Charitable Irish Society President Christopher A. Duggan and honorees Gerard Doherty, Sr. Maryadele Robinson and William Higgins. Steve Allen photoThe Charitable Irish Society presented Silver Key Awards to Gerard and Marilyn Doherty of Charlestown, Billy Higgins of South Boston, and Sister Maryadele Robinson, director emerita of the Laboure Center in South Boston – at an evening reception on Nov.10 at Boston’s Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.

“We had a wonderful and highly successful Silver Key,” said CIS president Christopher Duggan in a next day email to society members. “Our honorees spoke beautifully about their experiences serving those less fortunate in Boston and Ireland over decades of service.  A big ‘Thank You’ to all those who attended or contributed to this important event.  

“The Charitable Irish Society’s Silver Key Awards Reception is our primary annual fundraising event.  Funds raised are distributed to or on behalf of individual immigrants and provides financial support and services to those in need.”

The Charitable Irish Society was founded in Boston in 1737. It is the oldest Irish Society in the Americas and is unique in its inclusive membership of both Catholics and Protestants since its early days. From its beginnings, the Society’s mission has been to provide aid and assistance to newly arrived Irish immigrants as they face the multiple challenges of adjusting to and assimilating into a new city and country.

Consistent with the Irish traditions of hospitality and charity, the Society has expanded its focus to include immigrants from other countries as well as from Ireland.