14th Annual Black Diamond Gala Raises $800,000 to YES’s Outdoor and Leadership Programs for Boston Youth

YES held its 14th Annual Black Diamond Gala on Thursday, April 24 at the Renaissance Boston Seaport. The fundraising event raised $800,000 to support programming for hundreds of Boston youth, including snow sports, track and field, biking and rock climbing. Several world-class athletes attended the gala, including Olympic Gold medalist Jessie Diggins.

The 2025 YES Achievement Award was presented to Life Science Cares, an organization that leverages the collective power and generosity of the life science industry to disrupt the cycle of poverty and inequality in communities.

Guests heard from 17-year-old YES Leadership Corps participant, Yousra. She spoke passionately about how YES has played a vital role in shaping her confidence and leadership skills over the years. “YES isn’t just a program, it’s a community,” she said. Event Co-Chairs, Marie Daniel and Jim Stephenson, echoed this sentiment as they shared the special meaning that YES has to them. They spoke about how YES helps give young people new opportunities, builds self-confidence, and creates valuable connections with mentors and positive adult role models.

Thank you for joining us and making this year’s gala a tremendous success for YES!