“An education creates a world of tolerance and understanding.”

Without knowing its history, this may seem like a simple nine-word statement that makes you think for a moment or two about the importance of education. 

The truth is that this nine-word statement carries enough power to ignite a legacy.

An 18-year-old aspiring writer wrote these words in 2007, and now they are the driving force behind the non-profit organization’s mission founded in her memory. 

You can probably guess. That organization is Catie’s Closet.

Catie Bisson, a student at Bridgewater State University, passed away on March 23, 2010 at the age of 20 due to a connective tissue disorder.

Along with countless loving friends and family members, Catie left behind dozens of cherished journal entries where she shared her joy, talent, insights, and wisdom.

Today, her words and her passion for education live on in the lives that Catie’s Closet impacts.

Catie’s Closet disrupts the cycle of poverty.

Catie’s Closet gives children in poverty an in-school solution to the barriers that hold them back from receiving a proper education, and education is the surest pathway out of poverty.

Lack of clothing is cited as one of the most common reasons children living in poverty miss school. 

Catie’s Closet provides these children with free access to clothing, toiletries and other basic necessities right inside their schools, so they have a reason to attend school and stay in school.

And that reason to go to school, that immediate access to having their basic needs met, then becomes the pathway to their success in class, fostering a sense of newfound confidence, and a vision for a future beyond their struggles.

How?

Catie’s Closet currently serves more than 80,000 students in 120 schools, and an additional 5,000+ students throughout the local community via its urgent SOS Program: “Special Order System”.

The schools equipped with a Catie’s Closet have a 50%+ poverty rate, meaning more than half of the students meet the criteria for living at or below the federal poverty line.

Catie’s Closet takes an unused room inside a school and transforms it into a safe, welcoming place where students can shop for the items they need, whenever and as often as they have a need. 

With its SOS Program, the organization’s social service partner agencies can place orders with the Catie’s Closet Distribution Centers and request items that fill a child’s unique and individual needs. 

This program extends the organization’s services to meet the needs of children outside of the schools they serve who are involved with child and families services, hospitals, foster care agencies, and shelters. 

The BIGGEST call for support of the year.

For more than 10 years, Catie’s Closet has hosted an annual gala in March to join forces with dedicated community members who want to make a difference and help grow the Catie’s Closet mission.

Catie’s Closet relies completely on charitable contributions to fund its mission, and the gala, “A Night to Open Doors”, is the biggest fundraiser of the year.

The success of the gala is critical to the future of Catie’s Closet and its ability to reach all of the students across Massachusetts and New Hampshire who need assistance.

2023 Results

We are so excited to announce that our 2023 Gala, which we held on March 18, 2023 at Andover Country Club, raised $260,000!

More than 350 attendees filled the ballroom of Andover Country Club. This year’s gala was the first in-person gala since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are still in awe of the generosity our community members showed in support of this year’s Gala,” said Mickey Cockrell, CEO and Co-Founder of Catie’s Closet. “It was absolutely amazing to see the crowd of new and familiar faces, and experience the enthusiasm of those who truly want to make a difference in the lives of students in need. The pandemic halted our annual gala for three years, and this was most certainly a night to remember,” she added.

This year’s event made a mark in Catie’s Closet’s 13-year history as the most successful Gala.

Attendees bid on live and silent auctions, took their chances on the legendary raffle baskets, and raised their bidder numbers to fund the needs of students. Cockrell, along with Founder & Board Chairman, Anne-Marie Sousa, and special guest speaker, Wendy Roberge-Crocker, Principal at J.G. Pyne Arts Magnet School in Lowell, addressed the crowd with emotional, informational and inspirational speeches, while comedian Tony V emceed the event and conducted the live auction. 

All proceeds from the event help Catie’s Closet continue and expand its work.

Looking for other ways to support Catie’s Closet?

Whether you want to volunteer, host a drive, or become a recurring donor, there are so many ways you can help Catie’s Closet.

Check out the Get Involved page for all of the exciting ways you can help today.

“An education creates a world of tolerance and understanding.”

A simple nine-word statement with enough power to ignite a legacy.