Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/498400
photography by Michael blanchard La st Ma rch, A nna a nd her husba nd set up a meet i ng w it h Teaga n a nd h is fa m i ly at Tr i n it y Church. "We didn't have any hate," she says. "We didn't have any anger." After spending the day with Teaga n, t hey asked t hat t he cha rge of negligent homicide against him be dropped. "We opted to forg ive him. It didn't seem right for him to go to prison; it was so unintentional." Unintentional, yes, but texting while driving is also ubiquitous, and the Levitans wanted to make a difference. "We knew in our shattered reality that we had to get the message out," Anna says. Merritt's school f r iends est abl ished a n advocacy g roup called TextLess Live More to discourage excessive sma r t phone use, a nd t he L ev it a ns ju mped on board. "When we were able to stand on two feet aga in, we got involved by producing t he public ser v ice a nnouncement s a nd t he bra nding," says A nna. "We also worked wit h a communications firm and took it out to national scope." Today, almost a year after the organization's incep- tion, 10,000 TextLess Live More for Merritt bracelets have been distributed. The group has spread the word about t he da ngers of text ing a nd dr iv ing through events at more than 100 high schools, col- leges, a nd com munit y orga nizat ions across t he country, where student leaders tell Merritt's story and show powerful videos. One of them, narrated by Giancarlo Esposito, who played Gus on Breaking Bad, makes the point that just four seconds of distracted driving can kill (the video has been shown nation- ally on ABC and Fox News). TextLess Live More endorsed a bill in Vermont (enacted last year) to ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving. But its ultimate goal is to make texting while driving illegal everywhere, and to prevent what happened to Merritt from happening to anyone else's child. "It's been a rough road—I'm not going to sugar- coat it," Anna says. "It's been a huge cost for us, but this is an incredible message." merrittsway.org BC Anna and Richard present the Merritt Levitan Youth Ambassador Award, named for their daughter, to Joslin Diabetes Center patient Kelley Conley for her work in helping other children with diabetes. Charity register Opportunities to give. DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE What: Celebrate the power of mentoring at RISE, the Friends of Dana-Farber's annual spring gala, chaired by Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Lorrie Higgins. The evening will honor master chef Gordon Hamersley and his commitment to mentoring young people in his feld. Guests will enjoy a cocktail reception followed by dinner prepared by young chefs. Proceeds support the junior researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. dana-farber.org/friends When: May 1, 6:30–11 pm Where: Four Seasons Hotel Boston, 200 Boylston St. FRIENDS OF THE PUBLIC GARDEN What: The Friends of the Public Garden hosts the annual Green and White Ball, raising awareness and funds for the organization's work to maintain Boston's green spaces, including the Boston Common and the Public Garden. Guests will be treated to a cocktail reception, a sit-down dinner with music by a jazz trio, and after-dinner dancing. In 2014, the event raised $400,000. friendsofthepublicgarden.org When: May 8, 6:30 pm Where: Taj Boston, 15 Arlington St. THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION What: Think pink at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's annual charity gala, the Hot Pink Party, celebrating its 10th anniversary. This year's theme is "Pink Locally, Act Globally," recognizing the research taking place in New England that's having an impact around the world. Special guests include actress Elizabeth Hurley and Good Morning America's Amy Robach. Last year's event raised $1.5 million. bostonhotpinkparty.org When: May 14, 6 pm Where: Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd. DECORDOVA SCULPTURE PARK AND MUSEUM What: Support Boston's artistic community at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum gala Black and White in the Park. This year's event honors Barbara Krakow, who was instrumental in bringing Antony Gormley's Refection II to deCordova, a turning point in its goal of becoming a national leader among sculpture parks. Last year's gala brought in nearly $500,000. decordova.org When: May 30, 6:30 pm–midnight Where: deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln "we knew in our shattered reality that we had to get the message out." —anna levitan INSIGHT What: the merritt's way Fund is hosting a free reception for textless live more. When: tuesday, June 16, 6–7:30 pm Where: trinity Church Copley square, 206 Clarendon st. Info: Call 617-642-5544 More than 10,000 TextLess Live More bracelets have been distributed. 68 bostoncommon-magazine.com PeOPLe spirit of generosity