Boston College is proud to contribute to our host communities of Boston, Newton, Dover and Brookline through notable programs and events. Many students, staff, and faculty are active volunteers in our neighboring communities. They contribute their time to a wide range of activities including education and literacy programs, youth sports, neighborhood development initiatives, and the arts.
The Academy - Pine Manor Institute for Student Success
Designed for students in grades 8–12 from underrepresented and underserved communities, as well as first-generation students, the Academy is a cost-free enrichment program that features year-round academic support from BC Success Coaches. The residential Summer Enrichment Program is held on BC's Chestnut Hill Campus. Over the summer, students live in the residence halls for one week in 8th grade and up to six weeks by 12th grade.
Athletics
Athletic Tickets
In conjunction with the Athletics Department, the Office of Governmental & Community Affairs provides tickets to residents of Allston-Brighton to all Boston College home football, basketball and hockey games. Whenever possible, tickets are also donated to youth sports organizations and local community groups to support their charitable activities.
Mayor's Cup Hockey
Each January, Boston College donates ice time to the City of Boston for the Mayor's Cup Hockey Tournament, providing an opportunity for youngsters of all ages throughout the City of Boston to compete at the squirt, peewee, and bantam hockey levels.
BC Campus School 5K Run 'n Roll
Worked with the Campus School to start this race as a fundraiser for the school.
BC Race to Educate
Boston College’s Race to Educate is a 5K run/walk fundraiser in support of Saint Columbkille Partnership School in Brighton, MA. This event raises money to provide an opportunity for students to receive a Catholic education by funding need-based scholarships to students.
More information about the race to educate
Brian Honan 5K
The Brian J. Honan Charitable Fund was established to carry on Brian's commitment to the causes that he championed throughout the course of his life. With funds raised from the road race, the Charitable Fund has been able to support and foster local and national programs that support education, recreation, housing and healthcare.
more information about the brian honan 5k
Welles Crowther Red Bandanna Run
The Welles Crowther Red Bandanna Run is a 5K fundraising race to support the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust established by the Crowther Family as a way to honor Welles and keep his memory alive by benefitting young people through scholarships and support of various organizations. Each year, the Red Bandanna Run continues to bring together friends, family and members of the BC community from all over the country as a way to respect and celebrate the life of this 9/11 hero.
Civic & Community Partnerships
Allston Brighton Chamber of Commerce
As a long-standing and active member of the Allston-Brighton community, Boston College supports the local business community by administrators serving as board members or in leadership positions on the boards of trade, providing operational support and contributing financially to charitable events and targeted initiatives aimed at helping the business community succeed.
Allston Village Main Streets and Brighton Main Streets
As a long-standing and active member of the Allston-Brighton community, Boston College supports Brighton Main Streets and Allston Village Main Streets in their mission to empower entrepreneurs, support small businesses, create a thriving local business district and provide community events and programming for residents and businesses. Administrators serve as board members or in leadership positions on the main streets organizations, offer operational support and contribute financially to charitable events and initiatives. The Director of Government Relations currently serves as the President and as a board member of Brighton Main Streets.
Boston Police Advisory Committee
The Director of Community Affairs at Boston College serves as a member of the Boston Police Department District 14 Advisory Board that meets to discuss police related matters impacting the Allston-Brighton neighborhoods. The Committee meets bi-annually or as needed.
Kiwanis Club of Allston-Brighton
The Director of Community Affairs serves as a member of the Allston-Brighton Kiwanis Club. The Kiwanis Club is dedicated to improving the lives of children in the community and service is at the heart of every club’s mission. Through charitable events such as the “Kiwanis Star” singing competition and the annual Kiwanis Derby, the Allston-Brighton chapter has been able to raise funds for local non-profit organizations such as the Franciscan Hospital for Children, the Oak Square YMCA Summer Camp Scholarship Program and St. Joseph’s Prep High School “Support A Scholar” Program.
Taste of Off-Campus
Held in September, the Taste of Off-Campus is the signature welcome back event of the fall semester for the BC off-campus community. The OGCA works with the Office of Off-Campus Student Life and the Office of Student Conduct to bring local restaurants to BC, where they have the opportunity to set up booths and provide free samples for students, staff, and neighbors to enjoy.
Jackson Mann Community Center
Since 1993, the Director of Community Affairs has served on the Board of Directors at the Jackson Mann Community Center advocating and supporting the Center’s mission to provide adult education programming, teen programming in the Faneuil Housing Development and after-school child care and summer youth camps. Boston College students also volunteer at the various programs offered at the Jackson Mann Community Center.
