One Night 4 One Child: Celebrating 10 Years, Honoring Our 2025 Awardees, and Welcoming Dr. Sheri Ann McLean-Williams

This year marks a decade of impact for For One Child Foundation — ten years of breaking barriers, empowering underserved children, and building brighter futures through education.

To celebrate this milestone, we invite you to join us for our 10th Anniversary Celebration:

✨ One Night 4 One Child: A Decade of Difference ✨

📅 Saturday, November 15, 2025

🕕 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM

📍 Worcester Fitness Club – MacDonald’s Tavern, 440 Grove St., Worcester, MA

🎟️ Tickets are $55 — get yours now!👉 https://donorbox.org/events/801894

A Decade of Purpose, Passion, and Possibility

For One Child Foundation began with a single mission — to remove barriers to education for underserved youth. Over the past ten years, we’ve provided scholarships, school furniture, and laptops, and launched our SATE Program (Science, Art, Technology & Entrepreneurship), helping children explore creativity, innovation, and opportunity.

This anniversary is not just a look back—it’s a leap forward. Every dollar raised through this celebration will directly fund our Scholarship Fund and SATE Program, ensuring even more students have access to the education and experiences they deserve.

What to Expect

This isn’t a gala — it’s a celebration of joy and impact!

Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with laughter, music, and community:

🎤 Host: Latasha Hughes-Thomasson (Fitness 4 Life 1 & Your Favorite Neighborhood Girl Comedy)

🎧 Music: DJ Jagga

📸 Photography: Lynn Aurelie, Unabridge Media

💃 Dress Code: Impact-Inspired Chic — colorful, bold, and ready to dance!

Guests will enjoy delicious food, heartwarming stories, and a chance to celebrate those who make our mission possible.

Event Details

Honoring Our 2025 Awardees

Each year, For One Child recognizes individuals whose leadership and generosity reflect the heart of our mission. We are thrilled to announce our 2025 Honorees:

💺 ChairGiver Award (Highest Honor)

💙 Maria Lawson

💙 Mr. Mathias Brown (Posthumous)

This award represents the spirit of For One Child — embracing our mission wholeheartedly and advancing it with compassion and action.

🌞 Joy Ambassador Award

Youth Honorees: Imari Lawson & Sofia Martinez

Adult Honoree: Lorna Ellis

These changemakers embody joy in action — spreading kindness, positivity, and leadership in their communities.

🛡️ For One OG Award

Allison Chisolm & Antoinette Staple

Recognizing long-time supporters who have stood by For One Child from the beginning, helping us grow and thrive year after year.

🌱 Legacy Lifter Award

Jafet Martínez & Paulette Piñero

Celebrating visionaries who have elevated our mission and ensured its legacy for generations to come.

Award Ceremony 2024

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sheri Ann McLean-Williams

We are honored to welcome Dr. Sheri Ann McLean-Williams, last year’s ChairGiver Award Recipient, as our Keynote Speaker. Dr. McLean-Williams' dedication to education, equity, and empowerment continues to inspire communities and shape the next generation of leaders. Her message will remind us of mission-driven work and why it is needed more than ever today.

Dr. Sheri Ann McLean-Williams- 2024 ChairGiver Award Recipient

Sponsorship Opportunities

We’re inviting local businesses, community partners, and advocates to join us as sponsors of this milestone event. Your support fuels our mission and helps us reach our fundraising goal of $10,000.

Sponsorship Packages

📬 Checks payable to:For One Child Foundation6 Suffield St. #3Worcester, MA 01610

📧 To Sponsor: Maria Lawson – mlawson@foronechild.org | info@foronechild.org

🎁 In-Kind Donations

We’re also welcoming in-kind donations for our raffle and live auction — including gift cards, products, services, or experiences. These donations bring excitement to the evening while helping us raise crucial funds for our programs.

📧 Interested in contributing? Email mlawson@foronechild.org or info@foronechild.org

Join Us for a Night to Remember

One Night 4 One Child: A Decade of Difference will be a night of reflection, recognition, and renewal — celebrating 10 years of empowering children and families through education.

Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration of community, impact, and joy!

🎟️ Get Your Tickets Now ($55):👉 https://donorbox.org/events/801894

Together, let’s celebrate the joy, honor the journey, and dance for the difference. ❤️

#ForOneChild #OneNight4OneChild #10YearsOfImpact #CelebrateWithPurpose #EducationForAll

Patrons having fun.

