Thank you to our incredible supporters and everyone who attended the May 14, 2026, event. We are close to achieving our $1,000,0000 goal and will continue to raise funds over the next few weeks. If you haven’t had the chance to contribute yet, please consider donating to help continue our important work.

We are pleased to share the speech delivered by our 2026 honoree, Joe Albanese, whose heartfelt message deeply resonated with our guests.

Good evening, everyone,

Rosemary, thank you for that introduction, and more importantly, for your seven years of steady, visionary leadership. To the Board, the faculty, our corporate partners, and the Class of 2026: I am incredibly honored to be here.

At Commodore Builders, we think a lot about foundations. We know that a structure is only as strong as what lies beneath it. But the work being done here at Cristo Rey is the most vital kind of building there is. They aren’t just building a school; they are building a gateway to the American Dream.

Cristo Rey Boston is the only tuition-free, college-prep high school in this city. It serves students who have the highest aspirations but face the steepest economic hills. When you look at the numbers—an average family income of $39,000 in one of the most expensive cities in the country, the achievements we are celebrating tonight are nothing short of a miracle.

But it’s a miracle rooted in hard work.

Our students don’t just study; they work. Through the Corporate Work Study Program, they are in offices and job sites four days a month, proving that professionalism is a learned skill.

Take Malachi, a senior. He’s currently working at Select Demo Services, getting a front-row seat to engineering and construction management. He isn’t just reading about blueprints; he’s seeing how they become reality. That is the Cristo Rey difference. These students graduate with a resume before they even get their high school diploma.

The results speak for themselves:

• A 100% college acceptance rate for the Class of 2025.

• Over $22 million in scholarships earned.

• And a college persistence rate that is three times higher than their peers.

Tonight is Cristo Rey’s largest fundraiser of the year. The “Signing Day” we are about to witness—where these seniors commit to their futures—is only possible because of your investment. Your generosity provides the full-tuition scholarships that remove the final barrier between these students and their potential.

To the students of the Class of 2026: You have already done the hard part. You’ve balanced the books and the boardrooms. You’ve proven you belong. As you sign those letters of intent tonight, know that this entire room is standing behind you.

Thank you for this honor, thank you for your support of these remarkable young people. Let’s keep building?