Boston, MA – Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath), a Boston-based nonprofit that dramatically improves the lives of people living in poverty, hosted its annual gala – the EMPower Celebration – gathering donors, community partners, participants in EMPath’s programs, and other supporters of the organization.

The energized event, which took place in the lead-up to Mother’s Day, celebrated the successes that EMPath’s program participants, many of whom are mothers, have achieved over the last year – from securing a good-paying job, to working towards home ownership. Governor Maura Healey was celebrated as the Guest of Honor and presented with the first-ever EMPower Award, recognizing her continuous dedication to families in the Commonwealth.

“It was an honor to receive the EMPath EMPower Award and to have the opportunity to recognize the important work that EMPath does to change the lives of and improve economic mobility for thousands of Massachusetts families,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The EMPath program participants are an inspiring reminder of the power of resilience. Our administration is proud to support such a worthy cause.”

The EMPower Celebration was hosted at the Boston Children’s Museum, surrounded by playful exhibits for children and families. The event program kicked off with remarks from EMPath President & CEO and former Mayor of Boston Kim Janey, who shared her experience receiving life-changing support from EMPath as a young mom, ensuring she could continue her high school education while entering parenthood. Janey also painted a vision of what’s on the horizon for EMPath, as the organization works to further support families as they climb the economic ladder and reach more families in the state and across the country.

“The EMPower Celebration was an amazing night lifting up the incredible work of EMPath over this past year, particularly the strides our program participants have made towards their biggest goals,” said EMPath President & CEO Kim Janey. “As EMPath gears up to celebrate its 200-year anniversary next year, we are excited to expand on the impact we’ve already made here in the state and nationwide to help many more families to truly thrive.”

EMPath has a far-reaching impact in the Greater Boston area, directly serving around 1,300 people in housing-based and other economic mobility programs. The organization is one of the largest providers of family homeless shelters in Massachusetts. At the core of EMPath’s work is its research-backed coaching approach called Mobility Mentoring® that helps families with low incomes climb the economic ladder. Mobility Mentoring is participant-centered, holistic, trauma-informed, and culturally competent.

Belma Moreira, a participant in EMPath’s flagship program, called Career Family Opportunity (CFO), also spoke at the EMPower Celebration, sharing her own experience and achievements in the program: “Like so many of us, I was in search of someone who could help guide me through the goal-setting process, strategize with me around what steps to take to accomplish these goals, and hold me accountable along the way. I worked with one of EMPath’s financial specialists to improve my finances – from refinancing my car to increasing my credit score. I have built up my savings, which was big for me, and I plan to continue building up my savings and my credit so that I can purchase a home in the future.”

Belma added: “I am so grateful to my wonderful EMPath mentors for providing me with guidance, encouragement, and accountability over these past few years.”

Sponsors for the event included the New England Patriots Foundation, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Eastern Bank, Brown Advisory, Points32Health Foundation of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan, and State Street.

To learn more about EMPath’s work and/or make a donation that will support families in the Greater Boston area, visit empathways.org.

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Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) is a nearly 200-year-old organization that dramatically improves the lives of people living in poverty. Because creating economic opportunity is multifaceted, EMPath's approach is too. EMPath offers a unique combination of direct services; a learning network of human services organizations; and research and advocacy for what works. This “virtuous circle” allows each part of the organization’s work to inform what it knows, does, and shares with others to seed systemic change. To learn more, visit empathways.org.