BC Campus Community Partnership Initiative (CCPI)
Established in 2006, the Boston College CCPI's mission is to promote communication and working relationships between the University, the community and the City of Boston. CCPI meets twice a semester and is comprised of administrators from the OGCA, the Offices of Student Affairs, Student Conduct, Residential Life and Off-Campus Student Life, Boston College Police, neighbors, landlords and property managers, as well as representatives from Boston Police District-14, Boston Inspectional Services Department, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, and City Council staff. Through dialogue, education, prevention and problem-solving, the group addresses issues of student behavior, health, safety, accountability, respectful decision-making and quality of life issues in the neighborhood. Together, CCPI works to achieve shared responsibility, respect and civility among all community members.
Road to the Right Track
Boston College has been active in providing space during the winter months to the Road to the Right Track program. This program is run by Frank Hughes from the Boston Police, D-14 station serving the Allston-Brighton community. The track program involves youth from the Allston-Brighton area training in all aspects of the sport. It ranges from nutrition, mental preparation, and short runs around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir as well as other locations in the area. The program prepares young people to compete in road races like the Brian Honan 5K, BC Race to Educate, Oak Square YMCA 5K and others. Participants are also exposed to a variety of speakers including an admissions counselor from BC as well as our Chief of Police and former Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, who is also a member of their Board of Trustees.
Cultural Events & Programs
Pops on the Heights
Each fall, Boston College provides 75 complimentary tickets to the Allston, Brighton, and Newton communities for the annual "Pops on the Heights" concert, which takes place every September at Boston College's Conte Forum.
Arts Festival
Each spring, the Boston College Arts Festival brings the community together to celebrate the arts. This annual spring event showcases over 1,000 student and faculty artists in the performing, visual, and literary arts. The entire community is invited to over 30 free events that include drama, dancing, symphonies, jazz, visual arts presentations and children's activities.
more information about the arts festival
Neighborhood Night at the Theater
As part of the Arts Festival, the Office of Governmental and Community Affairs distributes complimentary tickets to the Theater Department's spring presentation right before the Arts Festival begins. Community members are invited to enjoy a private reception before the show. Please contact our office for more info.
McMullen Museum of Art
The McMullen Museum aims to cultivate learning, celebrate artistic excellence, and explore the visual traditions of diverse cultures. The McMullen offers exhibition-related programs and resources for diverse audiences of all ages on campus, in the Greater Boston area, and beyond. Located at 2101 Commonwealth Avenue. Please visit The McMullen Musuem website for more information and current exhibits.
Educational Partnerships
The Office of Governmental and Community Affairs as well as the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College are involved in a number of ongoing partnerships with the Boston Public Schools. Boston College faculty, staff, and students provide a wide range of services and benefits to Boston Public School students and faculty.
St. Columbkille Partnership School
The Saint Columbkille Partnership School is a Catholic elementary school located in the Brighton section of Boston, Massachusetts. In 2006, Saint Columbkille Parish, the Archdiocese of Boston, and Boston College combined their resources in educational leadership, finance and enrollment management, student development, academic practice and research, facilities management, and religious formation to create a flagship Catholic elementary school in Boston.
Educational experts coordinated by Boston College faculty are collaborating to implement state-of-the-art approaches to teaching from the early childhood program through middle school, using evidence-based research curriculum to teach math, science, literacy, and other subjects, in addition to working with bilingual students and children with moderate special needs.
City Connects
City Connects (CCNX) is a school-based, systemic collaboration among Boston Public Schools, more than 100 community agencies, and Boston College. CCNX is designed to promote strengths in academic, social-emotional, and physical well-being and alleviate barriers to learning in elementary school students using our model of optimized student support. Our mission is to have children engage and learn in school by connecting each child with a tailored set of prevention, intervention, and enrichment services that he or she needs to thrive.
College Bound
Established by Boston College in 1987, College Bound is a program for culturally and racially diverse students from the Boston Public Schools that focuses on increasing their access to and retention in four-year institutions of higher education. Boston College students work with high school youths to refine their academic skills and supplement their high school programs with Saturday enrichment classes both on the BC campus and in their communities. The program also fosters leadership skills and parental engagement, and provides career advisement, college application assistance and financial aid guidance.
The Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars Programs
The Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars program is an intensive one-year master’s degree program in teacher preparation. Each year, the program recruits and supports a diverse cohort of up to 30 graduate students, and provides them with an academically challenging education specifically responsive to the concerns and needs of urban students, families, schools and communities.
