On Sunday, September 17, Danny’s Place Youth Services (DPYS), a 501c3 non-profit, held a ribbon-cutting at their new location in West Acton village, and a community celebration to honor the 20th year of the Danny’s Place vision. Danny’s Place was created in honor of Danny McCarthy, an ABRHS student who died at the age of 16 in a car accident. Executive Director Katie Gorczyca welcomed the large crowd gathered on the sidewalk to the new space, sharing that the day before, September 16, would have been Danny’s 37th birthday. Gorczyca is McCarthy’s younger sister, and, standing with their family, she described the organization’s focus on health and wellness, self-exploration and life skills, and leadership and community-building.
The organization was created in 2003, and opened a youth drop-in space in the Acton-Boxborough school district’s Administration Building at 15 Charter Road in 2006. After moving to West Acton VillageWorks in 2014, and shifting to a program-centric focus, DPYS is now housed in the former architecture offices of Michael Rosenfeld, once St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, at the corner of Mass Ave and Spruce St in West Acton. The new space is much, much larger, and the organization is going to be able to greatly expand its program offerings.
Danny McCarthy lived his life giving his best effort to everything: not just academics, but sports, art, music, and his relationships, with his family and with his friends, bringing kids from different friend groups together. Gorcyzyca’s message to all who gathered in the community celebration was that Danny’s Place is carrying on this tradition by providing a space and a community “where kids can be kids and be their true, authentic selves.”
Following the ribbon-cutting and tours of the newly opened space, attendees were invited to cross Mass Ave. to the Gardner Field & Playground to enjoy food from True West and WestSide Creamery, a raffle, art activities, face painting, and a cornhole tournament. DPYS serves AB students in grades 3-12. The low-cost and free programming includes Girls on the Run, a non-competitive program for girls in grades 3-6 that focuses on both inner strength and physical health and stamina, Youth Leadership Councils for grades 7-8 and 9-12, Coloring Equality, a social justice art program for grades 4-6, and the U Project for grades 9-12 focused on community service. More information can be found at Danny’s Place.
