DANVERS — A total of $47,500 in scholarships will be awarded to those who have been impacted by cancer and other life-threatening diseases at Boston North Cancer Association’s Hope Begins Here Award reception next week.
The Boston North Cancer Association will hold its 15th annual Hope Begins Here Award reception at Danversport, 161 Elliott St., Danvers, on Wednesday, April 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. The evening will honor Stephen Tyler, founder and president of the North Shore-based non-profit To Show We Care, in recognition of his deep commitment to encouraging and bringing happiness to cancer patients and those who work in the field.
As part of the evening’s programming, nine scholarships totaling $47,500 will be awarded to area students either bound for or currently attending college, according to Susan McCarthy, president of Boston North Cancer Association’s Board of Directors.
“The Boston North Cancer Association scholarship program is proud to assist promising North of Boston students in overcoming the challenges and hardships posed by cancer, so they may achieve their dreams of higher education,” McCarthy said. “The program also advances improved methods of cancer treatment and prevention by means of assisting medical school students with scholarships.”
The scholarship awards to be presented are as follows:
- The $15,000 F. John Bargoot, MD Memorial Scholarship is an award for a medical school student who resided and completed high school in Essex County and has an interest in cancer treatment and prevention. It will be awarded to Kyle Kingston, of Swampscott, UMass Chan Medical School class of 2027.
- The $5,000 Hope Begins Here Scholarship, presented in 2025 in honor of Stephen Tyler, is an award for a college-bound North of Boston high school senior whose parent was diagnosed with cancer or has passed away as a result of cancer. It will be awarded to Luke Sulzinsky, of Middleton, New England Academy class of 2025, bound for Clark University.
- The $5,000 David J. Solimine Sr. Honorary Scholarship is an award for a college-bound North of Boston high school senior who is a cancer survivor or undergoing cancer treatment, or who has a parent currently undergoing cancer treatment, survived cancer treatment, or passed away from cancer. It will be awarded to Elliot Lyman, of Gloucester, Rockport High School class of 2025.
- The $5,000 Herbert H. Leventhal, MD Honorary Scholarship is an award for a college-bound North of Boston high school senior whose parent either passed away from cancer, survived cancer during the applicant’s childhood years, or is undergoing treatment for cancer, and has an interest in pursuing a career in medicine. It will be awarded to Giuliana Nazzaro, of Boxford, Masconomet Regional High School class of 2025, bound for Northeastern University.
- The $5,000 Mary Barbuzzi Breast Cancer Memorial Scholarship is an award for a college-bound North of Boston high school senior whose parent is currently undergoing treatment, survived, or passed away from breast cancer. It will be awarded to Ian Brown, of Lynn, Lynn English High School class of 2025, bound for Regis College.
- The $5,000 Teri Hall Memorial Scholarship is an award for a college-bound North of Boston high school senior who has a parent currently undergoing cancer treatment, who survived cancer treatment, or passed from cancer, or who themselves is a cancer survivor or undergoing treatment for cancer. It will be awarded to Bridget Murray, of Lynnfield, Lynnfield High School class of 2025, bound for Framingham State University.
- The $5,000 Donald Perlman, MD Memorial Scholarship is an award for a college-bound North of Boston high school senior interested in pursuing a career in the field of medicine. It will be awarded to Alice Moody, of Essex, Manchester Essex Regional High School class of 2024, bound for Emory University.
- The $1,500 Rising Star Honorary Scholarship is an award for a college-bound North of Boston high school senior. It will be awarded to Reese Lizotte, of Beverly, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School class of 2025, bound for the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
- The $1,000 Lightshed Photography Honorary Scholarship is an award for a college-bound North of Boston high school senior. It will be awarded to Adriana DiCorato, of Lynnfield, Lynnfield High School class of 2025, bound for the University of Connecticut.
Evening to honor Stephen Tyler, To Show We Care
Founded in 2010, the Hope Begins Here Award to be presented to Stephen Tyler is given annually by the Boston North Cancer Association to an outstanding leader and advocate for cancer treatment, education, or care on the North Shore.
Tyler’s organization, To Show We Care, achieves this by hosting those battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases for a free night of dining and entertainment. The mission started in 2013 with a single event hosting 138 cancer patients for a free performance of “Cats!” and a post-show reception at North Shore Music Theatre. Since that initial event, the organization has grown to serve and support more than 4,500 people in 12 years, including nearly 400 across seven events held in 2024.
“People on our board have been to the North Shore Music Theatre and seen his table set up,” McCarthy said. “We support a lot of doctors, nurses, and medical staff in our work, but occasionally, we work to honor someone else in the community. Supporting Stephen as this year’s Hope Begins Here Award recipient was a unanimous vote, a no-brainer, and well deserved.”
Please visit the Hope Begins Here event page for more information and to register to attend.
