News & Events
Join Us for the 2026 Freedom Gala!
We invite you to join The O’Connell House for our 4th annual Freedom Gala, an inspiring evening dedicated to celebrating and supporting survivors on their journeys toward healing, independence and lasting freedom. Monday, November 9, 20265:30pm – 8:30pmRSVP by Friday,...
The Home for Little Wanderers Welcomes The O’Connell House, Expanding Care for Women, Children, and Families Impacted by Human Trafficking
Hello Friends! We are thrilled to share recent exciting news that The O’Connell House will now be managed and operated by The Home for Little Wanderers! This will allow us to serve more women and children who have been victims of human trafficking. Because of their...
The O’Connell House Awarded Cummings Grant to Benefit Safe Home for Trafficked Women
Middlesex County nonprofit receives 3 years of funding from Cummings Foundation The O’Connell House has been selected as one of 150 recipients to receive funding through Cummings Foundation’s annual grant program, which awarded $35 million this year to support...
Sponsor a Room at The O’Connell House!
Be a Foundation of Hope We invite you to join our Rooms of Hope campaign by sponsoring a sanctuary within our safe home for women who have been trafficked and their small children. Help us to provide a place where body, mind and soul are cared for, where healing...
Human Trafficking Awareness Day: Education Is Our Strongest Weapon Against Human Trafficking
January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Education is our strongest weapon against trafficking because an informed community is a trafficker's worst nightmare. When teachers, parents, neighbors, friends, and...
United for a Cause: Our Freedom 2025 Gala
Our Freedom 2025 Gala was a HUGE success — thank you to our incredible sponsors -- Delta Air Lines, Baxter, Quest Diagnostics, Crankstart, Boston Scientific, Hologic, Vertex, Rockland Trust, Texas Instruments, and CBJC -- plus table sponsors, donors, and supporters!...
A HUGE Milestone – Celebrating Our First Graduate!
In a huge milestone, after 18 months at The O’Connell House, our first graduate has moved on to a transitional program in a new state, beginning the next chapter of her life! We recently received an update that she has been doing amazingly well, building positive...
A New Vehicle for Our Home!
The O’Connell House has a new car, thanks to the incredible generosity of the community at St. Mary’s Life Ministry in Scituate and the wonderful folks at Audi Norwell. This is an invaluable gift, as it will be used to bring our residents out shopping, to...
Wear Blue on #WearBlueDay January 11th to raise awareness of human trafficking
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and Jan. 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, also known as #WearBlueDay. We encourage everyone to wear blue on Thursday, Jan. 11th in support of this awareness campaign! From the Blue...
Freedom Gala celebrates The O’Connell House’s assistance to trafficking survivors
This article originally appeared in Boston's The Pilot. NEWTON -- Right from the start, 2024 has been an eventful year for The O'Connell House. The house, located in the Merrimack Valley, is the only Catholic safe house in Massachusetts for women and their infant...
Making a Difference, Together! Our Freedom 2024 Gala Fundraiser
Our Freedom 2024 Gala was a HUGE success — thank you to our incredible sponsors and supporters! Between in-person attendees and virtual donors, we raised an astounding $440,000 to serve our women and children residents in 2025! Read about the event in the Boston...
Early Bird Registration Now Open for Freedom Gala 2024 on December 4th
Cocktails, Dinner, Guest speaker, Awards and Harry returns as auctioneer! All proceeds benefit our safe house. We have reserved a block of rooms reserved for attendees, contact the Boston Newton Marriott and mention The O'Connell House event! DECEMBER 4th, 2024 6:00...
The O’Connell House joins The Home for Little Wanderers for their “Voices and Visions” Celebration
Two of The O’Connell House board members, Deb Rusckowski and Bruce Bird, were honored to attend and support the great work of The Home for Little Wanderers, the 200+ year old Boston-based organization who founded the first orphanage. We thank Lesli Suggs, CEO and VP...
Feb. 8th is International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking
From The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops "The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the International Union of Superiors General has designated February 8 as an annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. On this day, Catholics...
Deb O’Hara-Rusckowski presents at UN Conference regarding Human Trafficking Preventative Strategies and Care of Victims
The conference on January 11th, 2024 was hosted by The Sovereign Order of Malta and the Permanent Mission of Mexico. "In respecting January 11th, 2024, as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, the Sovereign Order of Malta Permanent Observer Mission to the United...
Good Times for a Great Cause: Photos from our December Event
Thanks to everyone who attended and supported The O’Connell House at our first annual Freedom Gala 2023!! We couldn’t have done it without you!! Click on any photo to view full-size and start the slideshow.Our Mission Depends On Your Support!
Our Mission Depends On Your Support!
A huge thank you to our amazing sponsors and partners for helping us to provide safety and hope for women and children who have been trafficked.
A huge thank you to our amazing sponsors and partners for helping us to provide safety and hope for women and children who have been trafficked.
