When: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 | 6:00 pm

Where: Danversport Waterfront

Event Purpose: This year’s event holds extra special meaning as we honor the remarkable legacy of our Executive Director and Founder, Linda Saris, who will retire in June 2026 after decades of visionary leadership. This year, Great Expectations will help launch the New ERA of LEAP—ensuring that Linda’s legacy is tied directly to transformational, measurable, focused initiatives in workforce development.

E – Education | R – Resources | A – Allies

Funds raised will support more than 600 students from Lynn and Salem—79% of whom are low-income—who participate in LEAP’s free, yearlong programs. These high-quality programs equip students with the skills, experiences, and confidence.

The New ERA of LEAP—a bold, long-term investment in the next generation. Your support directly fuels Education, Resources, and Allies for young people:

Education that connects learning to real careers,
Resources like paid work experiences and the ability to earn industry credentials and degrees, and
Allies—employers, mentors, and trained adults—who open doors and walk alongside them.

Event theme: Honoring Linda Saris: A Legacy of Leadership, A Foundation for the Future.

Online Auction: Look at the next tab!

Purchase Tickets here.

Our Vision

A world where all youth have quality education, resources, and allies to navigate a path to a successful career and economic mobility.

Great Expectations 2026 - LEAP for Education

Honoring Linda Saris: A Legacy of Leadership, A Foundation for the Future.