In 1966, Kathe and John McKenna rented a basement apartment in Boston’s South End and began taking in the men they found sleeping on the street. Through a generous gift from a friend, the McKennas were able to purchase 23 Dartmouth Street, which they then named “Haley House,” after the Boston College graduate and social activist Leo Haley, who died that same year at age 24.

In 1975 Dave Manzo walked into the Haley House soup kitchen as the first PULSE student from Boston College. Connections between Haley House and Boston College have grown and deepened ever since through faith and shared commitments to service and justice.

Over 325 PULSE students have followed in Dave’s footsteps, and more than 50 Gabelli Presidential Scholars have contributed their time and talents to the Haley House community. Some students from both BC programs became live-in community members and administrative staff. All developed critical social consciousness through dialogue and reflection with their professors and mentors.

In 2018, BC’s Burns Library became the official repository for the Haley House archives.

To honor the historic ties between Boston College and Haley House, and the recent retirement of Bing Broderick as executive director and appointment of Reggie Jean as his successor, Burns Library will be hosting a reception and program titled, “Celebrating the Haley House-Boston College Connection: Reflections on Compassion in Action,” on Wednesday evening, October 5. Panelists will include Kathe McKenna (co-founder and executive director,1990-2013), Bing Broderick (executive director, 2013-2022), Reggie Jean (executive director, 2022), Dave Manzo (Haley House board member and BC PULSE alumnus), and Mary Lou Bozza (Haley House development director, 2014-2021, and BC Presidential Scholar alumna).

All are welcome to attend the program and coffee and desert reception to follow immediately afterwards in Burns Library. Selections from the Haley House archives will be on display.

Please RSVP by October 3 as seating will be limited: https://tinyurl.com/bc-haleyhouse.

Limited free parking will be available on Linden Lane and Commonwealth Avenue. Paid visitor parking will be available in BC’s Commonwealth Avenue garage. For details and information about mobility assistance, see bc.edu/burns/visit.