On Saturday, September 24, 2016, the Esplanade Associaiton will celebrate 15 years of Making Life Better in the Park at their annual Moondance Gala to be held along the banks of the Charles River in Boston. As one of the most beautiful evenings of the fall social season, this year’s Moondance Gala is expected to bring together close to 400 friends, supporters, business and civic leaders from throughout the city to celebrate Esplanade Association’s milestone anniversary and its commitment to the preservation and beautification of the Charles River Esplanade.
The Esplanade Association was founded in 2001 as a non-profit friends group committed to the restoration, management and beautification of the Charles River Esplanade. Since that time, in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and through the dedication of countless supporters, volunteers, and advocates, it has been the catalyst for over $28 million in park improvements. These improvements have helped to transform the once declining Esplanade into the vibrant and healthy park that it is today.
The Moondance Gala is the biggest fundraiser for the Esplanade Association, with all proceeds directly benefiting the organization’s work to maintain and improve the park. Co-chaired by Lori and Matthew Sidman, this year’s Moondance Gala committee is a dynamic group of Bostonians who care deeply about the Esplanade and want to ensure that this treasured green space continues to flourish and grow.
With the theme Back to our Roots, the natural beauty of the park will be incorporated into all aspects of this year’s Moondance Gala. Catered by Max Ultimate Food, guests will sip on signature cocktails as the sun is setting over the Charles River, dine on an elegant seasonal dinner within a canopy of majestic trees, and finish the evening with dancing under the night stars by music spun by Every Second Count’s DJ Mario. The evening will also feature a one-of-a-kind “giving garden” where guests have the chance to win beautiful prizes and experiences, all while supporting the park. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on the ultimate exclusive dining experience in Boston, an evening of cocktails, dinner, and music for twenty guests on the historic Hatch Shell stage.
Last year, the Moondance Gala raised over $800,000 for restoration, management, and beautification of the park. As the Esplanade Association receives no public funding, it is the Gala Committee’s goal to surpass that figure, so that the organization can continue its ongoing horticultural, programmatic, and advocacy work in the park. Proceeds from the evening will also fund new initiatives including the restoration of the historic Lotta Fountain, the introduction of a Wayfinding Signage System, the development of a long-term maintenance and succession plan for the park’s over 1,700 trees, and the beginning of the process to restore the Lee Pool area.
On behalf of the Greater Boston community, the Esplanade Association works in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to restore, manage, and enhance the Charles River Esplanade for the enjoyment of all. (www.esplanadeassociation.org)