Events

Upcoming events

Fashioning Stronger Communities:

A Charity Fashion Show to Benefit The Lenny Zakim Fund

Every ticket purchased directly supports The Lenny Zakim Fund’s mission to invest in local, community-driven organizations tackling issues such as social justice, economic empowerment, and equity. Your participation helps amplify the voices of grassroots changemakers across eastern Massachusetts.

24th Annual
No Show Ball
November 17th, 2025

More information coming soon.
30th Annual Awards Ceremony
February 12th, 2026 | WGBH

More information coming soon.

Past Events

SEPT.
06

Light the Night Fundraiser 2025

Date: Saturday, September 06, 2025

Click for details.

SEPT.
06

Light the Night Fundraiser

Save the Date: Saturday, September 06, 2025

Click for details.

graphic logo that says 'Light the Night' in light blue letters with a yellow burst as the dot in the 'i' | above that text, in yellow caps, it says 'The Lenny Zakim Fund' and at the bottom in the same writing, it says 'Celebrating 30 years'

Saturday, September 6, 2025

Contact Carla Beaudoin, Interim Director of Development at cbeaudoin@thelennyzakimfund.org for more information.

Images From Past Light the Night Events

image of a seven adults in formal attire posing together, smiling, standing in front of a neon light that says 'Light The Night'

image of 4 adults in formal attire, standing next to a table with drinks on it, smiling for the camera while other people mingle in the background

image of LZF Allison Picott giving a speech, she is wearing a formal black, sleeveless dress and holding a microphone | there are people circled around her in the background

image of a group of people in formal attire dancing

SEPT.
06

Light the Night Fundraiser 2025

Date: Saturday, September 06, 2025

Click for details.

FEB.
13

Annual Awards Ceremony

Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 8:00PM
Location: Royal Sonesta Hotel (40 Edwin H Land Blvd, Cambridge, MA 02142)

Click for details.

NOV.
17

No Show Ball

Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024
Location: Virtual

Click for details.

banner picture with textL 'The Lenny Zakim Fund's 23rd Annual No Show Ball Sunday November 17th, 2024'

Typically, when a nonprofit organization hosts an in-person fundraising event, a large portion of the revenue generated is often eaten up by expenses associated with the event. The wonderful thing about LZF’s No Show Ball is that 100% of the revenue generated goes directly to support our work with our grantee partners. It is a way for people to show up for LZF without actually showing up. 

OCT.
16

Bridge Builder

Voices of Resilience: Immigrant Stories in Greater Boston’s Nonprofit Sector

Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Time: 4:00 – 6:00PM
Location: The Civic Pavilion at City Hall (5 Congress St, Boston, MA 02203)

Click for details.

flyer image - background image is of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge with a blue overlay, then in a white rectangle with blue lettering it says 'The Lenny Zakim Fund' followed by large white lettering that says 'Bridge Builder' in all caps, and finally, at the bottom of the page in smaller, white lettering, 'Voices of Resilience: Immigrant Stories in Greater Boston's Nonprofit Sector'

The nonprofit sector in Greater Boston and beyond is enriched by the cultural influences and grassroots leadership of immigrant communities. Their stories and experiences play a vital part in building a sector and society that centers and celebrates thriving communities of all backgrounds. This event included a lively panel discussion about the experiences of immigrant leaders in Greater Boston’s nonprofit sector, how their culture and experiences inform their work, and how philanthropy can continue to support thriving immigrant communities. Our panelists for this event were:

  • Asha Abdullahi, Executive Director at Somali Parents Advocacy Center for Education (SPACE)
  • Naheed Esar, Executive Director at Asian Women for Health
  • Fracisco De La Miyar, Cooperative Developer at Center for Cooperative Development and Solidarity (CCDS)


The panel was moderated by Aditi Dholakia, Deputy Director at The Lenny Zakim Fund.

SEPT.
07

Light the Night Fundraiser

Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024
Time: 4:00 – 6:00PM
Location: Alcove, Boston

Click for details.

graphic banner image: image is of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge at night - text reads 'The Lenny Zakim Fund' in yellow letters, 'Light the Night' in light blue letters, and 'Boston Common Exclusive Print Media Sponsor of Light the Night' in white letters on the left and on the right, in yellow lettering, it says 'Saturday, September 7, 2024'

Light the Night was a festive evening bringing together members of the LZF community in a venue with the backdrop of the illuminated symbolic Zakim Bridge. Those in attendance enjoyed great food, drink, and dance, and had fun while helping to support The Fund’s work with grassroots organizations throughout eastern Massachusetts.

LIGHT THE NIGHT SPONSORS

Star Lights
$10,000

The Slater Foundation

Moon Lights
$5,000

The Elevate Leadership Group
Integrated Builders
Mark and Susan Irvings
Suzi Kaitz and Jonathan Katz
Alex and Lianne Leventhal
Meads Bay Hotel Group

Twinkle Lights
$2,500

Crestwood Advisors
Eastern Bank Foundation
Mark and Ashley Ohanian
Bob White
Josh and Grace Zakim

Night Lights
$1,000

Jason and Lucy Amello
The Boston Foundation
Carte Blanche Careers
Michael and Manisha Eckton
Tom and Carole Hemnes
Jessica Hennessy
Allison Picott and Michael Goldstein
Heidi Price Design
Scott Price
Rob Sherman and Joan Lenington
Ellie Starr
Aprylle and Eric Wallace
Daniel Winslow
Deena Zakim and Jesse Chebot
Joyce Zakim and Peter Greenspan

Fireflies
$500

Martha Bacigalupo
Michael and Megan Bowhers
Martha Bacigalupo
Charnice Burns and Todd Mazer
Jonathan and Elizabeth Coffman
Dan and Marta Garcia Daneshvar
Lisa Flores
David McCarthy
Gaby and Adam Goldstein
Thomas and Mih-Ho Neenan
Anna and Matt Noon
Sabrina Particelli
Franklin Ross
Deborah Seidel
Loren Van Allen
Swapna and Nate Vantzelfde
K. Weill Consulting Group, LLC
TT and Maarten Wensveen
George and JoJo Wetterau
Shari and Phil Zakim-Yacouby

LIGHT THE NIGHT PLANNERS

Light the Night Planning Committee:

Charnice Burns
Reynolds Graves
Jessica Hennessy
Meghan Houle
Lauren Michaels

Light the Night Host Committee:

Kendin Carr
Nicole Conlon
Michael and Manisha Eckton
Lisa Flores
Morgan Franklin
Beth McBride George
Mark and Susan Irvings
Allison Mazer
Melissa McCarthy
Tyler Murphy
Allison Picott and Michael Goldstein
Heidi Price
Jessica Rosenberg
Deborah Seidel
Hailee Walker
JoJo G. Wetterau
Josh and Grace Zakim

FEB.
15

Annual Awards Ceremony

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2024
Time: 6:00 – 8:00PM
Location: Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge

Click for details.

On February 15th, we celebrated grassroots leadership, met The Lenny Zakim Fund’s 2024 grantee partners, and were inspired by the local champions doing the important work needed to create meaningful change.

Click here to view the program booklet.