WBZ Cares: Cradles to Crayons Achieves a Major Milestone
BOSTON (CBS) - The WBZ Cares Campaign continues for the month of September.
Each month, WBZ Newsradio 1030 highlights a worthy non-profit organization and tells the story of what it does for the community.
For the month of September, WBZ profiles "Cradles to Crayons", a Boston-based organization which provides children from birth through age 12 with essential items - clothes shoes, school supplies and toys - which they need to thrive at home, at school, and at play. There are more than 300,000 children ages 0-12 who live in low-income situations in Massachusetts.
Cradles to Crayons was founded by CEO Lynn Margherio in 2002, and since then, the organization has branched out, and now they will soon hit a one-million milestone. "Over the course of the 14-years we've been in operation here, and in the years we've been in operation in Philadelphia, and just launched in Chicago, these communities will enable us to serve one million children," said Margherio.
But Margherio says while this will be a major achievement, there are millions more children who need help. "While we're really excited about the million milestone, part of what we are going to be doing with this is saying there are more children out there to help," Margherio said.
Meantime, Cradles to Crayons continues to plan one of their biggest fundraisers of the year. It's called the "Un-Gala". Senior Manager of Development Dave Catungno explains the title. "You see CEO's in jeans and T-shirts, you see the Patriots' mascot running around, pushing "Lucky the Leprechaun" in a rolling bin," Catungno said. "It's really a fun environment, relaxed, you bring your kids, we have a scavenger hunt - it's just a really fun place to learn about the work Cradles to Crayons is doing in the community."
It's a fun party, but it has a serious mission. "Our goal is to raise a million dollars," Cotungno said. "And through those efforts serve about 40,000 children this winter with brand new coats and warm clothing, and that's 5,000 more children than we served last year."
If you'd like to learn more about Cradles to Crayons, or wish to make a donation, go to their website at cradlestocrayons.org.