The Charitable Irish Society - the oldest Irish society in the Americas - will hold its twenty-first Silver Key Awards Reception on Wednesday, September 18, 2019, at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. This event is an opportunity to recognize and honor individuals who have helped make our community more welcoming to immigrants and to raise funds to be distributed by the Society to immigrants in need of financial assistance.
This year's honorees are Charles L.Donahue, Jr., Mike Oliver, and Anita Sharma, each of whom has been instrumental in assisting newcomers to our community.
Charlie Donahue has had a long and distinguished career in health planning, with particular emphasis on community-based health care and expansion of access to health care for all. He is involved with a number of organizations, including the Irish American Partnership, Boston University School of Public Health, and the Boston Irish Business Association, and is a member of the Westwood School Committee.
Mike Oliver is the Director of the St. Mark Community Education Program in Dorchester. Since 1999 the SMCEP has provided adult immigrants with English classes, citizenship preparation classes, and computer training classes. in a variety of settings throughout Greater Boston.
Anita Sharma is the Executive Director of the PAIR (Political Aslum/Immigration Representation) Project. She is actively involved in the Boston Bar Association's Immigration and Delivery of Legal Services Sections, has provided legal representation to asylum seekers, and directs and mentors the pro bono attorneys who work with PAIR Project. The Barr Foundation recently named her as one of twelve Barr Fellows, a group of "exemplary civic leaders committed to Greater Boston."
Tickets for the Silver Key Awards Reception are $150 and can be obtained online at www.charitableirishsociety.org.