On Saturday, April 11, more than 200 supporters gathered at Andover Country Club for the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence’s 2026 Annual Auction, An Evening of Possibilities — a night that beautifully reflected the generosity, compassion, and unwavering support behind our mission.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, this year’s event raised over $500,000 to help provide life-changing opportunities for the kids and teens we serve each day.
With more than 300 donated auction items, over 200 item donors and supporters, and a room full of people eager to make a difference, the evening was a powerful reminder of what is possible when a community comes together for Club youth.
The Night Began with an Exciting Silent Auction
The evening began with our Silent Auction, which opened for online bidding on April 1 and built excitement for days leading up to the event as supporters browsed, bid, and rallied behind an incredible range of auction packages.
Featuring more than 200 items, the Silent Auction showcased the remarkable generosity of our community. Items were donated by more than 200 supporters, including local businesses, longtime supporters, donors, board members, alumni, and friends of the Club — all of whom helped create a truly outstanding selection of packages and experiences.
A Rare Tiffany Treasure with a Story to Tell
Among the standout Silent Auction items was an extraordinary estate Tiffany & Co. dragonfly necklace from the iconic The Nature of Beauty collection. Crafted in platinum with cultured pearls, diamonds, and sapphires, it was a stunning piece — but what made it especially meaningful was the story behind it. The dragonfly, a symbol of transformation and new beginnings, was gifted to its owner by devoted friends and patrons as she retired and closed her beloved restaurant, honoring a life’s work, the community she built, and the legacy she leaves behind.
In that same spirit of gratitude and community, the owner — a dear friend of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence — donated the necklace so its story of transformation could continue through the lives of our youth, making it one of the most meaningful treasures featured in this year’s auction.
The Silent Auction opened the evening not only with excitement, but with a powerful display of the generosity, heart, and community spirit that carried through the entire night.
The Live Auction Brought the Room to Life
The evening then shifted into our Live Auction, where 36 amazing, unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences filled the room with energy, excitement, and emotion. This part of the night captured the spirit of the event in a powerful way, with supporters bidding generously on extraordinary packages in support of Club youth. Frank Cieri played a vital role in making the Live Auction so impactful, bringing incredible energy, momentum, and enthusiasm to the room as auctioneer. His ability to engage the crowd, build excitement, and encourage generous bidding helped elevate the evening and made the Live Auction one of the most dynamic parts of the night. It was also especially meaningful to have Steve Kelley with us that evening, whose connection to the Club continues to mean so much to the BGCL community.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime FIFA World Cup Experience
One of the most exciting Live Auction highlights was the FIFA World Cup package — a truly unforgettable opportunity made even more special by the fact that the United States has not hosted the FIFA World Cup since 1994, and there is no telling when it will be hosted here again. That made this package one of the most unique and extraordinary experiences up for bid.
A Special Appearance from Jarvis Green
We were also honored to welcome former New England Patriot, Jarvis Green, who donated and presented his Live Auction item, Shrimp & Crawfish Boil “Seafood Fest” for 10 Prepared In Your Home by Jarvis Green. Now owner and president of Oceans 97, Inc., Jarvis brought his second passion to the auction through a one-of-a-kind experience featuring Southern hospitality, specially sourced seafood, and the chance to hear from a two-time Super Bowl champion.
Gabriella Diaz’s Powerful Speech
One of the most emotional moments of the night came when Gabriella Diaz took the stage.
Gabriella delivered a powerful and deeply moving speech about her journey and the life-changing impact the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence has had on her life. Her words were heartfelt, personal, and incredibly inspiring — a moving reminder of what the Club makes possible for the young people it serves. Her speech brought many in the room to tears and ended with a standing ovation, making it one of the most unforgettable moments of the evening. We invite you to watch the video below to experience Gabriella’s full speech.
To learn more about Gabriella’s story, her connection to BGCL, and hear more from her in her own words, be sure to check out our blog post featuring an exclusive Q&A with Gabriella as well.
Feed the Need
One of the most powerful moments of the evening was Feed the Need — a moving call to support the care, opportunities, and everyday resources our kids rely on throughout the year. It was a powerful reminder that behind every young person’s growth is a strong foundation of support: a safe place to go, caring mentors, encouragement, enrichment, and the consistent guidance that helps them thrive.
Our community responded with extraordinary generosity, with each $3,000 Feed the Need donation helping support one week of life-changing opportunities for Club youth. Together, supporters helped fund 52 weeks of support for our kids, ensuring that for every week of the year, young people at BGCL can continue to count on the Club for the programs, relationships, and resources that help them grow, succeed, and believe in their potential.
A Night of Possibility, Made Possible by You
An event of this scale and success would not be possible without the many people whose generosity, time, and dedication brought it to life. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our staff, volunteers, donors, supporters, attendees, auction committee, board members, and all who donated items, placed bids, attended, or helped make this event such a success. Your belief in our mission and in the young people we serve made this incredible evening possible.
We’d also like to give a heartfelt shoutout to our auction sponsors and supporters, including Bank of New England, DeLuca Dealerships, Gilbert Insurance, Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union, KLR, Love, Tito’s, Lowell Five Savings Bank, New Balance Foundation, Royal Jewelers, Tuscan Brands, and Watts Water Technology. Your continued commitment means the world to us — and to the kids we serve. For a full list of this year’s generous donors and supporters, click here.
We are also especially grateful to the DeLuca and Robertson families, who were among the evening’s major bidders and played a significant role in helping make the event such a success.
We want to give special recognition to our outstanding Auction Committee for the time, dedication, and care they poured into this event. A heartfelt thank you goes to Timra Carlson for her leadership and commitment, and to Sarah Hogue, Director of Development, whose hard work and dedication were instrumental in bringing this event to life. We also want to recognize Kristen Vadala, Assistant Director of Development, who quickly stepped into her new role and provided meaningful support throughout the planning and execution of the event, and Ayah Shaheen, Development Associate of Communications and Marketing, for helping bring the story and impact of this special evening to life.
An Evening of Possibilities was more than a fundraiser. It was a celebration of generosity, community, and the life-changing power of investing in young people. Because of the incredible support shown throughout this year’s auction, more kids and teens will have access to the opportunities, support, meals, mentorship, and safe spaces they need to thrive.
The legacy of this unforgettable evening will live on in the dreams it fuels, the potential it unlocks, and the lives it helps shape for years to come. Thank you for making it possible, and we look forward to what we can achieve together next year.