Kids Fund Campaign UnGala 2026

It’s a hard time to be a kid.

The world is uncertain, unpredictable, and often unnerving. It’s taking a toll on all of us, and children struggling with mental health challenges are feeling it most. Families are under pressure, and the support systems around them are stretched thin.  

The numbers tell the story: 

• 1 in 3 high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness 
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10–24 
• 50% of students with serious mental health challenges nationally drop out of school 

These are our neighbors—and they’re why we show up every day. 

For nearly 70 years, The Brookline Center has stood alongside children and families navigating the hardest moments of their lives. But the gap between the help that exists and the help that’s needed grows wider every day, and the resources that make our work possible are at risk. 

We are facing these challenges without stepping down, without scaling back, and without leaving behind the children and families who count on us. 

Here’s what that commitment looks like in practice: 

• When students are struggling: Our bryt program helps over 85% of students stay in school and graduate after a mental health crisis—defying the national dropout rate. 
• When foster-involved youth are unsupported: Our COMPASS initiative provides a dedicated safety net for students in the child welfare system, who face suicide attempt rates three to four times higher than their peers. 
• When early signs of crisis are overlooked: Our early psychosis experts conducted over 100 consultations in 2025 alone, training schools and doctors to catch the earliest signs and connect families to help. 

We can’t remove every obstacle a child faces. But together, we can ensure the support they receive far outweighs the challenges they encounter. 

For our 2026 Kids Fund Campaign, we’re trading our big gala for an even bigger impact. All funds raised will go directly to providing unconditional care for the kids and communities who need us most.