LEAP Year Event

30 Years & Counting

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised over $500,000 for LEAP's free youth programs! Your support will make a real difference in the lives of New Haven's young people, allowing LEAP to continue providing free, high-quality educational programs and opportunities. We are deeply grateful for your belief in LEAP's mission and your commitment to empowering New Haven youth. We hope to see you at next year's LEAP Year Event!

Note: This page reflects information from the 2025 LEAP Year Event.

LEAP Year Event '25 Photos

LEAP Year Event is our annual fundraiser when the community comes together to make LEAP's free after-school and summer programs for youth from underserved New Haven neighborhoods possible. This year, we are excited to honor Ann Baker Pepe and Ed Cleary, Co-Board Chairs, with the LEAP Community Leadership Award! The event will be on Thursday, February 27, 2025, with additional conversations on Thursday, February 20th & Saturday, March 1st.

The evening will begin with a reception at the Dixwell Community Center (Q House) that will include complimentary drinks & hors d'oeuvres, live music, a welcome from Henry Fernandez, LEAP's Executive Director, and an opportunity to hear from LEAP counselors. Guests will then go to the dinners with their choice of topic and Guests of Honor.

LEAP Year Event is LEAP's most important fundraiser with over 500 philanthropic donors, business professionals, and community leaders from the Greater New Haven area attending. In 2024, you helped us raise over $450,000 to make LEAP's free programs possible. Please email Alison Bonds at abonds@leapforkids.org if you are interested in supporting the event this year as a sponsor or have questions about registering. With your partnership, we will continue to Create a New Haven for Our Children.

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JOIN US AS A SPONSOR!

There are many roles that make the LEAP Year Event possible each year. We would love for you to join in any capacity you feel comfortable.

Sponsor: Looking to support a great cause while getting unmatched publicity with prominent business leaders and community members in the New Haven area? Become a Sponsor at one of the many levels available, from Neighbor (contributing $500) to Superhero (contributing $50,000). Your name and logo will be shared in multiple print and digital materials which are distributed to our database of over 5,000 people. Click here for a more detailed description of the sponsor levels and benefits.

Attendee: Join the event by purchasing tickets to the conversation of your choosing. Have a wonderful evening knowing that you are supporting an amazing cause.

Dinner Host: If you're interested in hosting a conversation in your home or at a local restuarant, please contact Alison Bonds at abonds@leapforkids.org. Hosts generously cover the cost of food and drinks for approximately 20 guests as a contribution to LEAP.

Interested in any of these roles? Contact Alison Bonds, LEAP Year Event Coordinator, at abonds@leapforkids.org or by phone at 203-767-7413.