Help Houghton's Pavilion become a cafe run by BPS students!

Hello, I'm Joe Cain, and I'm currently fundraising for my non-profit organization, Rise & Thrive Education Inc. Last year, my wife Danielle and I established Rise & Thrive with a dual mission: to rejuvenate the Houghton's Pond Refreshment Pavilion and to provide a valuable summer learning experience for my students at ABCD University High School, an alternative Boston Public School serving students ages 16-21.

After submitting our proposal through a competitive bid process, the Department of Conservation & Recreation recently awarded us the permit to operate the Houghton's Pond Refreshment Pavilion for the next 5 seasons!

This year marked a transformative period at ABCD University High. Our students took an underused classroom space and transformed it into a vibrant student-run cafe that quickly became the heart of our school community. Witnessing the sense of pride and camaraderie our students developed as they worked together to serve our school community has been truly inspiring and has fueled our passion for this endeavor!

Our "FireBird Cafe" officially opens on campus!

We gather each month in our new space to celebrate success & eat some good food:)

Students get the vibe just right with LED lights

I'm excited to harness this momentum and extend a learning opportunity that goes beyond the traditional classroom setting. By integrating summer job experiences with competency-based learning objectives, we aim to equip our students with essential knowledge, skills, and credits toward their diplomas. Moreover, this initiative provides the students we love and care for with the social and emotional support they need as they navigate the summer months.

Equally thrilling is our vision of preserving the historic charm of the refreshment pavilion while transforming it into a welcoming space for the community. We aspire to create a warm and inviting environment where individuals and families can come together, relax, enjoy great food, and create lasting memories.

Anyone who has visited Houghton’s Pond or the Refreshment Pavilion area knows this space is special. However, it needs a lot of TLC and capital improvements to function professionally and serve the community as well as our students in the way they deserve. Your donation to our fundraiser will play a crucial role in covering these expenses as we embark on our journey for the next five seasons.

The list of expenses is extensive, and I've outlined them below:

Refrigeration Equipment: Beverage refrigerator, food storage refrigerator & freezer, ice cream freezer

Essential Items: Cleaning supplies, trash receptacles, point of sale terminal, menu boards/signage, First Aid Kit, internet service

Storage Equipment: Food storage containers, shelving units, labeling materials

Marketing/Branding Materials: Uniforms (T-Shirts), Logo/Branding Kit, promotional materials, signage

Outdoor Seating: Tables, chairs, picnic tables, yard games

Food Preparation Equipment: Soft-serve ice cream machine, smoothie blender, soda fountain machine, ice machine

Cooking Equipment: Hot dog heat & holding, char broiler, griddle, fryer, sandwich press

Safety Equipment: Fire extinguishers, Service & Maintenance of fire suppression system

Transportation: Our students rely on public transportation and Houghton's Pond is currently not accessible via the MBTA. We will need to find a reliable alternative.

With your support, we can turn this vision into reality and create a space that benefits both our students and the wider community. Thank you for joining us on this adventure!