|
John Joseph Moakley Award for Distinguished Public Service Presented to Thomas J. White |
|
|
John Joseph Moakley Award for Distinguished Public Service Presented to Thomas J. White |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interfaith Community Gathers at First Annual UMass Boston Prayer Breakfast |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CM's Senior Executive Leadership Forum: Managing Exceptional Growth--The EMC Story |
|
|
Research and Sponsored Programs Office Announces Quarterly Awards |
|
|
Juliet Schor Speaks on "New Consumerism" as part of Earth Day Festivities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Politicians, community members, UMass Boston faculty and staff, and friends came together on April 10 at a recognition breakfast honoring Thomas J. White, recipient of the John Joseph Moakley Award for Distinguished Public Service. Presented by the John W. McCormack Institute of Public Affairs, this award was established to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to public life and welfare. As Edmund Beard, director of the Institute, pointed out, Thomas White exemplifies the idea that "a private citizen, can perform a distinguished public service."
From left to right: Edmund Beard, Director of the McCormack Institute; Congressman Joe Moakley, Thomas White; UMass President William Bulger; Chancellor Penney (Photo by Harry Brett) |
White is the former head of one of New England's largest and most successful construction companies, the J.F. White Contracting Company, which built Foxboro Stadium, parts of the Boston subway system, the Charles River Dam, and the Central Artery. The 1942 Harvard graduate and Cambridge native also served as John F. Kennedy's Northeast fund-raising chairman in the 1960 presidential campaign, and as an aide to General Maxwell Taylor in World War II. In spite of all of his successes, White chooses, rather than live the rich public life that he is capable of, to benefit the public with his millions. Over the years he has given away nearly $30 million to groups that serve the needy, sick, and hungry in impoverished areas as near as Roxbury and Dorchester and as distant as Haiti and Peru. Chancellor Penney likened White's quiet generosity to the beliefs of Tip O'Neil, who once said, "politics is really about individuals advocating for those people who have no voice." She introduced UMass President William Bulger as another person with a "voice for those with no means." |
|
Bulger described White as someone who "sees a special dignity that makes every single person important," and noted that White doesn't seek recognition for his generosity. White describes himself as uncomfortable in public situations and prefers to write a check, remaining as a benefactor in the background. Paul Farmer, White's good friend, said, "Tom's great gift is a sense of urgency coupled with remarkable generosity. He has powers of empathy that aren't really of this world." Farmer and White are co-founders of Partners in Health, through which While made one of his most notable contributions: a $3 million investment to save the lives of about 50 impoverished people in Peru, who were suffering from a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis. Not only did his contribution save the lives of these people, but it also drove down the prices of the drugs for treating the disease, thereby "lifting the death sentence of millions" throughout the world. Congressman John Joseph Moakley described White as "an exceptional human being, truly a saint," who, through his generous acts, has left an indelible mark on Boston and much of the world. In spite of his many accomplishments, Moakley said, White's greatest accomplishment by far has been his "dedication to people, without fanfare, and with no strings attached." According to Moakley, White has "truly redefined what it means to be a servant of the people." |
From left to right: Paul Farmer, Co-Founder of Partners in Health; Thomas White, Moakley Award Recipient, Jim Kim, Co-Founder of Partners in Health. (Photo by Harry Brett) |
 From left to right, guests Stasia Lopopolo, Ruby Brown, and Zimma Mercer with Thomas White. (Photo by Harry Brett) |
Upon accepting the award, White said that what he does is a normal thing, and does not merit all the kudos that he has received. He reminded his captivated audience that everything in life is on loan. "To not make use of it," he said, and "to go through life apathetically, not caring about others, is a waste of life." |