QUINCY − A Quincy grandmother who is raising six of her nine grandchildren alone is getting a big award.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts will celebrate its 75th anniversary Saturday. And Sheila White will be honored.
White, who turned 60 in November, has been caring for six of her grandchildren, now ages 8 to 17, for the past 10 years, after their mother could not take care of them. Their mother, Rachael Kirby Dunham, 34, of Quincy, died last June. She was White’s youngest daughter.
On Saturday, White will get the James J. Pallotta Award during Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts’ 25th annual Big Night fundraiser.
The event, at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, will also celebrate the nonprofit’s 75th anniversary of supporting youngsters with caring adult mentors across the region. Pallotta is a long-time supporter of the organization, a philanthropist and is one of the founders of Big Night.
White has invited a half dozen family members to the event.
All six of White’s grandchildren who live with her have either a Big Brother or a Big Sister. All the mentors are called “Bigs” and she credits them with helping to keep the young people active and strong.