PHOTO BY BILL BRETT
New England Patriots player Julian Edelman lent his support for Team IMPACT at the organization’s 6th annual gala on May 9, 2018 in Boston.
SEAPORT — 1,400 guests attended the 6th annual gala for Team IMPACT that raised more than $2 million for the national nonprofit that connects children facing serious and chronic illnesses with college sports teams. The evening featured Newton native Rachel Platten performing her mega-hit “Fight Song,” which has become an anthem for young people fighting cancer.
Founded almost seven years ago by Jay Calnan and Dan Kraft, his friend from Tufts, Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,500 kids with more than 50,000 participating student-athletes and coaches at representing 500 college teams in 48 states. The money raised at Wednesday’s gala will be used for year-round programs that benefit thousands of brave children and their college teammates.
The guest list for the May 9, 2018 event, which included New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft; Patriots players Matthew Slater, Julian Edelman, David Andrews, Patrick Chung and Rex Burkehead; ESPN’s Wendi Nix, in town for the sixth gala; and Gov. Charlie Baker and his wife, Lauren.
All photos are by Bill Brett.
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Rachel Platten wows the crowd at the Team IMPACT gala in Boston on May 9, 2018. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
New England Patriots player Julian Edelman at the Team IMPACT gala. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Newton native Rachel Platten performs before 1,400 people at the Team IMPACT gala. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Rachel Platten played her mega-hit "Fight Song" at the Team IMPACT gala on May 9, 2018 in Boston. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Newton native Rachel Platten talks to the crowd at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston at the Team IMPACT gala on May 9, 2018 in Boston. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Scenes from the Team Impact gala, which was held at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston.
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
The Team Impact gala was held on May 9, 2018. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Some 1,400 people attended the Team Impact gala. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
The Team IMPACT Gala was expected to raise more than $2 million to invest in year-round programs that benefit thousands of brave children and their college teammates. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
New England Patriots player Matthew Slater with ESPN’s Wendi Nix, and Ricki Lander. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Northeastern University's mascot Paws greets people off stage at the Team IMPACT gala. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Wendy Kraft, with Team IMPACT co-founders Jay Calnan and her husband, Dan Kraft, his father New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Team IMPACT co-founder Jay Calnan, New England Patriots Player Matthew Slater with Team IMPACT co-founder Dan Kraft. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
ESPN’s Wendi Nix with Team IMPACT co-founder Jay Calnan Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Team IMPACT co-founder Jay Calnan and Bob Coughlin, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Shahrzad Ehdaivand Slater with her husband New England Patriots safety Matthew Slater Team IMPACT co-founder Dan Kraft. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Team IMPACT co-founders Jay Calnan and Dan Kraft, flank New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Team IMPACT co-founders Jay Calnan, left, and Dan Kraft, far right, look on as Patriots owners Robert Kraft talks with a young participant in the program. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Gov. Charlie Baker, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Team IMPACT co-founder Dan Kraft. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Gov. Charlie Baker, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Team IMPACT co-founder Dan Kraft. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston CEO Josh Kraft with Ricki Lander and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Team IMPACT co-founder Dan Kraft on the red carpet. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Lauren Baker at the Team IMPACT gala. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Team IMPACT co-founder Jay Calnan along with Gov. Charlie Baker. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
New England Patriots player Patrick Chung with Gov. Charlie Baker at the Team IMPACT gala. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Lauren Baker with Patriots player Patrick Chung with Gov. Charlie Baker at the Team IMPACT gala. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
New England Patriots players David Andrews and Rex Burkehead and Team IMPACT co-founder Jay Calnan. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
New England Patriots players Patrick Chung, Rex Burkehead, and David Andrews join Team IMPACT co-founders Jay Calnan and Dan Kraft. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Team IMPACT co-founders Jay Calnan and Dan Kraft flant Gov. Charlie Baker. Photo by Bill Brett
Team IMPACT Gala 2018
Team IMPACT co-founders Jay Calnan and Dan Kraft with Gov. Charlie Baker.
Team Impact Gala 2018
The UMass Lowell Cheerleading Squad took the night off from rooting for the Riverhawks to cheer those arriving at the Team IMPACT gala in Boston. Photo by Bill Brett
Team Impact Gala 2018
The University of Massachusetts Lowell's Cheerleading Squad welcomed the attendees of the Team IMPACT gala on May 9, 2018. Photo by Bill Brett
Team Impact Gala 2018
The University of Massachusetts Lowell's Cheerleading Squad welcomed the attendees of the Team IMPACT gala at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston. Photo by Bill Brett
Team Impact Gala 2018
The University of Massachusetts Lowell's Cheerleading Squad kicks things off at the Team IMPACT gala on May 9, 2018. Photo by Bill Brett