Continuing Education Programs
Whether you’re a returning graduate, a practitioner looking to expand your skillset or renew a license, or a community member interested in personal development, Boston College Continuing Education can connect you with high-quality educational programming that meets your needs. From workshops and certificate programs to online courses and educational travel, our offerings make it easy for you to accelerate your career or pursue new knowledge.
Please note that the BC Beyond Lifelong Learning Coffee and Conversation Series has been rescheduled for fall 2020.
more information about bc continuing education
more information about the bc beyond lifelong learning series
Grants
(Established in 2015)
For the BCNIF, please direct inquiries to Anabela Gomes at bela@mail.com or Jeanne Levesque at jeanne.levesque@bc.edu.
7/6/23 Boston College NIF Grant 2023
Beginning in the spring of 2015, as part of a package of public benefits related to its Institutional Master Plan, Boston College established a $2,564,000 Neighborhood Improvement Fund (NIF) grant for projects that enhance the public realm and for which public sources of financing may be unavailable or inadequate.
The NIF grant may be used by public or private non-profit entities to implement improvements on public property. Projects may include improvements in public parks and open space, neighborhood beautification, transportation and roadway improvements, public safety projects, public art, and other projects that achieve the objectives of the fund.
Projects should be of broad public benefit to the Allston-Brighton neighborhood, with particular emphasis on the areas of Brighton closest to Boston College (e.g. Lake Street, Foster Street, Cleveland Circle, Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton Center). Applicants will be expected to garner and demonstrate broad community support for their projects as part of the application and review process.
2023 Boston College Neighborhood Improvement Fund (NIF) Recipients
$274, 825 was awarded to the following organizations:
- Allston Brighton CDC & Artists for Humanity: 3 Artistic Bicycle Racks-Allston - $24,825
- Friends of Chandler Pond & Boston Parks & Recreation Department: Pond Restoration & Access Improvements - $250,000
2020 NIF COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grants
In partnership with the City of Boston and the Boston College Task Force, Boston College distributed $125,000 in emergency NIF grants to aid the City of Boston and local non-profit organizations in COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts.
$25,000—Donation to the City of Boston Resiliency Fund. The Boston Resiliency Fund, part of the Boston Charitable Trust, was established by the City to raise money to provide essential services to residents of the City of Boston impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of the fund is to provide food to Boston children and seniors, purchase technology for BPS students and support medical and other first responders. The BC donation was targeted to support organizations distributing food and other essential items to families in need in Allston and Brighton neighborhoods.
$50,000—Funds to BC Dining Service $25,000 to purchase products and prepare “complete” frozen meals (protein, starch, vegetable) to continue food distribution to the YMCA system, the Brazilian Worker Center Food Pantry, St. Anthony's Church Food Pantry, the Boston Public Health Commission Shelter System and the West End House. $25,000 to purchase high-demand grocery items such as bread, shelf-stable milk, yogurt, cheese, rice beans, and canned meat/chicken/protein for distribution to families in need at the sites mentioned above.
$25,000—Funds to BC Purchasing Department for bulk purchase of 161,000 diapers (805 cases) of various sizes from infant to toddlers. In addition to food, the most requested item from the community to service providers was diapers. The bid, prepared and expedited by BC Purchasing, allowed the University to get the most competitive pricing to maximize the amount of diapers purchased. Due to the large volume, the diapers were stored at BC's warehouse and were transported to the BC Neighborhood Center (BCNC) where they were distributed weekly by staff from the Office of Governmental & Community Affairs (OGCA) and the BCNC to the Allston Brighton Diaper Pantry, the Charles River Community Health Center, The Martha Eliot Health Center, the Brazlian Worker Center and the West End House (upon request).
$25,000—Funds to OCGA to purchase 500, $50 Stop & Shop grocery gift cards to be given out by BC to supplement the efforts of local food pantry programs operating at St. Anthony’s Church and the Brazilian Worker Center in Allston. The gift cards were purchased though Stop & Shop’s Cash for Causes program and all 501(c)3 organizations receive a 5% discount to make the purchase go further. In addition, Stop & Shop generously donated $2500 in additional gift cards to support the University's efforts.
