LYNN — Camp Fire North Shore will honor former Mayor Thomas McGee during its fifth annual fundraising event on Thursday night at the Lynn Museum.
This event, which goes for $50 per ticket, raises money for the organization’s summer camp, after school programs and Natural Living and Learning Center.
The night will consist of music by Jozef Nadj, hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and a presentation of the 2022 Community Partner Award to McGee for his work with Camp Fire North Shore.
“Tom McGee was a champion for after school and out of school time programs throughout his career,” said Camp Fire North Shore Executive Director Laurie Hamill. “Tom realized the value of providing a safe space where children can grow and thrive outside of the school day. As Mayor, he was a tremendous partner with Camp Fire North Shore.”
Camp Fire North Shore (CFNS) is a local youth development organization whose mission is to provide safe and inclusive out of school time programming to empower youth to “thrive and become caring and confident leaders.”
The organization offers after school programs at its location on Cain Road in Salem and the Shoemaker Elementary School in Lynn, as well as summer and teen programs. It also recently began a new program for homeschooled students called the Natural Living and Learning Center.
“Our programs encourage personal exploration by incorporating a researched based approach to youth development that ensures participants gain the skills necessary to thrive throughout their lives,” said Hamill.
Camp Fire North Shore works with hundreds of children each year, mostly from Lynn and Salem. This past summer camp had more than 350 kids ranging from five to 13 years old.
The organization was recently awarded its third, 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from the state, which provides necessary funding to allow CFNS to work with students at the Washington, Connery and Hood Elementary Schools in Lynn in academically enriching opportunities at no cost.
In addition to that funding, CFNS also has numerous donors and sponsors for the annual gala.
Eastern Bank is the top sponsor, Platinum Sponsor, for the annual gala event.
“Eastern Bank is always our biggest sponsor and have been extremely generous to Camp Fire North Shore through the years,” said Hamill.
Other sponsors for the gala include Old Neighborhood Foods; Greg Torres and Betsy Pattullo; Salem Hospital; Divirgilio Financial Group; Jess and Ari Torres; K Security Systems; Lynn Housing Authority; St. Jean’s Credit Union; Solimine Funeral Home; Community Credit Union; Economic Development and Industrial Corporation of Lynn; Salvy the Florist; McGrath Enterprises; Sen. Brendan Crighton; Rep. Daniel Cahill; Rep. Donald Wong; Rep. Peter Capanol; and the Lynn Teachers Union.
To learn more about the gala or purchase a ticket, visit Camp Fire North Shore’s website.
Allysha Dunnigan can be reached at [email protected].
