Max Warburg Courage Curriculum founding trustee Stephanie Warburg, right, welcomes Stacey Lucchino to the "Celebrating Courage" benefit at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. (Photo by Roger Farrington)

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel was recently the venue for "Celebrating Courage," a benefit for The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum (MWCC). Suzanne Bloomberg and Katie Schuller Bleakie were co-chairs of the festive event.

Approximately 200 guests helped raise funds for the Curriculum by bidding on silent auction items, ranging from a week's stay at the Mandarin Oriental Chiang Mai, where the Courage Curriculum is being taught at the city's Prince Royal's College, to opportunities to "adopt" sixth and ninth grade classrooms, providing students with novels, and supporting an annual essay publication.

The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum is celebrating its eighteenth year working with Boston's public, private, parochial and charter schools and is proud to also partner with schools beyond the city.

The Curriculum honors the life of Max Warburg, a courageous 11-year-old who died of leukemia in 1991. Max's ability to continue to enjoy life and his unwavering optimism in the face of a deadly disease were an inspiration to all who knew him.

Believing that their son's story would resonate with other children his age, Stephanie and Jonathan Warburg worked with the Boston Public Schools, a team of doctoral students from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and educators from across the country to develop The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum.

For more information about the non-profit organization and its upcoming programs, visit www.maxcourage.org.

Boston's North End to Host its First "Spring Stroll"

The "First Annual Spring Stroll" through the North End's boutiques, galleries and design Studios takes place on Friday, May 1 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

We are invited to explore and enjoy visiting participating retailers during the stroll, a great opportunity to shop locally, and support the area's small businesses. Validated parking will be available at selected locations. Refreshments will be served.

Maps will be available at all of the participating shops leading up to and on the night of the stroll. Enjoy the walk to each nearby location with your sweetheart, family members, or make a night out of it with a group of friends.

In the spirit of spring, the season of renewal, several stroll locations will be featuring green, eco-friendly products.

As a special bonus, strollers can enter for a chance to win a gift basket, brimming with treats and gift certificates from the diverse group of stroll businesses.

To enter, pick up a Stroll Passport Card at any of the stroll shops. Visit each of the shops listed on the card, have your passport stamped, and you will be entered to win the grand prize. Return your completed, stamped card to any participating shop before 11 p.m. that evening.

The gift basket will be on display at Red M Studio at 164 Prince Street near Commercial St. The winning entry will be drawn on Tuesday, May 5th.

For a complete list of all the participating North End businesses, visit www.northendboston.com. For more information, call 617-697-3011 or email northendstroll@gmail.com.

Beloved Duckling Parade Scheduled for Mother's Day

Friends of the Public Garden, in partnership with The Boston Athenæum, will present the "29th Annual Duckling Day Parade" on Mother's Day, May 10, beginning at 12 noon on Boston Common, rain or shine.

Based on Robert McCloskey's classic 1941 book, "Make Way for Ducklings," the parade lets children and their families (many dressed in photogenic duckling costumes) retrace the steps of Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their family of eight little ducklings.

For parade participation, there is a donation per family. Registration is available in advance online at www.friendsofthepublicgarden.org. Pre-registration is encouraged. On-site registration begins at 10:30 a.m. on the Boston Common, at the base of the Shaw Memorial, opposite the State House.

Children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite characters from the book. All children in families that are registered will receive "ducky" prizes and refreshments.

The Harvard University Marching Band will lead the parade. Mayor Menino is expected to greet children in the Public Garden at the end of the parade. Additional parade support is provided by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Boston. The Boston Police Department will ensure that "Officer Michael" stands guard at the corner of Beacon and Charles.

For additional information, visit www.friendsofthepublicgarden.org, call 617-723-8144, or e-mail fopg@gis.net.

Enjoy!

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