Empowering Underserved Youth Through the SATE Program

On July 2025, For One Child Foundation launched its first-ever SATE Summer Bootcamp. This powerful, weeklong experience was designed to ignite creativity, leadership, and innovation in Worcester’s youth.

SATE stands for Science, Art, Technology & Entrepreneurship. We welcomed 16 dynamic young minds for a unique bootcamp that turned ideas into business ventures, curiosity into knowledge, and kids into confident CEOs.

Taking place at WorcLab in Worcester, the camp became a playground of possibility. Students collaborated, created, experimented, pitched, and shined—all while being surrounded by an inspiring community of instructors, volunteers, and sponsors who believed in their potential.

Why Worcester Needs Programs Like SATE

Worcester County is rich in culture and community. However, underserved youth often lack access to creative, tech-based, and entrepreneurial learning experiences outside the traditional classroom. The SATE Program fills that gap.

It equips students—especially Black and Brown youth—with essential 21st-century skills that are often gatekept. From building business brands to learning how AI tools work, from designing logos in Canva to presenting business pitches, SATE gives young people the space and tools to dream and do.

Programs like this don’t just educate; they empower. They offer our children a chance to see themselves as leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers in their own right. That’s the kind of change Worcester needs to keep building an equitable, thriving future.

What Happened at SATE?

For six inspiring days, students dove deep into the SATE pillars:

• SCIENCE with Dr. Antia Veal – exploring real-world experiments and scientific curiosity.

• ART with Savonne Pickett – creating visual narratives through mural work and multimedia design.

• TECHNOLOGY with Jafet Martinez – using AI and Canva to build brand identities, flyers, and business cards.

• ENTREPRENEURSHIP with Paulette Piñero – learning how to pitch, build, and own their ideas like CEOs.

  
  

For One Child SATE Program Award Ceremony — celebrating the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for their outstanding achievement and leadership.

The week culminated in our first-ever Sharklet Showcase on Saturday, July 26. Each student presented their startup vision to a panel of community judges, family, and friends.

Big Congrats to Our Student Stars:

🥇 1st Place- Alex Mutie & Elianna Itemere

🥈 2nd Place- Anna Britt “Anna” Kanjia

🥉 3rd Place- Khourie-Ann Green

Special shout-out to Team KAKE—Kenneth Green, Khourie-Ann Green, Anna Britt “Anna” Kanjia, and Enoch Itemere—for winning our AI Prompt Challenge!

This Wouldn’t Be Possible Without You

Our SATE Summer Bootcamp was built by community power. We’re sending deep thanks to:

Our SATE Squad (Instructors)

• Dr. Antia Veal – Science

• Savonne Pickett – Art

• Jafet Martinez – Tech

• Paulette Piñero – Entrepreneurship

  
  

Our Sponsors & Partners

• National Grid

• Cornerstone Bank & WorcLab

• The WellStorm Inc. & A Tribe Called Black

• Arts Worcester, Aesthetic by Cie, Molly McCullough for School Committee, Watoto Poa, Cruz Contracting, Unique Café, Father Jonathan Slavinskas

  
  

Special thanks to Unstoppable Latina® and their Shine & Build Accelerator for helping raise funds so that each student received a stipend to support their business idea. Also, thanks to The WellStorm Inc. and A Tribe Called Black for providing laptops and hotspots for every child.

We also celebrate the commitment of our volunteers and the Organization's leadership of Cie Morin, Maria Lawson, Nadine James, and Dr. Sheri-Ann McLean Williams. Their efforts helped make this week impactful and unforgettable.

Racquel Knight, Founder of For One Child Foundation, shares a moment of gratitude during the SATE Program, honoring community support and partnership.

It Was More Than a Program—It Was a Movement

SATE proved that when you invest in one child, you spark a ripple of hope, confidence, and transformation. Our work continues—and we want you to be part of what’s next.

Young participants proudly receive certificates of achievement during For One Child’s SATE Program.

Save the Date: Our 10-Year Celebration is Coming!

One Night 4 One Child: A Decade of Difference

Saturday, November 15, 2025

6:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Worcester Fitness Club – MacDonald's Tavern

440 Grove St., Worcester, MA 01605

Celebrate the Joy. Honor the Journey. Dance for the Difference.

