9th Annual Fundraiser, Symposium, First Poetry Contest

Since the founding of World Unity, Inc in 1993 the biggest challenge we faced was securing a waterfront site in the Seaport District of Boston. In 2004 we reached a milestone by securing Children’s Wharf Park as the site to build the World Unity, Landmark. In 2005 we had to exercise extraordinary patience and perseverance to finalize the location for the construction of the World Unity Landmark. An interim park was completed in the fall of 2005.

Our sole source of fundraising is through our annual gala fundraising event. This event also keeps us in the public eye and helps increase public awareness. In 2005 we had our 9th Annual Gala Fundraising Event held October 14th at the Boston Marriott Hotel in Copley Square. It was successful and challenging. This year we had to unfortunately compete with donations going to the victims of the Katrina Hurricane. We had close to 200 guests. For the first time this year we invited Grandstand to join us in the silent auction. They help non-profit organizations by donating a portion of their sales of sports memorabilia to the organization. Grandstand also donated an item to our silent auction. They helped us raise an extra $700. We raised over $42,000 dollars. Our expenses were about $11,500. Our keynote speaker was David Lee, an architect and partner from Stull And Lee Inc.

Due to the success of the first symposium, “Creating A World Free of Prejudice, Bias and Discrimination at the Boston Public Library last June we spearheaded the second symposium in June. It was sponsored by 12 other non profit organizations. The keynote speaker was Robert Lewis, executive director of Neighborhood Youth and Services. The event was well attended and received high ratings from attendees.

For the first time this year we initiated a statewide poetry contest; “Diversity Through Poetry,” with the support of Greater Boston Media and public and private schools across Massachusetts. Over 100 poems were submitted from 19 different schools. The winning students were from the James Curley Elementary School in Jamaica Plain, Chenery Middle School in Belmont and Medford High School in Medford. The poems were read by students and produced into a public service announcement by Julie Devereaux of WROR.105.7FM. They aired on the Boston Greater Media radio stations including WROR105.7FM. The public service announcements directed listeners to World Unity, Inc.’s website generating more public awareness. The poetry contest also received coverage in the Boston Globe.

In our on going challenge to generate press coverage we received a second write up in the Boston Globe in July. It continues to help promote awareness about World Unity, Inc. and our mission to build a landmark symbol promoting equality, diversity and unity.

Total operating expense for the year was $5,719.91 We expanded our board voting on six new board members. We had two resignations.