Today, family and friends of Boys Town New England came together for the annual Community Block Party and Citizenship Ceremony at the scenic Bazarsky Campus in Portsmouth. The event highlighted the success of Boys Town New England’s innovative Family Home Program and foster services with an afternoon of family fun.
“I’m so proud of the incredible young people who participate in our programming, and today was the perfect opportunity to highlight their success to our friends and neighbors,” said Sarah Galvan, the Executive Director of Boys Town New England. “We are facing an unprecedented shortage of foster families here in Rhode Island, and today, we were able to see firsthand how impactful these services truly are for our most vulnerable children.”
The three-hour event featured interactive activities for kids of all ages, including a bounce house, basketball games, and complimentary food from local vendors. In a moving ceremony, nine young people were designated as “Citizens of Boys Town,” as a tribute to their dedication and continued commitment to programming. Community leaders and lawmakers including Representative Terri Cortvriend (District 72) and Senator Linda Ujifusa (District 11) were also in attendance, providing citations, recognizing the achievements of the participants.
Boys Town New England’s Portsmouth campus was donated by the Bazarsky family and has been in use since 2005. The campus includes five homes, with residential services for up to 30 young people at a time. Each of the homes has its own “Family Teachers” who are responsible for the full-time care of the foster children.
