Contributed Photos
Victoria Wang of LEAP submitted the following write-up:
Have you ever wanted to speak to a national radio host about climate change? Enjoy an interactive singing performance from a Yale music scholar? Learn about what goes into designing a menu from a world-class chef? Then LEAP Year Event is what you’ve been waiting for — and you’ll be supporting a good cause while you’re at it!
On Thursday, February 27, 2020, the LEAP Year Event will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary. It is the annual fundraiser for Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership, Inc. (LEAP); 100% of ticket proceeds will go directly toward LEAP’s after-school and summer mentoring programs serving children and youth living in New Haven’s high poverty neighborhoods. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with great minds from a multitude of disciplines and mingle with New Haven leaders over fine dining in beautiful locales.
In 1995, Louise Endel decided to host a fundraiser for LEAP, but in a unique way: guests would split up into several small, intimate dinners generously hosted by LEAP friends. A notable Guest of Honor would be invited to each dinner, providing a special theme for the night’s discussions.
Now, 25 years later, the tradition of the LEAP Year Event is stronger than ever. This year’s fundraiser includes 33 separate dinners. Over 500 philanthropic donors, business professionals, and community leaders are expected to attend.
LEAP Year Event will commence with a cocktail reception, book signing, and an opportunity to hear from LEAP staff and counselors beginning at 5 pm on February 27 at the Hopkins School in New Haven. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the event, LEAP will honor Anne Calabresi and Judy Clark, who are both powerful advocates for youth in New Haven and have helped steer LEAP toward success for decades.
At 7 pm, attendees will depart for the individual dinners, which take place at 7:30 pm in the beautiful homes and venues of LEAP’s wonderful family of supporters throughout Greater New Haven. Four of the dinners will take place on actual leap year on Saturday, February 29 at 7 pm.
We are excited this year to invite so many wonderful Guests of Honor, including Chef Bun Lai, who owns Miya’s Sushi, the first sustainable sushi restaurant in the world; Rob Bonta, a former LEAP student counselor and now a California State Assemblymember who led the proposal of the California Green New Deal; and Timothy Snyder, Yale’s Richard C. Levin Professor of History, who will discuss at length the question “How democratic can America be?”
Some special dinners also include a live performance by the woodwind quintet Elm City Winds, a private tour of the Yale University Art Gallery, and a cooking-show-style master class with Betty Ann Donegan.
No matter your specific passion, be it economics or photography or science, you are sure to discover a dinner that you can sink your teeth into with relish. To see the full list of dinner hosts, Guests of Honor, and topics of discussion, visit LEAP’s website here.
LEAP Year Event is LEAP’s most successful fundraiser. Last year, we raised a record $200,000 which enabled us to provide free educational enrichment services to over 1,000 children and youth. The need for these important services is only growing even as the cost of running LEAP continues to rise.
Join LEAP Year Event, and you can both support LEAP’s work and also have an unforgettable evening with new friends! To attend the reception and a dinner of your choice, tickets are $150. To attend the reception without a dinner, tickets are $50. The deadline for buying tickets is February 17th. Please buy tickets here. Dinners sell out quickly so reserve your seat today!
What an honor it is to be part of a community that nurtures its children the way that LEAP does! It's quite a family that comes together each year to change our children's lives and our city. What a great way to celebrate our future together!