Paul and Peter H. Reynolds Honored with Dream Big Award

The Metrowest YMCA recently held its signature fundraising event, the DREAM BIG Gala and Auction, which took place on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at The Verve in Natick. YMCA supporters came together to celebrate the organization’s DREAM BIG Award Honorees, best-selling children’s book authors and co-founders of FableVision and their nonprofit Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning & Creativity, Paul and Peter H. Reynolds. 

CEO/Executive Director Paul Reynolds expressed the brother’s shared gratitude for the award, “We’re truly humbled by this recognition. Everything we have accomplished we owe to creative educators and mentors who helped us “dream big,” which is why we’re such huge supporters of the Metrowest YMCA.” 

Peter concurred, “The Y’s team is helping each child in their program to believe in their future vision of success - and provide the skills and confidence to turn those dreams into reality.”

MetroWest YMCA’s Chief Development Officer Peter Waisgerber shares, “Paul and Peter H. Reynolds are two incredible human beings who not only write children’s picture books, but also lead the way to help children make their mark while inspiring creativity in classrooms and organizations around the world.” 

 New York Times #1 best-selling picture book author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds is known around the world for his story, The Dot, which has been published in over 25 languages, as well as other books such as Ish, Sky Color and The World Collector. 

It was an inspiring evening with Tom Caron, Metrowest YMCA Leadership Cabinet co-chairperson, NESN Sports Anchor, and Framingham resident, serving as the emcee for the evening. David O’Leary, fellow Framingham resident and radio personality, had a special appearance as well, as, he joined Tom on stage to assist the live auctioning of the Red Sox Experience package, which included four premium seat game tickets, with a pre-game meet-and-greet with Tom Caron to view the NESN pre-game show, as well as watch batting practice from the field. 

Dave McGillivray, Metrowest YMCA’s 2018 Inspiration Award Winner, race director, philanthropist, motivational speaker, and accomplished athlete presented the DREAM BIG Award to Peter and Paul and Peter H. Reynolds. 

McGillivrary shared the anecdote that coincidently, the Reynolds were also the ones who helped named McGillivray’s picture book, Dream Big, which inspired the name of the gala event.

The YMCA auction also featured two signature items from the Reynolds: A one-hour creative consulting session at their family’s independent bookshop The Blue Bunny Bookstore in Dedham Square, and an original, customized watercolor and ink painting by Peter featuring one of his iconic images of a child immersed in a book within a resplendent library.  

During the event, attendees were invited to support Metrowest YMCA’s Food Access and Nutrition Program. Before the pandemic, the Y was serving 100 meals a day to its community members. In  2020 demand skyrocketed Metrowest YMCA is now serving over 1,200 meals a day, as well as offering grocery distribution days with community partners, and has plans to open a food pantry in its facility. 

The DREAM BIG Silent Auction began online the week leading up to the gala, featuring nearly 100 items ranging from sports games and museum tickets, baskets with your go-to beverage, accessories like jewelry and purses, handcrafted artwork, sports memorabilia, and more. The Silent Auction closed during our event, and followed by a Live Auction with exclusive items such as box seats to the Celtics, vacation home on Martha’s Vineyard, a dinner experience with Chef Paul Wahlberg, and more.

The evening’s event raised more than $100,000 - with 100% of proceeds going directly to support children and families in need.

Guests, donors, board members, and event sponsors included: ADI Contracting, Inc, Fletcher Tilton PC - Attorneys at Law, R.W. Holmes Commercial Real Estate, Rodman Ride For Kids, The Hoyt Foundation, Hologic, Inc., MetroWest Medical Center, The TJX Companies, Inc., Rubicon Builders, Framingham State University, Vesta Real Estate Group, Middlesex Savings Bank, CBT Architects, Oak Realty, Fitts Insurance Agency, Inc., Scalora Consulting Group, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Webster Five, AAFCPAs, Needham Bank, Decision Insight Inc., Massachusetts Bay Community College, Platinum Physical Therapy, Inc, and Senate President Karen Spilka.

Those wishing to participate as an item donor, future event sponsor, or contributor to the food program, are encouraged to contact Metrowest YMCA’s Director of Annual Giving, Ashley Place by emailing ashleyplace@metrowestymca.org.

For more information about the Metrowest YMCA food program as a resource, should contactLauren Hanley at laurenhanley@metrowestymca.org.