BOSTON – State eighth-graders will join Governor Charlie Baker and fellow student leaders from across the Commonwealth for a Project 351 day of celebration and service in Boston on Saturday.
Annually convened by the Governor of Massachusetts and hosted by John Hancock, Carob Tree Fund, Highland Street Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Converse, HYM Investment Group, Martin Richard Foundation, New England Patriots Foundation, and the Carmen Family, the day unites Project 351’s new Class of Ambassadors for the first time and honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a full day of team-based service across Boston. The day kicks off a year of service and leadership development for the Ambassadors.
Ambassadors are selected by local educators to represent Massachusetts’ 351 cities and towns in Project 351, a statewide youth-driven service organization that convenes an eighth-grader from every city and town in Massachusetts for a transformative year of development, enrichment, and impact through unique service opportunities.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2016—a group of unsung heroes and quiet leaders committed to strengthening their communities and our Commonwealth—to Project 351,” said Carolyn Casey, executive director and founder of Project 351. “As we celebrate our sixth class, we proudly reflect on Project 351’s first five years as evidence of the power and potential of young people. We remain most grateful to Governor Baker, John Hancock, and our statewide community of partners for this annual opportunity to serve in honor of Dr. King.”
The Class of 2016 includes nearly 400 inspiring eighth graders representing the Commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns, including Maria Pless of Chester and Isabel Beaudry-Hathaway of Middlefield, chosen based on their exemplary service ethic and values of kindness and compassion.
The 2016 Launch, hosted by John Hancock and with generous support from site host John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum and Library, will include a morning kick-off at Faneuil Hall celebrating Dr. King; high impact service across Boston for 850 participants; and a youth Town Meeting and Service Celebration at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum and Library. Together, they will honor Dr. King’s legacy and impact more than 15,000 citizens through service at five nonprofit organizations including Pine Street Inn, Cradles to Crayons, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, and the Greater Boston Food Bank.
Project 351 is dedicated to building unity and leadership through the yearlong engagement and enrichment of an 8th grade service Ambassador from every city and town in Massachusetts. Youth are selected by hometown educators for an exemplary ethic of service and the values of kindness, compassion, humility, and generosity of spirit. Project 351 is an independent statewide non-profit organization that partners with an extraordinary community of educators, service and non-profit organizations, private sector and civic leaders, families, and volunteers to achieve its mission.
