Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston held its annual Spring Celebration on May 11 at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum, raising more than $1.1 million to fund the agency’s programs and services that support more than 200,000 people in need throughout Eastern Massachusetts.
Highlights from the event included Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley’s closing comments as well as remarks from special guest speaker Emmanuel Sebit, a Catholic Charities client originally from South Sudan. Sebit spoke about the immigrant experience, from his personal challenges living in a refugee camp for 11 years to his success in obtaining a high school diploma and going on to attend college, as well as the support that he received from Catholic Charities every step of the way.
At the event, Catholic Charities honored Joyce and Bill Cummings of Cummings Foundation with the 2016 Justice and Compassion Award for their extensive philanthropic contributions and social impact on the Greater Boston community, as well as their extensive support of Catholic Charities and its English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) adult education programs. Co-founders of Cummings Foundation, Joyce and Bill Cummings are the first Massachusetts residents to join The Giving Pledge, a national philanthropic organization founded by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet.
“Catholic Charities is very fortunate to have so many supporters who recognize the profound impact that our services and programs have on our neighbors and families in need,” said Deborah Kincade Rambo, president of Catholic Charities. “This year we had the pleasure of honoring Joyce and Bill Cummings, a couple truly embodying the values of charity and compassion and who through their generosity have transformed countless lives in Massachusetts and beyond.”
Close to 400 guests joined Cardinal O’Malley, Rev. J. Bryan Hehir and event co-chairs William B. Parent, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Hills Bank, and Catholic Charities Trustee Thomas O’Reilly in celebrating and supporting the work of Catholic Charities. The event featured Mike Sheehan, CEO of The Boston Globe, as master of ceremonies. Some of the event’s sponsors included Cummings Foundation, Karla and Jeff Kaneb, as well as Ginny and John Kaneb.
About Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Boston
For more than 110 years, Catholic Charities has continued its mission of building a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people. The agency provides nearly 100 programs and services throughout Eastern Massachusetts. These services respond to the needs of the poor and working poor, provide supportive services to children and families, and assist refugees and immigrants as they become active participants in their communities. Last year, Catholic Charities served more than 200,000 people in need, regardless of faith. To discover more of our work, visitwww.ccab.org.