Leslie Odom Jr., who brought Aaron Burr to life as part of the original Broadway cast of “Hamilton,” was the guest speaker at ABCD’s Community Heroes Celebration Friday night at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.
Action for Boston Community Development provides low-income residents with the tools, support, and resources they need to transition from poverty to stability and from stability to success.
“Once again, ABCD is proud to put the spotlight on the volunteers and community members who go above and beyond to assist, serve, and educate our most vulnerable residents and economically disenfranchised families,” said John J. Drew, ABCD president and CEO.
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“[Odom Jr.’s] message of discovering your own potential and making your dreams come true will resonate with or inspire our supporters and those we serve,” Drew said.
The organization inducted former Celtics coach Doc Rivers into its Hall of Fame for being a co-founder of ABCD Hoop Dreams, a basketball tournament and fund-raiser that began in 2011. Longtime Globe sports writer Bob Ryan accepted the honor on Rivers’s behalf. Rivers is now coach of the Los Angeles Clippers.
WCVB-TV’s Shayna Seymour hosted the event, which also recognized 20 community members from the Boston area as “heroes” for their contributions to ABCD’s efforts. The heroes are Patricia McShane, Irene Chu, Philip Carver, Joseph Cinelli, Evelyn House, Karen Dottin-Ricketts, Chien-Chi Huang, Nicole Graffam, Renee Cammarata Hamilton, Marie Cassidy, Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, Veronica Serrato, Marie Laundry, Jehla Johnson Lugo, Claudia Arresis, John Moore, Antonette Cabral, Shavel’le Olivier, John Crump, and Marchelle Raynor.
MADDIE KILGANNON
Maddie Kilgannon can be reached at maddie.kilgannon@globe.com.