Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD) was founded in 1985 by Regina Snowden as a one-to-one mentoring program for youth with disabilities. At the time, mentoring was gaining prominence as a key intervention for bolstering life outcomes in at-risk youth, yet youth with disabilities were being systemically excluded from ongoing programs. In PYD’s first year, Regina matched 9 youth with disabilities with adults with a similar disability-and the demand for PYD’s services skyrocketed from there.
Now, 38 years later, we’re celebrating Regina and all that she’s accomplished throughout PYD’s time as she begins her retirement.
We’re back in person for this year’s Party 4 PYD, an event dedicated to raising program funds and increasing awareness of the power of mentoring and inclusion. It will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT at the Non Profit Center’s Event and Meeting Space, 89 South Street, Boston, MA.
Known as our largest fundraiser of the year, this event brings together local business people, participants, families, and members of our community who join us in our goal of creating a world where young people with disabilities will be able to live with dignity and pride in who they are, and lead self-determined lives filled with purpose. To accomplish our goal, we build the skills and abilities of young people with disabilities, and increase the inclusivity of workplaces, organizations, and communities.
Meet the Honorees
Regina Snowden, Recipient of the Regina Snowden Founder’s Award
After serving for 37 years as Founder and Executive Director of PYD, Regina will be transitioning out of her most recent role as Founder in Residence and celebrating retirement.
Since founding PYD in 1985, Regina has played a major role in the creation of successful programs and securing funding which has enabled the organization to help Massachusetts youth with disabilities overcome barriers by providing mentoring, education, entrepreneurship, health, recreational and cultural opportunities.
Regina and PYD programs have received awards and recognition from organizations and entities including the American Red Cross (Clara Barton Award), Citizens Bank (Champion in Action Award), United Way of Massachusetts Bay, the Harvard School of Public Health, Children’s Hospital, the City of Boston, and the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
Regina received a B.A. in Social Work from Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana and an M.S.W. in Social Work from Boston University.
Keith Jones, Oswald Mondejar Innovator Award
Keith Jones is the President and CEO of SoulTouchin Experiences, an organization aimed at bringing a perspective to the issues of access inclusion and empowerment, which affect him as well as others who are persons with a disability. To achieve this multicultural, cross-disability education and outreach efforts, he collaborates and conducts trainings with the purpose of strengthening efforts to provide services and information for people with disabilities. The issues he tackles are wide ranging from immigration, criminal justice reform, health care and environmental justice, just to name a few.
Samantha Mood, Mr. D for a Difference Award
Samantha Mood is a current youth participant who will be the recipient of the Mr. D for a Difference Award, in honor of Darryl Sanchez.
Throughout the past six months that Samantha has been a participant, she has flourished into a confident and assertive person who is always willing to both try new activities and follow her passions. During the summer, she worked hard on learning about employment skills and the different parts of applying for a job. After completing summer classes and a resume, Samantha began an internship with the fashion company Girls Chronically Rock. Her goals were to work on both professional skills and communication skills and connect her internship with her passion for theater and fashion, and she excelled at those goals!
Samantha has done an excellent job of working on her internship goals, giving her best effort, having a positive attitude, and being willing to try new tasks, proving that she is well deserving of the Mr. D for a Difference Award.
Register for and Support Party 4 PYD
Attend the Event
Join us for a cocktail reception, program updates, and silent auction hosted on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT at the Non Profit Center’s Event and Meeting Space, 89 South Street, Boston, MA. This ticket is $150 per person.
Become a Sponsor
We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without supporters like you! We’re grateful for the support of our sponsors who have helped to make this happen.
Presenting Sponsor
- Liberty Mutual Insurance
Investor Sponsor
- Schawbel Industries
Role Model Sponsors
- Van & Kimberly Gurley
- United Way of Massachusetts Bay
Mentor Sponsors
- Steve & Donna Mastrocola
- Lori & George Andrews
- Jean Joy
- Wolf & Company PC
- Highland Partners Charitable Fund
- The Kraft Family and the New England Patriots Foundation
- PwC
- Atkinson Charitable Fund
Friend Sponsors
- Tere Ramos & Meath Dunne
- Regina Snowden
- Dedham Savings
- People’s Bank of Holyoke
- Oz Mondejar & John Verlinden
- Henry Goodrow
Please consider becoming a sponsor today.
We look forward to seeing everyone in-person on May 17, 2023! Purchase your ticket here.