2018-2019 Boston College Neighborhood Improvement Fund (NIF) Recipients
$1,104,095 was awarded to the following organizations:
- Allston Village Main Streets: Allston Village Lights Project - $60,000
- Allston-Brighton CDC & DPW: Bench Project - $20,000
- Artists for Humanity: Artistic Bike Racks - $42,846
- Boston Parks & Recreation: McKinney Playground Improvements - $750,000
- Boston Transportation Department: Two BlueBike Stations - $106,250
- Brighton Gateway & Brighton Marine Health Center (Fiscal Agent): Gateway Improvement Project - $100,000
- Gardner Pilot Academy & Boston Educational Development Fund (Fiscal Agent) Community Garden & School Grounds Improvement Project - $24,999
2016 Boston College Neighborhood Improvement Fund (NIF) Recipients
$325,798 was awarded to the following organizations:
- Artists for Humanity: Brighton High School Sculptural Art Work - $30,798
- Allston Village Main Streets: Tree Pit Initiative - $36,000
- Jackson Mann Community School & Council: Playground Initiative - $100,000
- Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation: Chestnut Hill Reservation & Reservoir Improvements - $59,000
- VFW Post 669 & Boston Parks & Recreation (Fiscal Agent): Major General George W. Casey Bronze Relief - Casey Memorial Amphitheater - $100,000
2015 Boston College Neighborhood Improvement Fund (NIF) Recipients
$446,138 was awarded to the following organizations:
- Allston-Brighton Veterans & Brighton Marine Health Center (Fiscal Agent): Medal of Honor Statue for Private First Class Ernest W. Prussman killed during WWII - $90,000
- Boston Transportation Department-Boston Bikes: Two Hubway Bike-Share Stations - $95,600
- Boston Police Department, District 14: Two Speed Alert Display Board Units - $40,000
- Brighton Main Streets, Inc.: Gateway signage and an interactive kiosk that will provide information about local businesses, access to public transit, and a community calendar - $100,000
- Friends of Chestnut Hill Reservation & DCR (Fiscal Agent): Two solar-operated trash and recyclable compacting stations and an outdoor drinking fountain (also pet friendly) - $25,000
- Friends of McKinney Park & Boston Parks & Recreation (Fiscal Agent): Automated, solar-powered scoreboard, three concrete chess tables, and transformation of the street hockey court so it can also be used for soccer and basketball - $95,538
$3,000 Program/Project Grant
(Available twice per year - Fall & Spring)
The mission of the Allston-Brighton-Boston College Community Fund is to support programs and services that are available to the people of Allston and Brighton. The Fund Committee seeks applications from organizations, associations, programs, or purposes based in Allston and Brighton. The Committee gives special consideration to the benefit of the potential award on the youth, senior citizens, and the needy in the Allston and Brighton neighborhoods. Beautification projects are also encouraged.
The Fund was established by the former Mayor of Boston, Thomas M. Menino and Rev. J. Donald Monan, former President of and current Chancellor of Boston College.
The purpose of the awards is to supplement existing budgets of established organizations and agencies in order to promote a program or service for which financial support is not otherwise available. Consultants will not be funded. The Fund Committee also considers and makes awards to independent groups who present a worthy proposal or sponsor a worthwhile event.
Interested groups may apply for funding either during the fall cycle or the spring cycle.
Please Note: Only one grant per group or agency will be awarded per year.
For the Fall 2023 cycle of the Allston Brighton/Boston College Communty Fund a total of $35,114 was distributed to the following 12 organizations:
- Action for Boston Community Development: Holiday Meals and Toy Program
- Allston/Brighton Chamber of Commerce: 2023 Holiday Lights
- Allston Brighton Youth Hockey Association: 2023-2024 Program Costs
- Allston Village Main Streets: Allston Holiday Lights Program
- Baldwin Early Learning Pilot Academy: First Grade Swim Lessons
- Boston Police Department: Shop with a Cop
- Brighton High School: Providing Community Supports through Work Based Learning
- Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts, Inc.: Allston-Brighton Diaper Pantry
- Faneuil Tenants Organization: The Togetherness Project
- Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church: Open Door Freezer Replacement
- Presentation School Foundation, Inc.: PSF Community Center - Improving Safety & Food Accessibility
- Winship School Parent Council (SPC): Winship School Outdoor Beautification Project
For the Spring 2023 cycle of the Allston Brighton/Boston College Communty Fund a total of $39,914 was distributed to the following 15 organizations:
- Boston Rising Tide: Allston/Brighton Community - Volleyball/Sport Clinic
- Charles River Conservancy, Inc.: Conservancy Volunteer/Community Volunteer Events
- Community Rowing, Inc.: Let's Row Summer Learn-to-Row Camp
- The Corner Art Room: Sound System Solution
- The Fishing Academy: Hooked on Fishing
- Friends of Herter Park: Improved Lighting/Signage/Community Awareness Project 2023
- Friends of the Honan Allston Library: Sewing Machine Maintenance
- Penniman Community Garden: Combat
- Road to the Right Track: Summer Programming & Incentive Program
