The inaugural Durkin Foundation Gala was a night we will never forget. Collectively, the evening raised approximately $387,000 with over 380 guests including an array of local politicians, business owners, local philanthropists and friends of The Durkin Foundation.
Executive Director, Matt Durkin welcomed guests at Lenzi’s in Dracut, Massachusetts where he opened the evening sharing his experience on the Foundation inception to launch in just 15 months. Throughout the evening there were notable guest speakers such as: University of Massachusetts President, Marty Meehan, State Representative David Nangle, Lowell City Manager, Eileen Donoghue, and former State Senator, Steven Panagiotakos.
The Durkin Foundation also hosted three impactful speakers addressing each of the causes the Foundation stands for. All of whom reflected on their first-hand experiences in these areas. Maggie Kennedy (Lowell, Massachusetts) gave the audience a glimpse into what it was like growing up with a brother with Autism and how it impacted her family’s life. Denise McQuaide (Chelmsford, Massachusetts) reflected on her career as a registered nurse and caring for her Alzheimer’s patients. Lastly, Dr. Allison Burns (South Boston, Massachusetts), President of End Mass Overdose and a former naval intelligence officer spoke about her experiences of entering civilian life after her seven years of service and the challenges she had to overcome in to do so.
The evening was a success and one that The Durkin Foundation friends and supporters will never forget. The Durkin family would like to share their deepest gratitude to everyone who supported the evening whether it was a major sponsorship, program sponsor or donating items for auction.
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