Hope, Healing, and Celebration: Stories from our Gala Co-Chairs
Introducing our 2025 Kids Fund Gala Co-Chairs: Laura Finnerty, Jaime Smoller, and Katya Losk
How did you get involved with The Brookline Center?
Jaime: My connection to The Brookline Center began when my son started receiving care. It started with therapy at school, which felt like a dream to have one less thing to schedule. The Center helped my family navigate everything, and for the first time it felt like we were moving in the right direction. That experience opened my eyes to the depth of support the Center offers to children and families. A few years later, we started attending events like Women at the Center and the Kids Fund Gala. Before long, I was invited to join the board and have served since 2019.
Laura: I found the Center’s CEDAR Clinic during the pandemic, when my daughter was struggling with her mental health and our family was going through a lot of transition. Like so many parents, I was navigating a complex system and searching for the right kind of care. The support we found at the Center was life-changing—not only for my daughter, but for our whole family.
Katya: I got to know the Center when my son, who was in fourth grade at the time, began having behavioral and emotional challenges and his pediatrician recommended therapy. Finding a therapist wasn’t easy—until his school suggested we explore The Brookline Center. It felt like such a relief to realize that this incredible resource was just across the street! Around the same time, my friend and neighbor Jaime Smoller invited me and my husband to attend the Kids Fund Gala, which helped me appreciate the broader impact of the Center across Massachusetts.
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Why are you a supporter of children’s mental health?
Laura: Every child deserves to be heard, supported, and equipped with the tools they need to navigate life. That became even more clear to me during the pandemic, when so many kids were facing emotional challenges. I also experienced anxiety as a child, at a time when mental health wasn’t widely talked about, so I’ve long understood how essential it is to care for mental health just as much as physical health.
Katya: Having a child who was facing anxiety and had trouble expressing his emotions has shown me firsthand just how important it is for families to have access to support. I’ve also seen friends and others in our community turn to The Brookline Center for help, and I know what a vital resource it is—not just for Brookline, but for surrounding communities as well.
What does co-chairing the gala mean to you?
Jaime: Co-chairing the gala this year has given me a meaningful opportunity to reach out to my network and rally support for a cause I care so deeply about. We’re living in an uncertain world, with so many unknowns around funding for mental health care, but working on this event and seeing the dedication of so many has given me hope. When people come together for a common cause, we really can make a difference.
Laura: The Center not only helped my daughter heal—it helped our whole family in terms of support and healing. Co-chairing the gala is a way for me to give back and pay that forward by making sure more families can access that same support.
What should attendees look forward to at this year’s gala?
Jaime: The Kids Fund Gala is always such a fun night—one that brings our community together in support of children’s mental health. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t enjoy a chance to get dressed up? This year’s venue, Roadrunner Boston, is particularly unique and I think it will be a fantastic setting to celebrate everything we’re accomplishing together.
Katya: Attendees can expect a truly inspiring evening. Hearing the stories from people who’ve received care at the Center is incredibly moving—it reminds you why this work is so important. The gala is also a really great, festive event!