- Saint Columbkille Partnership School.: Saint Columbkille Athletic Program
- Shaloh House: School Vegetable Garden Educational Programming
- Spark A Life with Art: Spart with Art Community Art's Fest
- Unbound Visual Arts: Technology Enhancements
- West End House Camp, Inc.: Project Camperships 2023
- West End House Girls Camp: Camper Scholarships
For the Fall 2022 cycle of the Allston Brighton/Boston College Communty Fund a total of $38,465 was distributed to the following 13 organizations:
- ABCD Allston Brighton Neighborhood Opportunity Center: December Meals & Toys Program
- Baldwin Early Learning Pilot Academy: Enrichment Activities
- Boston Police Department: Shop with a Cop
- Brazilian Women's Group: Targeting basic needs of Brazilians in Allston/Brighton
- Brighton Allston Improvement Association (BAIA): BAIA Technical Upgrade
- Brighton Board of Trade: Brighton Holiday Lights
- Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe: Buildout of Pollinator Garden
- Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts, Inc.: Direct Aid for Allston-Brighton Families with Young Children
- Franciscan Hospital for Children, Inc.: Adaptive Sports Program
- Friends of 2Life Communities, Inc.: Brighton Community Reading Chair for Intergenerational Connections
- Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Open Door Soup Kitchen & St. Bridget’s Grocery Bag Program: Open Door Equipment Repairs & Maintenance + Food Purchases for Meals Grocery Bags
- Oak Square YMCA: Hunger Prevention Program
- St. Joseph Preparatory High School: Hockey Equipment
For the Spring 2022 cycle of the Allston Brighton/Boston College Communty Fund a total of $36,226 was distributed to the following 13 organizations:
- Allston Village Main Streets: Allston Banner Program
- Brighton Allston Congregational Church: Project Greenhouse & Allston Brighton Food Pantry
- Charles River Conservancy: Conservancy Volunteers Community Volunteer Events
- The Fishing Academy: Hooked on Fishing
- Gardner Pilot Academy: Family Support at GPA: Welcoming Families to Meet Optimal Student Outcomes
- The Granada House: Granada House Healing Garden
- Penniman Community Garden: Penniman Community Garden - Border Creation
- PSF Community Center: Enhancing our Community Rooms to Meet Evolving Needs of Community in Post-COVID Era
- Road to the Right Track: Special Events Program
- Saint Columbkille Partnership School: Loyola Middle School Classroom Technology Upgrade
- Unbound Visual Arts: Arthaus Gallery - Phase 2 Enhancement
- West End House Camp, Inc.: Project Camperships 2022
- West End House Girls Camp: Camper Scholarships
For the Fall 2021 cycle of the Allston Brighton/Boston College Communty Fund a total of $36,000 was distributed to the following 12 organizations:
- Allston Brighton Youth Hockey: 2021-2022 AB Youth Hockey program costs
- Brighton Board Trade: Holiday Lights Program
- ABCD Allston Brighton Neighborhood Opportunity Center: Mobile Food Pantry Sustainability Project
- Boston Police Department: Shop with a Cop
- Saint Joseph's Prepatory High School: Women's Varsity Hockey Program equipment
- Allston Board of Trade: Holiday Lights Program
- Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Open Door Kitchen and St. Bridget's Grocery Bag Program: Repair of open door refrigerator and stove
- The Veronica B. Smith Multi Service Senior Center: Senior Engagement Program
- Winship School Parent Council: Winship School Outdoors Classroom Revitalization and Bike Rack Installation Project
- Oak Square YMCA: YMCA Hunger Prevention Program
- The Boston Minstrels: Wireless Microphone Project
- Franciscan Hospital for Children: Adaptive Sports Program at Franciscan Children's
Spring 2021 essential services Community Fund grants in the amount of $46,012 were distributed to the following organizations:
- Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (CDC): Community Library
- Allston Brighton Little League: 2021 Uniform & Equipment Expenses
- Allston Brighton Substance Abuse Task Force: Rebranding Project
- Charles River Community Health: Mom and Baby Program - Safety First
- Charles River Conservancy: Conservancy Volunteers
- Chestnut Hill Reservoir Community Garden: Native Plant Pollinator Garden
- Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts: Expanding Capacity of the Allston-Brighton Family Support Network
- The Fishing Academy: Camperships
- Jackson Mann School and Council, Inc: Jackson Mann Community Center's Firmly Rooted Relaunch
- PSF Community Center: Enhancing our Community Rooms to Better Meet the Needs of Allston Brighton Organizations
- Shaloh House School: School Produce Garden
- Unbound Visual Arts: UVA Exhibition Gallery at the Arthaus
- West End House Camp: Project Camperships 2021
- West End House Girls Camp: Support for Underserved Girls from Allston/Brighton to Attend Summer Camp
- West End House, Inc.: West End House Digital Arts Program
In response to the unforeseen need to get direct services to Allston Brighton residents as quickly as possible, Boston College President Father William P. Leahy, SJ and Mayor Martin J. Walsh, have directed the Allston Brighton-Boston College Community Fund to release an emergency services grant application to help provide direct services to residents. The maximum grant amount is $3,000. Funds must be expended by June 1, 2020.
