The Light of Dawnn Awards honor the legacy of youth leader Dawnn Ashley Jaffier, who demonstrated an unwavering commitment to service. Now in their tenth year, these awards continue to spotlight three nonprofit professionals who go above and beyond.
This year’s award ceremony took place on Tuesday February, 27, 2024 at the West End House Boys and Girls Club.
This year’s Light of Dawnn awardees are:
Lan Baker, New England Village
Wilfrix Cherazard, English for New Bostonians
Saaran Sillah, Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston
This year’s Light of Dawnn scholarship recipients are:
Fidelina Martinez Baez, West End House
Mimi Ozojiofor, Boys and Girls Club of Boston
Bryan Eduardo Turcios Giron, John Hancock MLK Scholars
The awards are presented by the Highland Street Foundation, the West End House Boys and Girls Club, Josh Kraft, and the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network. The Light of Dawnn Scholarships, given each year alongside the Awards to five high school seniors, are presented by John Hancock in partnership with the Foundation To Be Named Later.
Read the inspirational stories of our 2024 Light of Dawnn recipients here.
About Dawnn and the Light of Dawnn Awards
On August 23, 2014, Boston lost Dawnn Jaffier to an act of senseless gun violence. Dawnn had a promising career in Boston’s nonprofit community. Though only 26 years old, Dawnn had begun a promising career in Boston’s nonprofit community, holding direct service positions at the West End House, Playworks, City Year and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston. She understood firsthand the important role nonprofit organizations play within a community and created a life devoted to giving back to all she had been given. To honor Dawnn, and all victims of senseless acts of violence, the Highland Street Foundation, community leaders, and Dawnn’s colleagues, peers, and family, created the Light of Dawnn Awards. These awards celebrate individuals working in the nonprofit sector who demonstrate the spirit that is Dawnn’s legacy.
The Light of Dawnn Awards aim to raise the public profiles of those doing important direct-service work, particularly those who do not have prominent or externally-facing roles. Every year, three winners are recognized at a public event and receive a monetary award for their outstanding efforts. The Light of Dawnn Scholarships are presented to five high school seniors. The scholarships are sponsored by John Hancock Financial, where Dawnn’s mother is a longtime employee, in partnership with the Foundation to Be Named Later.
Click here to read about past award winners.
Below is a video that highlights Dawnn’s impact on her family, friends, colleagues and Boston community. Thank you to Comcast for producing the video.
LightOfDawnn-desktop from Comcast VPS on Vimeo.
If you have questions about the awards, please contact events@massnonprofitnet.org.
