On November 15, 2024, more than 400 guests gathered at the InterContinental Boston in a remarkable show of support for the students of NECC. The evening, which raised $1.27 million, was a celebration of growth, opportunity, and the transformative impact of NECC’s vocational program.
For 30 years, NECC has provided vocational training to students, with approximately 140 students participating annually. Beginning at age 14, students engage in skill building that continues through their graduation at 22.
Over three decades, more than 700 students have received vocational training, preparing them for success in real-world work environments.
“Like a garden, the vocational program is synergistic. It starts with our dedicated teachers and vocational specialists who work to nurture and prepare our students as they learn the necessary skills to one day perform jobs outside the walls of NECC,” shared NECC President and CEO Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA. “This program truly enriches the lives of our students, and our students in turn, enrich the lives of the community members around them.”
A highlight of the evening was the introduction of two NECC students, twin brothers Bobby and Frankie Saldi. Bobby, who works in the community at Apex Entertainment, Old Navy, and Greenwood Industries, and Frankie, who completes jobs across NECC Southborough’s campus and volunteers at Project Just Because in Hopkinton, are examples of the depth and breadth of services the Vocational Department can offer students.
“Every day of the last 17 years, The New England Center for Children has allowed us to be better parents,” shared the boys’ father, Frank Saldi. “They took so much pressure off us and allowed us to be Mom and Dad. Not a teacher, speech or language specialist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or a job coach. Literally, a weight was lifted. They provided us with all the information, resources, and support we desperately needed.”
The evening’s Fund-A-Need supported the construction of a greenhouse on NECC’s Southborough campus. This new greenhouse will allow NECC students to continue their hands-on vocational work that started with the Edible Schoolyard garden beds, building skills and gaining experiences year-round.
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of Insight.