This grant is independent of our regularly scheduled spring and fall grant cycles. It will not count as a once per year grant eligibility.
If you have any questions about this grant, please send them by email to bcneighborhoodcenter@gmail.com.
Thank you for the important work that you do for our neighborhood. We are fortunate to be part of a caring and compassionate community. Together, we will get through this crisis.
Our best to all.
Allston/Brighton-Boston College Community Fund Committee
Fall 2020 essential services Community Fund grants in the amount of $36,400 were distributed to the following organizations:
- Allston Board of Trade
- Baldwin Early Learning Pilot Academy
- Brazilian Women's Group
- Brighton Board of Trade
- Brighton Main Streeets
- Brighton High School
- Edison K8 School Emotional Impairment Reinforcement Fund
- FriendshipWorks
- Gardner Pilot Academy
- Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church/Open Door Soup Kitchen and Grocery Bag Program
- Oak Square YMCA
- St. Columbkille Partnership School
- Winship School Parent Council
Spring 2020 essential services Community Fund grants in the amount of $40,300 were distributed to the following organizations:
- Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation
- ABCD Allston-Brighton Neighborhood Opportunity Center
- Allston Brighton Food Pantry ℅ Brighton Allston Congregational Church
- Allston Village Main Streets
- Boston Police Department / Road to the Right Track
- Brazilian Women’s Group
- Brighton Allston Improvement Association
- Brighton Main Streets
- Charles River Community Health
- DEAF, Inc.
- Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts & Allston-Brighton Family Support Network
- Franciscan Children’s
- Gardner Pilot Academy
- Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Open Door Soup Kitchen and Grocery Bag Program
- Jackson Mann School
- Oak Square YMCA
- Presentation School Foundation, Inc.
- West End House, Inc.
Read Aloud Program
What is the Read Aloud Program?
The Read Aloud Program is a partnership among the faculty and staff of Boston College, the Boston Public Schools and Boston Partners in Education. The program's volunteers are assigned to read to students once a month at Brighton area schools including Thomas Edison and St. Columbkille Partnership School. Volunteers have the choice of reading to any class ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 5.
What is the time commitment?
The Read Aloud Program assigns each volunteer to a team comprised of four members dedicated to work with one classroom throughout the year. Each classroom is visited once per week by a member of the team for 20 minutes. Each volunteer is responsible for one of the four sessions per month.
The one hour monthly commitment per volunteer includes travel time between Boston College and the school. The schools usually schedule readings between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm. Readings begin in early November and run until the end of the academic year.
What kinds of books are read?
Readings can be selected from picture books for younger students or a succession of chapters in more advanced books for older students. Readings can be timed to the season of the year, special holidays, historic events, current affairs or can be taken from a recommended book list.
Who volunteers?
Faculty and staff from all areas of the campus participate in the program. No prior classroom experience is necessary. A training is offered before the program starts, led by a Boston Partners in Education team and the coordinator of the program. This event includes handouts, updated booklists, tips, techniques, signing of forms required from those working in a school setting, and discussion of the logistics of the program.
Why volunteer?
Volunteering in the Read Aloud takes very little time, yet it is tremendously rewarding. The response from everyone involved in this program, volunteers, teachers and students has been increasingly encouraging and positive since the program's inception in 1995. However, the success of this program depends on the continuous dedication of its participants.
Will there be training?
The Read Aloud training session will take place on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 from 12 pm to 1:30 pm in the Walsh Hall function room on Lower Campus. Lunch will be served. New volunteers are required to attend the training and returning volunteers can participate, but it is not required.
