IFDA New England Begins Community Service Work at ABC Wellesley

This summer the New England Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) is undertaking a pro bono project to make improvements for the ABC Wellesley dormitory, home to a very special group of academically talented young women of color who live there while attending Wellesley High School.

“Community service is a core value of IFDA, and we bring our creative skill set to worthy recipients,” says Jacqueline Becker, IFDA Board Member and VP of Community Services. “As we enjoy the 75th Anniversary of IFDA’s standing as the leading design and furnishings trade association in the America, we undertake our most ambitious sweat equity project to date.”

The project has kicked off with new art work installed in the study hall, where mandatory study time will now be enhanced by artwork donated by Becker’s company, Jacqueline Becker Fine Arts Consulting, with framing donated by Stanhope Framers of Somerville, and installation services donated by Clark Fine Art Services of Newton.

Art work in the Study Hall, and ABC Wellesley Board Member Jill Creevy (L) and IFDA NE VP of Community Services Jacqui Becker.

During the next phase of the project IFDA New England will renovate ABC Wellesley’s principal bathroom and undertake multiple painting projects. The following members have donated goods and services for the design and renovation of the building.

Dan Wilson and Kevin Cradock of Kevin Cradock Builders, Jessica Chabot of Katie Rosenfeld & Co, Pat Bryson of Bryson Electric, John Speridakos of Cosmos Painting, Jim Lavallee of Lavallee Systems, Beezee Honan of Designer Bath, Jon Moss of Installations Plus, Jeff Pomeroy of Light New England, Joe DiMare of Art of the Tile and Stone, Manny Makkas of Makkas Drapery, Lauren Hamilton of August Interiors, Sergei Hasegawa and Dave Schneider of Cory Manufacturing, and Tom Skinner of Skinner Demo.

Wellesley A Better Chance (ABC)

The Wellesley ABC program provides academically talented and promising young women of color A Better Chance of educational preparedness through enrollment at Wellesley High School. Wellesley ABC is committed to increasing the number of well-educated women of color assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society.

Follow IFDA NE on Instagram & Facebook