Friday, April 10, 2026

JFK Library, Columbia Point, Dorchester
starting at 6:00PM

Attire: Festive Cocktail

This is FNC’s sixth annual fundraising gala: a beautiful evening to celebrate with friends, support opportunities for families, and imagine a bright future for our community. Come early to visit the museum, then join us for a cocktail hour, dinner, a lively program, and dancing – all to benefit FNC’s programs.

About The Honoree

Turahn Dorsey

President and CEO, Eastern Bank Foundation

For three decades, Turahn Dorsey has been a leader in systems change and civic innovation. His work sits at the intersection of education, health, housing, and economic development—both in Boston and nationally—and reflects his deep passion for strengthening and connecting communities. As President and CEO of the Eastern Bank Foundation, he and the team focus on accelerating economic mobility and expanding economic inclusion across Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Rahn began his career as a public policy researcher at Moore and Associates in Southfield, Michigan and Abt Associates in Cambridge, Massachusetts, supporting national, community-led health and anti-poverty initiatives. After 13 years at Abt, he joined the Barr Foundation as its first Director of Evaluation and a Senior Program Officer for Education.

In 2014, Mayor Martin J. Walsh appointed Rahn Chief of Education for the City of Boston. In this role, he co-led the design of Boston’s Universal Pre-K system, launched early planning for the City’s $1 billion school construction initiative, and spearheaded efforts to redesign high school learning experiences while expanding summer learning and postsecondary opportunities.

In recent years, Rahn has devoted significant attention to amplifying the vitality of Boston’s historic Nubian Square. As board chair of Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, he has worked with college leadership, public partners, and the community to open the school’s new headquarters in Roxbury in January 2026. He is also collaborating with local entrepreneurs and investors to launch the Jazz Urbane Café—a state-of-the-art performance venue and full-service restaurant—at the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building.

Finally, Rahn is a founding member of Movement Family Farm in New Hampshire, a collective of ten Afro-descended people committed to building an ecologically and economically regenerative farm.

Family Nurturing Award Recipients

Laura S. Peabody and Robert “Bob” Peabody

Laura S. Peabody and Robert “Bob” Peabody bring decades of leadership in law, health care, and public service. As longtime supporters of Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts, it is our great pleasure to issue them this award.

Laura is Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of Mass General Brigham, where she provides strategic and legal counsel across the system and to its Board of Directors. She leads teams covering all areas of health care law, oversees government affairs at the local, state, and federal levels, and manages policies related to industry interaction and conflict of interest. Prior to joining Mass General Brigham in 2017, Laura served as Chief Legal Officer at Northwell Health and previously held senior legal roles at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. She has served on numerous nonprofit and civic boards, including UNICEF, the Boston Bar Association, and the Massachusetts Women’s Bar Foundation.

Bob is a graduate of Harvard College and Boston College Law School and has had a distinguished legal career in public service and private practice. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex and Suffolk Counties and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, before moving into white-collar criminal defense with leading Boston and New York law firms. He has also served on the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the District of Massachusetts and has held leadership roles in nonprofit organizations, including Chair of Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts and Past Chair of the New England Fund for UNICEF.

Laura and Bob have been married for 40 years and share a deep commitment to civic engagement, justice, and philanthropy. They are the parents of two adult children and grandparents to one grandson.

About The Music

Gregory Groover Jr.

New York-born and Boston-bred, emerging saxophonist, composer, and educator Gregory Groover Jr. has already left an indelible mark in the jazz world, in a short period. Saxophonist Walter Smith III describes him as a “thematic musician, who’s playing very much relates to the song. He plays with a lot of energy, and he leads with that. The heart is the most important thing – the direction and motion of what he plays is where he really feels.” Groover’s artistry seamlessly marries genres as he continues to push the boundaries of jazz while honoring its deep legacy.

Raised with a devotion for music, Groover’s journey in music began at a young age. His passion for jazz flourished as he honed his craft, eventually earning him a full tuition scholarship to pursue his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Performance Studies at Berklee College of Music. Under the guidance of esteemed mentors like Terri Lyne Carrington, John Patitucci, Miguel Zenon, and Dave Liebman, he thrived within the acclaimed Berklee Global Jazz Institute, helmed by the renowned pianist and UNESCO Artist for Peace, Danilo Perez.

Groover’s continued dedication to his craft and unwavering commitment to excellence have solidified his position as a prominent figure in the contemporary jazz scene. As a bandleader, Groover has released three albums (Negro Spiritual Songbook, Vol 1 & 2) and made his Criss Cross Records debut in April 2024 with his record, Lovabye. On November 7th, Gregory released his follow up to Lovabye on Criss Cross, Old Knew. In addition to being a bandleader, Groover is a highly sought-after collaborator having performed in music festivals in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Africa with some of the world’s leading voices in contemporary music.

As an educator, Gregory has served as the co-chair of music at his alma mater, the Boston Arts Academy, and currently serves as the Assistant Chair of Ensemble & the Interim Managing Director of the Global Jazz Institute, at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music. Through his teaching, he shares his passion for music with the younger generation, inspiring them to explore their creative potential. His dedication to uplifting the next generation of artists underscores his belief in the transformative power of music.

About The Emcee

Amaka Ubaka

Amaka Ubaka anchors 7NEWS Today in New England every weekday along with 7NEWS at Noon. She joined 7NEWS as a reporter in May 2016.

Amaka is Nigerian-American and her name means “beautiful” in one of the many languages spoken in Africa’s most populous country. She was named “Best News Anchor” by Boston Business Women and was one of Boston Magazine’s “100 Most Influential Bostonians.” One of her proudest moments was being chosen by the Regis College class of 2023 to be their commencement speaker.

She loves using social media as a way to connect with viewers and inform them about the news of the day. Before arriving in Boston, Amaka was a reporter in Orlando, FL, Omaha, NE and Redding, CA. She is a graduate of the University of Miami.

Amaka enjoys meeting new people, learning their stories and being involved in the community. She spends much of her free time supporting charities including West End House, the Cambridge YWCA, the International Institute of New England, The One Mission Buzz Off, Rosie’s Place, BMA TenPoint, Cradles to Crayons and the Igbo Organization of New England. She is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Amaka is a Florida native who has fully embraced living in New England – even the snow! When she’s not on the anchor desk, you’ll find her in the gym, hiking, watching sporting events and traveling.

Gala Host Committee