Evening to feature opening night of signature student-led performance and memorable culinary experiences
BOSTON, MA – December 18, 2025 – The Boston Arts Academy Foundation (BAAF) is proud to announce the 10th annual Champion Reception, taking place on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 5:30 to 9:00 PM at Boston Arts Academy, 174 Ipswich Street. This milestone celebration honors a decade of recognizing individuals whose leadership and generosity reflect the school’s mission to develop artist-scholars-citizens and uplift equitable access to arts education at Boston’s only public high school for the performing arts.
Under the vision and leadership of Event Chair Kristen Standish, this year marks a historic first: the Champion Reception will be held inside the school itself, inviting guests into the creative spaces where Boston Arts Academy (BAA) students learn, practice, and bring their artistry to life every day. Standish, founder of RazHer, and CEO of VizSense, an AI-driven martech company, is also a mother to a thriving BAA student.
“This 10-year milestone Champions event is truly special,” said Denella Clark, President and CEO of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation. “It brings together the celebration of exceptional leadership and civic responsibility with a breathtaking, all-student-led performance that highlights the full range of our students’ talents—from singing and dancing to lighting and production. The evening honors the supporters who help make these transformative experiences possible and showcases how a foundation in the arts shapes well-rounded, globally minded citizens. With distinguished honorees representing government, banking, healthcare, and civic leadership, it is truly a night not to be missed.”
The 2026 Champion Awards will honor:
- Robert Chambers, Vice President for Strategic Engagement and Chief of Staff at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Former Chair of the BAA Board of Trustees
- Diana DiZoglio, Massachusetts State Auditor
- Lorena Silva, CEO of Vitra Health, Board Member of BAAF & Chris Herman, Executive Vice President, Head of Retirement & Wealth Inspira Financial
These distinguished honorees exemplify the spirit of community, creativity, and advocacy that has shaped BAA’s impact in Boston and beyond.
“We believe that talent is distributed evenly but access is not,” says Standish. “By raising funds for Boston’s only public school for the performing arts, together with this dynamic class of Champions, we are creating a legacy of opportunity and greatness for generations to come.”
New this year, guests will enjoy a culinary experience from a variety of the city’s top restaurants including Rochembeau, Del Frisco’s, Abe & Louis and others along with celebrity chefs, mocktail lounges, and interactive activations and technological wonders from partners across the Boston community. A highlight of this year’s event will be the opening night of the student-led performance. This signature annual performance underscores the school’s commitment to both artistic excellence and creative exploration showcasing the extraordinary talent and artistic discipline that define Boston Arts Academy. The goal of the night is to raise $300K.
The Champion Reception not only celebrates BAA’s vibrant community but is also working to raise critical funds that support scholarships, college pathway support and career enrichment, academic tutoring, mental health resources, cutting edge studios, instruments and technology, and the artistic training that allows students to flourish.
Event Details:
Thursday, March 19, 2026
5:30 – 9:00 PM
Boston Arts Academy
174 Ipswich St, Boston, MA 02215
To purchase tickets, review sponsorship opportunities and for more information or media inquiries, please visit the event page here.
About the Boston Arts Academy Foundation
Established in 1999, the Boston Arts Academy Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization that raises essential funds from private philanthropic sources to augment the Boston Arts Academy school budget. The BAAF helps bridge the gap between the school’s allocation from the Boston Public Schools and the true cost of a high-quality education that is both art-intensive and college-preparatory. Construction of the new BAA school building in 2022 does not change BPS’s funding formula, which does not fully cover the cost of a college preparatory academic program and a competitive arts program. Visit https://bostonartsacademy.org/foundation for more information.
About the Boston Arts Academy
Founded in 1998 as the city’s only public high school for the visual and performing arts, Boston Arts Academy (BAA) has distinguished itself among urban public high schools as a leader in innovative and effective student-centered education. Consistently recognized locally and nationally for its achievements, BAA exemplifies the power of an arts-rich education and many BAA graduates have found success in college through the arts. BAA’s dynamic program prepares graduates to be critical thinkers, effective communicators, collaborators, and creators. Students come from almost all of Boston’s 23 neighborhoods to receive the formal arts training and academic instruction that will make them Boston’s next generation of artists and cultural leaders. In September 2022, the BAA community entered its new $125 million, 153,500 square foot facility. Among many highlights, it includes new and much-needed enhanced theaters, career center, academic classrooms, dance studios, music practice rooms and fashion technology studios and workspace. With the new school building, the number of students enrolled has increased to over 500, and will continue to grow to over 600 in the coming years. For more about the BAA follow the school Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and visit https://bostonartsacademy.org/ to learn more.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Regan Communications Group:
Erin Gourley – [email protected] ( c ) 646-357-2293
Doug Haslam – [email protected] ( c ) 617-851-1968
