LEAP Year Event

26 Years & Counting

LEAP Year Event is our annual fundraiser when the community comes together to make LEAP's free programs for youth from low-income neighborhoods possible. This year it took place on February 25th, 2021. LEAP Year Event normally starts with a cocktail reception followed by dinners at elegant homes and restaurants in and around New Haven. A different notable Guest of Honor joins each dinner party, providing a special theme for each gathering. Guests of Honor are academics, authors, artists, activists, performers, elected officials, media personalities, journalists, and a range of other talented individuals who lead a conversation on a topic of their expertise.

Due to COVID-19, LEAP Year Event 2021 was virtual. Though different than usual, the fundamental ingredients that make it such a special event stayed the same; it was an evening of fascinating conversation, rich learning and connecting as a community! With everything changing around us, we were thrilled to continue this cherished tradition for our LEAP family via a high-quality virtual experience!

We hope in 2022 we can return to our favored in-person format, but we are grateful for our incredible community that helped us keep this beloved tradition alive and raise over $300,000 for LEAP's free summer and after school programs.

Want to get involved?

There are many roles that make the LEAP Year Event possible each year. We would love for you to join in any capacity you feel comfortable.

Attendee: Join the event by buying tickets to the conversation of your choosing! Have a wonderful evening knowing that you are supporting an amazing cause.

Sponsor: Looking to support a great cause while getting unmatched publicity with prominent business leaders and community members in the new haven area? Become a Sponsor at one of the many levels available, from Friends (contributing $500) to our Anniversary Sponsor, Noble Wealth Advisors of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (contributing $25,000). Your name and logo will be shared in multiple print and digital materials which are distributed to our database of over 5,000 people.

Host: Do you want to provide an atmospheric location with fine dining for people to gather and explore fascinating topics? Hosts work with Guests of Honor to create a beautiful evening of conversation and connection for their group of attendees. Hosts typically have the dinner party at their home but have also done so at restaurants in the New Haven area.

Guest of Honor: Are you an author, musician, explorer, scientist or expert in your area of interest? If you have a fascinating story to tell, we have people who would love to hear it. As a Guest of Honor you would present your topic, presentation or performance for attendees at the home or location provided by the Hosts. You are the draw of our event and reason this tradition continues after 26 years.

Interested in any of these roles? Contact Rachel Kline Brown, Director of Development at Rklinebrown@leapforkids.org.