Special to the Gazette
More than 300 supporters attended Youth Enrichment Services (YES) 15th Annual Black Diamond Gala on Thursday, April 16, at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. The event raised $850,000 to support YES’s leadership and outdoor programs, including snow sports, biking and track and field.
Olympians Heather MacLean and Kyle Negomir were among the world-class athletes who attended the gala.
The 2026 YES Achievement Award was presented to State Rep. Samantha Montaño, who has worked for nearly a decade to advance the needs of low-income residents in the Boston neighborhood YES serves.
This fall, YES is set to open its new state-of-the-art headquarters in Jamaica Plain. Named after its founder, the Richard Williams Youth Development Center will enable YES to broaden its impact and support an even greater number of city youth who want to participate in its programs.
Founded in 1968, YES is dedicated to providing outdoor enrichment and leadership development programs to Boston youth. Over 1,400 young people participate in YES’s programs annually. The mission of YES is to inspire Boston youth through outdoor experiences and leadership opportunities that build confidence and prepare them to summit life’s challenges.