The Boston House: Challenge Met, Mission Accomplished
Congratulations to Spring 2024 grant recipient The Boston House, who didn’t let any grass grow under their feet when it came to meeting their challenge from The Bolger Foundation!
The venerable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization’s need for funding was urgent. Since 1979, The Boston House has provided a home away from home for children with cancer and their families while the child undergoes treatment at Dana-Farber Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Over the years, The Boston House’s facilities have grown and expanded, including the creation of seven bone marrow transplant apartments. Six additional studio apartments are housed in The Annex, a building with a rooftop parking deck.
Constructed some 30 years ago, that parking deck was reaching the end of its useful life early in 2024. All 2,860 square feet of it needed to be replaced; in addition, new waterproofing systems needed to be installed, as well as underground drainage improvements alongside the edge of the building itself. Construction would take 12-16 weeks and cost a total of $655,619.
Tasked with raising $125,000 in order to receive a matching amount from The Bolger Foundation, The Boston House swung into action with a robust multi-pronged capital campaign.
“We promoted the challenge through our website, social media, and in our printed and emailed spring appeal,” said Co-Executive Directors Dawn and Mike Emerman. “We hosted an open house to show donors the construction project and discuss the need for support and had dozens of meetings and conversations with donors to promote the challenge and The Boston House’s services. We still have three additional grant requests pending.
“In addition,” they continued, “one of our biggest supporters, The Flatley Foundation, increased their giving this year from $200K to $300K. While the gift is for unrestricted support, we believe that our communications with them about the construction project, match, and need for additional funding this year was the cause of their increase in support.”
Now, note the Emermans proudly, “We just completed construction.” The new and improved parking deck has an extended lifespan of up to 40 years. Furthermore, through their donors’ generosity, The Boston House was able to continue housing families at alternative facilities even while construction was in progress. Kudos to all of the many parties who worked together to bring this challenging project to its successful conclusion!