Early Bird Tickets Are NOW ON SALE – Just $55!

Get Your Ticket Here

Sponsorship opportunities are available! Please contact Maria Lawson at mlawson@foronechild.org or info@foronechild.org. Help us continue making magic in the lives of children and families.

Want to support our next youth initiative or collaborate on future programs?

Let’s talk: info@foronechild.org

Donate: www.foronechild.org/donate

The Impact of SATE: A Closer Look

Building Skills for the Future

The SATE Program is not merely an event; it’s a stepping stone toward a brighter future for our youth. Each participant walked away with more than just knowledge. They gained confidence, teamwork skills, and a sense of ownership over their ideas.

Creating Lasting Connections

One of the most beautiful aspects of SATE was the connections formed. Students learned to work together, share ideas, and support one another. These bonds will last far beyond the bootcamp, creating a network of young innovators ready to uplift each other.

Inspiring the Next Generation

As we reflect on the success of SATE, we are reminded of our mission. We aim to empower underserved children with the tools they need to succeed. Programs like SATE inspire the next generation to dream big and take action.

Join Us in Our Mission

We invite you to be part of this transformative journey. Your support can help us expand our reach and impact. Together, we can ensure that every child has the resources they need to thrive.

Let’s continue to make a difference, one child at a time.

What is the History of Education in Jamaica?

Education in Jamaica has a rich and complex history, deeply influenced by the island's colonial past and its journey toward independence.

From early missionary schools to the modern education system, Jamaica's educational landscape has evolved significantly.

Understanding this history is crucial to appreciating the challenges and achievements of today's Jamaican students.

Colonial Beginnings:

Education in Jamaica began during the colonial era when schools were established by European missionaries.

These schools primarily focused on religious instruction and basic literacy. However, they were largely inaccessible to the majority of the population, especially enslaved Africans, who were denied formal education.

With the abolition of slavery in 1834, there was a greater push for education among the freed population. Missionaries expanded their schools, but access remained limited, and the curriculum was heavily influenced by British colonial ideals.

Post-Emancipation Developments:

Following emancipation, efforts were made to increase educational opportunities for the newly freed population. The Jamaican government began funding schools, but resources were scarce, and education remained a privilege for the wealthy. Most schools focused on vocational training rather than academic pursuits, reinforcing the colonial class structure.

In 1867, the Education Act was introduced to regulate schools and expand educational access. Despite these efforts, disparities in quality and access persisted, especially between urban and rural areas.

Independence and Educational Reform:

Jamaica gained independence from Britain in 1962, leading to significant changes in the educational system. The government prioritized education as a means of nation-building and social mobility.

Policies were implemented to expand access to primary and secondary education, and the curriculum was reformed to include Jamaican history and culture.

One of the most impactful reforms was the introduction of free primary education, followed by free secondary education in the 1970s. This initiative significantly increased enrollment rates, but challenges such as overcrowded classrooms and limited resources continued to hinder educational quality.

Modern Education System:

Today, Jamaica's education system comprises three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The government continues to focus on improving access, quality, and equity. However, challenges such as economic disparities, teacher shortages, and inadequate infrastructure persist.

Non-profit organizations like For One Child Foundation play a crucial role in bridging these gaps by providing educational resources to underprivileged children. Through initiatives like One Chair 4 One Child and One Laptop 4 One Child, they empower students to overcome barriers to learning and succeed academically.

To support these initiatives, consider donating to For One Child Foundation. Your contribution can make a difference in the lives of Jamaican students, helping them access the resources they need to thrive.

The history of education in Jamaica is a testament to the resilience and determination of its people. From colonial restrictions to modern advancements, Jamaica's educational journey reflects its cultural identity and aspirations for the future.

By understanding this history, we can better appreciate the importance of educational equity and continue to support initiatives that empower the next generation of Jamaican leaders.

Join us in making a difference! Support the educational journey of underprivileged children in Jamaica by donating to For One Child Foundation. Together, we can empower education and transform lives.

References:

• Jamaican Ministry of Education - For updated educational policies and reforms.

• World Bank Education in Jamaica - For insights into education funding and initiatives.

• UNESCO Education in Jamaica - For global educational statistics and context.

• History of Education in the Caribbean - To explore educational developments in the wider Caribbean region.