How do I volunteer?
If you're either a returning reader or a new volunteer for the Read Aloud Program, please complete and submit the form below.
For further information, please contact Laura Bitran at bitran@bc.edu or by phone at 617-552-4787.
BC Students
For volunteer opportunities involving reading, tutoring, or mentoring please contact:
- Volunteer and Service Learning Center at 617-552-1317 or volunteer@bc.edu
- Boston College Neighborhood Center at 617-552-0445 or bcnc@bc.edu
Scholarships
In FY22, 65% of BC undergraduates received financial assistance totaling $184.4 million in scholarships and grants, of which $171.6 million was in the form of direct institutional aid provided by Boston College. As a need-blind university that meets the full-demonstrated need of all undergraduates, BC is committed to providing access to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and ensuring they have the resources and support services that enable them to finish their degrees.
In FY21, 189 Boston undergraduate students received $8.5 million in institutional grant aid and 83 Newton undergraduate students received $1.8 million in assistance. For information on the Allston-Brighton Undergraduate Scholarship Program and the Woods College of Advancing Studies Scholarship Program, established under the University's Institutional Master Plan with the City of Boston, please view the content below.
A recent study published in The Chronicle of Higher Education, ranked Boston College among the top 30 private, non-profit colleges and universities that are the most generous to their financially neediest students.
Boston College also provides resources through the Learning to Learn and the Montserrat Offices to support and retain high-need students and help them get the most out of their BC experience, both inside and outside the classroom.
Boston College annually awards fifteen (15) full-tuition Allston-Brighton Scholarships to qualified Boston residents (with a priority to Allston-Brighton residents). If no Allston or Brighton students qualify, the scholarships are awarded to students who meet the requirements and reside in other neighborhoods of Boston. Recipients must be admitted as full-time undergraduates to the Boston College first-year class through the standard admission process, must be a resident of Boston and must be from families demonstrating need in excess of $15,000 pursuant to institutional financial aid criteria. Students must also maintain good academic standing for the scholarship to renew.
Academic Year 2022-2023
Recipients by neighborhood: Brighton–3, Boston(Chinatown)-2, Hyde Park–3, Roslindale–2, Roxbury–5
2022-23 Tutition: $62,950
Total Aid Awarded to First-Year Students: $939,682
Total Aid Awarded for Academic Year: $3,737,514
Academic Year 2021-2022
Recipients by neighborhood: Allston–1, Brighton–3, Charlestown–1, Dorchester–3, East Boston–2, Hyde Park–2, Roslindale–1, Roxbury–1 and South End–1
2021-22 Tutition: $60,530
Total Aid Awarded to First-Year Students: $907,950
Total Aid Awarded for Academic Year: $3,483,198
Academic Year 2020-2021
Recipients by neighborhood: Brighton–6, Boston–1, Dorchester–4, Roxbury–1 and South End–3
2020-21 Tutition: $59,050
Total Aid Awarded to First-Year Students: $851,700
Total Aid Awarded for Academic Year: $3,399,477
Academic Year 2019-2020
Recipients by neighborhood: Allston–2, Brighton–1, Dorchester–6, East Boston–1, Hyde Park–3 and West Roxbury–2
2019-20 Tutition: $56,780
Total Aid Awarded to First-Year Students: $851,700
Total Aid Awarded for Academic Year: $3,253,318
Academic Year 2018–2019
Recipients by neighborhood: Allston-1, Brighton-3, Charlestown-1 Dorchester-4, East Boston-1, Hyde Park-3, Roxbury-1, West Fens-1
2018 Tutition: $54,600
Total Aid Awarded to First-Year Students: $819,000
Total Aid Awarded for Academic Year: $3,000,840
Academic Year 2017–2018
Recipients by neighborhood: Allston-3, Brighton-3, Dorchester-3, East Boston-2, Hyde Park-3, South Boston-1
2017 Tuition: $52,500
Total Aid Awarded to First-Year Students: $787,500
Total Aid Awarded for Academic Year: $2,901,10
Academic Year 2016–2017
Recipients by neighborhood: Allston-0, Brighton-5, Charlestown-1, Dorchester-3, East Boston-3, Roslindale-2, South End-1
2016 Tuition: $50,480
Total Aid Awarded to First-Year Students: $757,200
Total Aid Awarded for Academic Year: $2,757,818
Academic Year 2015–2016
Recipients by neighborhood: Allston-2, Brighton-2, Chinatown-2, Dorchester-3, East Boston-1, Hyde Park-1, Roslindale-1, Roxbury-2, South End-1
2015 Tuition: $48,540
Total Aid Awarded to First Year Students-$728,100
Total Aid Awarded for Academic Year-$2,402,730
Academic Year 2014–2015
Recipients by neighborhood: Allston-3, Brighton-3, Back Bay-1, Dorchester-5, Hyde Park-3
2014 Tuition: $46,670
Total Aid Awarded to First-Year Students:$700,050
Total Aid Awarded for Academic Year: $2,119,539
In collaboration with the Office of Governmental and Community Affairs, The Woods College of Advancing Studies (WCAS) annually awards up to five tuition-only undergraduate scholarships to qualified Boston residents (with a preference to Allston-Brighton residents). Recipients of the scholarship must meet the admission requirements for the WCAS, have demonstrated financial need pursuant to uniform financial aid criteria and must have resided in Boston at a minimum for four consecutive years. Awards are renewable up to four consecutive academic years, provided the recipient maintains good academic standing and is enrolled in a degree program. In the event unassigned scholarships remain in any year after awards are made to degree seeking candidates, the University may exercise its discretion and on a case by case basis award the scholarship to students (with a preference for Allston-Brighton residents) taking courses outside a degree program.
