For many families, community service grows from passion. For the Dabrowski family, it grew from love and from unimaginable loss.
This year, Abby’s House is honored to present the Stephen S. Foster Award to the Dabrowski family at our 50th Anniversary Gala in recognition of their extraordinary compassion and unwavering commitment to supporting women and families throughout our community.
Traditionally, the Stephen S. Foster Award recognizes individuals and families whose leadership, generosity, and dedication have created meaningful and lasting impact. This year, however, the meaning of the award feels even deeper. In honoring the Dabrowski family, Abby’s House recognizes not only philanthropy and service, but also the extraordinary decision to transform grief into purpose.
Following the tragic loss of their daughter Amanda in 2019, Ed and Beth Dabrowski made the remarkable choice to ensure her life would continue to create impact for others. Alongside Amanda’s Army, a devoted group of family members and friends who have stood beside them since the very beginning. They have built something rooted in love, remembrance, advocacy, and action.
Together, Amanda’s Army and the Dabrowski family have brought people together not only to honor Amanda’s memory, but to support causes that protect and uplift women and families throughout Central Massachusetts. From annual community fundraising efforts to their beloved take-out pasta dinner and ongoing advocacy work, they have continuously shown what it means to turn heartbreak into hope.
This year’s Amanda’s Army Take-Out Pasta Dinner will take place on September 26 at St. Louis Church in Webster and will once again include a raffle table to benefit Abby’s House and support women and children in need throughout our community.
Their gatherings are more than fundraisers. They are moments of compassion, connection, and community… reminders that people do not have to navigate hardship alone.
That spirit of advocacy and care is deeply aligned with the mission of Abby’s House. As we celebrate 50 years of serving women and children experiencing homelessness, the Dabrowski family’s support reflects a shared belief that every woman deserves safety, dignity, compassion, and the opportunity to rebuild her life surrounded by community.
In recent years, the family has also worked to pursue revised legislation aimed at improving employment rights for victims, continuing Amanda’s legacy not only through remembrance, but through meaningful systemic advocacy.
What makes the Dabrowski family so extraordinary is not simply their generosity, but the humanity behind it. Their advocacy has never centered on recognition. Instead, it has centered on making sure Amanda’s life continues to matter in meaningful ways and ensuring other women and families are protected, supported, and seen.
This recognition is not about defining Amanda by the tragedy of her death. It is about honoring the enduring love of a family who chose to create light for others in the midst of profound loss and recognizing the incredible impact one family, and one community standing beside them, can have on so many lives.
At our 50th Anniversary Gala, we will proudly celebrate the Dabrowski family and Amanda’s Army for the love, advocacy, and hope they continue to bring to Worcester, and for the legacy of Amanda that continues to inspire so many.
Honoring the Dabrowski Family’s Commitment
Want to honor the Dabrowski family’s extraordinary commitment to women and families across Central Massachusetts?
Consider making a gift in their honor to Abby’s House. Every contribution supports safe housing and wraparound services that help women and children rebuild their lives with dignity, stability, and hope.
Join Us in Celebrating 50 Years of Abby’s House
The 50th Anniversary Gala is officially sold out, a reflection of the incredible community that has rallied around this milestone and the inspiring honorees, including the Dabrowski family. While the gala is at capacity, there are still meaningful ways to take part in this celebration:
- Donate artwork to the anniversary art sale
- Participate in the online auction from May 22-May 30: Register today!
- Support or participate in Abby’s House’s Annual 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, October 17, in West Boylston
- Attend Amanda’s Army’s Take-Out Pasta Dinner on September 26 at St. Louis Church in Webster
Email info@abbyshouse.org to learn more and get involved. Every act of support helps ensure Abby’s House can continue its life-changing work for the next 50 years.