David Brown for bringing the live auction and fund-a-need to life. Thank you to photographer Shahin Prentice II for capturing every moment. Thank you to our honoree Rep. Kevin Honan for his dedication to our work.

And to our guest speaker Kathryn Judge — thank you. Kathryn is the mom of Ellis, who called IHC's Neurodevelopment Unit home last year. She stood before a packed room and spoke from the heart about her family's journey, and she reminded every person there why Italian Home's work cannot stop.

We are still thinking about her words.

None of this would have been possible without the hard work, attention to every single detail, and hyper-focused eye on our mission -- the staff of and the Development Office team of Madison Feudo Jack Kretzmer Brianna Radosti Pfifer Chastain and Christine M. Casalini.

This community is the reason we keep going. What a night.

Italian Home for Children Italian Home for Children 2026 Harbor of Hope Gala

Our VEO Hana has a message for you!

The Harbor of Hope Gala is three days away — and there's still time to be part of it.

Join us Friday May 1 at the Seaport Hotel Boston, starting at 6:30 p.m. An unforgettable evening of dinner, cocktails, a moving program that speaks to the Italian Home for Children mission, and a live auction — including a signed Gronk Patriots jersey.

But you don't have to wait until May 1 to get in on the action. Our silent auction is open right now. We're talking a signed Taylor Swift guitar. Andrea Bocelli at Madison Square Garden. U.S. Open Tennis tickets. And much more.

Every dollar raised supports the children and families who count on IHC every day.

Bid now and grab your tickets: harborofhope26.givesmart.com Let's go!

Italian Home for Children Italian Home Harbor of Hope Gala

We are honored to recognize the Baker Family Foundation as a Charted Course Sponsor of the Harbor of Hope Gala.

Their $10,000 investment in Italian Home for Children reflects the kind of philanthropic commitment that changes lives — consistently and with real impact.

Thank you, Baker Family Foundation. We are grateful beyond words.

Join us May 1 at the Seaport Hotel Boston. Tickets are still available at harborofhope26.givesmart.com

Today, IHC celebrated its annual Value Awards luncheon, recognizing staff who embody the values that define : Transformative, Empowering, Adaptable, Mindful, Integrated, Hopeful, and Compassionate. We also honored colleagues marking 5, 10, 20, 30, and 30-plus years of service. And Greater New England Dog Rescue brought the puppies — a perfect way to celebrate the people who show up for this work every single day. 🐾

Congratulations to all of today's honorees. You are so appreciated and vital to our mission!

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We are deeply grateful for the people who show up for Italian Home for Children — not just as friends of the mission, but as investors in it.

Dick Argys, Executive Vice President, Hospital Chief Operating Officer, Chief Culture Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital — and our emcee for the Harbor of Hope Gala — is also a Charted Course Sponsor. His personal commitment at the $10,000 level is a testament to everything he stands for: putting children first.

Dick, your belief in this work means more than we can say. And we cannot wait for you to steer the Harbor of Hope ship on May 1. Thank you.

Join us May 1 at the Seaport Hotel Boston. Tickets are still available at harborofhope26.givesmart.com

Golf fans this one is for you!

Up for bid in the Harbor of Hope Gala silent auction: two tickets to the final round of the U.S. Open. One of the four major championships. The grandest stage in golf.

This one will go fast. Head to harborofhope26.givesmart.com now and place your bid. Bidding is easy: once you've registered on the site, you'll receive a text with a link to the auction page — or you can browse and bid directly from the Items tab at harborofhope26.givesmart.com. If you're outbid, you'll get a text notification right away.

And if you're looking for the excitement of a live auction, we have that too! May 1, Italian Home Harbor of Hope Gala, Seaport Hotel ballroom, tickets are still available.

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