Academic Year 2022-2023
Recipients by neighborhood: Brighton-1, Allston-0, Mattapan-1,
Total Aid Awarded for All Students: $6,840
Academic Year 2021-2022
Recipients by neighborhood: Brighton-0, Allston-0, Mattapan-1, Roxbury-1
Total Aid Awarded for All Students: $17,536
Academic Year 2020-2021
Recipients by neighborhood: Brighton-0, Allston-0, Roxbury-2, Mattapan-1
Total Aid Awarded for All Students: $52,390
Academic Year 2019-2020
Recipients by neighborhood: Brighton-3, Allston-0, Roxbury-3
Total Aid Awarded for All Students: $16,020
Academic Year 2018–2019
Recipients by neighborhood: Brighton-4, Allston-0, Dorchester-2, Roslindale-1, South Boston-1
Total Aid Awarded for All Students: $77,422
Academic Year 2017–2018
Recipients by neighborhood: Brighton-5, Allston-0, Dorchester-1
Total Aid Awarded for All Students: $40,412
Academic Year 2016–2017
Recipients by neighborhood: Brighton-4, Allston-0, Dorchester-1
Total Aid Awarded for All Students: $41,660
Academic Year 2015–2016
Recipients by neighborhood: Brighton-3, Allston-1, Dorchester-1
Total Aid Awarded for All Students: $34,264
Volunteer Services
4Boston
Boston College’s 4Boston program, comprising more than 300 undergraduate students, is a major volunteer initiative that services 18 community agencies in the City of Boston. Named for the four hours each student provides on a weekly basis, 4Boston volunteers average more than 80,000 service hours per academic year. Placements in Brighton include the Commonwealth Tenants Association After-School Program, the Jackson/Mann Adult Education Program and the Franciscan Children’s Hospital Residential Assessment Program.
more information about 4boston
Oak Square YMCA
Boston College assists the YMCA by providing student volunteers for a variety of projects and programs at the facility. As needed, Boston College also makes available its campus facilities for YMCA programming requests.
PULSE
Boston College’s PULSE program is a national model for service learning that integrates academics with a service internship at one of 51 community service placements in the Greater Boston area. The 400 students involved in the program volunteer between eight and twelve hours each week during the academic year at a variety of non-profit organizations. Locations of service include Project Bread, the Pine Street Inn, and Rosie's Place. In Brighton, students serve at Crittendon Hastings House, Commonwealth Tenants Association and the Parent’s Center at Saltonstall House.
West End House Boys and Girls Club
Each semester, Boston College students volunteer at the West End House as part of the 4Boston Program. These students assist the West End House staff by tutoring and mentoring youngsters at the Club. Additionally, they coordinate the Homework Club and provide computer instruction.
Love Your Block
Each Spring, Boston College student volunteers participate in the Love Your Block neighborhood cleanup program where they help to pick up trash and debris from Brighton neighborhoods. Volunteers also plant flowers and apply bark mulch in public spaces.
BC Alumni
In keeping with our Jesuit, Catholic mission, BC's alumni community prioritizes service to others. No matter where you're located, we can help you identify volunteer opportunities where you and other Eagles can make a difference.
alumni volunteer opportunities
Jackson Mann Community Center
BC students work with young people in the various athletic programs and other programs offered at the center.