15th Anniversary Community Celebration | Saturday, September 19, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; no cost to attend

DORCHESTER, Mass. (September 2026) – On Saturday, September 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Salvation Army Boston Kroc Center will host its 15th Anniversary Community Celebration, a day of family-friendly festivities marking 15 years serving the Dorchester neighborhood and Greater Boston. The event, held at 650 Dudley Street, has no cost to attend and is open to the public. The day will feature food trucks, bounce houses, splash pad, a teen zone, music, and soccer, along with a schedule of activities including:

• 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12 p.m. & 12:30 p.m. — Cycling classes (on field)
• 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. — Building tours (lobby)
• 12 p.m., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. — Zumba (on field)
• 1-3 p.m. — Exhibition basketball game vs. the New England Kraken (gym)
• 2 p.m. — Community recognition ceremony honoring Kroc staff, members and longtime supporters, with remarks from Salvation Army leaders and additional guest speakers (rear lot)
• 2-4 p.m. — Rock wall races

The Kroc Centers’ roots trace back to philanthropist Joan Kroc, wife of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc, who envisioned community centers that would serve as safe gathering places for families in neighborhoods that needed them most. Her gift to The Salvation Army has since built 26 Kroc Centers nationwide, including the Boston Kroc Center. The Dudley Street location was championed by then-Mayor Thomas Menino, who believed the neighborhood deserved a space where residents of all ages could come together. Today, the center’s chapel, originally built as a gathering place for mothers and families affected by violence in the community, remains part of that mission, offering room for reflection, worship and healing.

Since opening its doors in Upham’s Corner in 2011, the Boston Kroc Center has grown into New England’s largest and most comprehensive nonprofit community center, a 100,000-square-foot facility home to an NCAA-regulation-size basketball court, a 250-seat chapel and performing arts center, and programs spanning fitness, youth development, summer camp, worship, culinary arts, senior services and other social services.

For more information, visit: bostonkroc.salvationarmy.org.

About The Salvation Army Boston Kroc Center

The Salvation Army Boston Kroc Center, New England’s largest and most comprehensive non-profit community center, opened its doors to the community in April 2011.  The center represents The Salvation Army’s ongoing commitment to building communities of faith, hope, compassion, and grace. Located in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester, the 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility features cutting-edge fitness facilities, Boston’s largest indoor aquatics park; a gymnasium with an NCAA-regulation-size basketball court; a 250-seat chapel and performing arts center, affordable youth programs and summer camp opportunities, and a wide range of social services for individuals, seniors, and families. Visit bostonkroc.salvationarmy.org to learn more. 

About The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army helps more than 28 million people in nearly every zip code in America overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from substance abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at our more than 7,400 centers of operation around the country. In 2024, Forbes ranked The Salvation Army 6th in its list of America’s Top 100 Charities. And in 2021, The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked The Salvation Army 2nd on its list of “America’s Favorite Charities.” For more information about supporting The Salvation Army or your local service centers, visit salvationarmyma.org. Follow us on X @SalvationArmyMA and #DoingTheMostGood.