[BOSTON, MA] September 2022 - On October 8th 2022, Boston Arts Academy Foundation (BAA Foundation) will host their annual BAA Honors event which serves as the largest single source of funding for Boston Arts Academy, Boston’s only public high school for the visual and performing arts. The annual fundraising event will honor community leaders and  world-renowned artists, while celebrating BAA’s talented and deserving students. This year’s event will be held in BAA’s brand-new performing arts building in the Fenway neighborhood on the 25th Anniversary of BAA’s original opening.

Co-chaired by Pamela D.A. Reeve and Denella J. Clark and produced by Rafanelli Events, the black-tie celebration will pay tribute to BAA’s 25 years of impact and transformative arts education, and feature student and guest artist performances, star-studded guest appearances, a live auction, a unique dining experience, dancing and more. This will be the first event held at the new cutting-edge school building since its grand opening this year.

“Boston Arts Academy provides a world-class education for our city’s youth, focusing on our students’ strengths and transforming them into exceptional artists and leaders. We are so thrilled to be able to have our signature fundraising event, BAA Honors 2022, at the brand-new BAA building, which was recently named to honor the legacy of Elma Lewis,” said Denella J. Clark, the president and CEO of Boston Arts Academy Foundation and the co-chair of the event.

Slated to be named in honor of the cultural icon Elma Lewis, the new BAA school building features state-of-the art rehearsal, dance,  high-tech fashion, and visual arts studios, a rooftop recital hall, a STEAM lab, and a 500-seat, fully accessible professional theatre. In addition, the expanded building will allow up to 15 percent more students to attend the school. In the spirit of Elma Lewis’ legacy as a community leader and pioneer, the BAA building will serve as an artist workspace opportunity by establishing opportunities for local artists and performers to rent space.

Funds raised at BAA Honors 2022 will support the Building Our Future campaign, the BAA Foundation campaign to ensure the long-term sustainability of the new building, and BAA’s arts and academic programming.

Mayor Michelle Wu, the Honorable Martin J. Walsh, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, MA State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg and the Honorable Kim Janey will serve as Honorary Chairs of BAA Honors 2022. The BAA Foundation will also recognize several BAA Honorees for their artistic and philanthropic achievements during the event on October 8. The award recipients include:

• Lifetime Achievement Honoree: Lee Pelton, CEO & President - The Boston Foundation

• Civic Responsibility Honoree: Lee Michael Kennedy, President & CEO - Lee Kennedy Co., Inc.

• Dance Honoree: Michaela DePrince, Second Soloist - Boston Ballet

• Fashion Honoree: Kobi Halperin, Creative Director - Kobi Halperin and Ungaro Paris

• Music Honoree: Terri Lyne Carrington, Grammy Award–Winning Drummer and Composer; and Founder & Artistic Director - Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice

• Television & Film Honoree: Latoyia Edwards, Emmy Award-Winning Anchor - NBC10 Boston and NECN

• Visual Arts Honoree: Bryan Rafanelli, Founder and Chief Creative Officer - Rafanelli Events

             

For more details on the event, including ticket and sponsorship opportunities, visit: https://bostonartsacademy.org/foundation/event/baa-honors or contact Caitlin Durkin at cdurkin@baafdn.org or 617-406-9228.

About the Boston Arts Academy Foundation:  

Established in 1999, the BAA Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization that raises essential funds from private philanthropic sources to augment the BAA school budget. The BAA Foundation helps bridge the gap between the school’s allocation from the Boston Public Schools, and the true cost of a high-quality education that is both arts-intensive and college preparatory.

Construction of the new BAA school building will not change BPS’s funding formula, which does not fully cover the cost of a college preparatory academic program and a competitive arts program. Through the six-year, comprehensive Building Our Future campaign, the BAA Foundation is raising $32 million to augment BAA’s school budget and ensure long-term sustainability. The campaign includes raising $10 million to bring the BAA Foundation endowment to $13.5 million, and securing $15.5 million in operating reserves. The endowment and reserves support what makes BAA unique, including expanded programming, the Health and Wellness Program, STEAM (STEM+Art), and funding for the arts. The endowment will support college scholarships for graduating seniors. The campaign supports BAA Foundation’s Annual Fund, which raises $5,000 per student each year. Building Our Future will ensure that as BAA’s student body grows, students can become successful artists, scholars, and citizens. Visit our website to learn more: https://bostonartsacademy.org/foundation