MAMH’s 2008 Spirit of Compassion Award to Massachusetts First Lady Diane B. Patrick

MAMH's 2008 Friend & Leader Award Recipient
Thomas Shields

The Commonwealth’s First Lady, Diane B. Patrick will be the recipient of the 3rd SPIRIT OF COMPASSION AWARD. Thomas F. Shields, Sr., Chairman and CEO of Shields Health Care Group is the recipient of MAMH’s 16th annual FRIEND AND LEADER AWARD.

Mrs. Patrick and Mr. Shields will be honored at an evening reception at the Seaport Hotel on May 19, 2008.

All proceeds of the event will benefit MAMH, a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) organization.

Diane B. Patrick has lent her good name, visibility and credibility to the fight against domestic violence. Research confirms that children who are subjected to or even witness domestic violence become susceptible to emotional disorders, which can become more severe and debilitating. The quiet, dignified and public manner in which Diane faced her personal experience with fatigue and depression was a source of encouragement and support for other citizens facing the same or similar illnesses. Throughout her professional career Diane has extended herself to civic and community activities, including membership on the United Way of Massachusetts Bay Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Trustee of Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Board of Trustees Cambridge College, President of the Board of Directors of Brookline Infant Toddler Center and as an Overseer of Children’s Hospital

Tom Shields is recognized as one of the top health care entrepreneurs in the country. Shields MRI is New England’s original and premier independent MRI provider. For more than 30 years, the Shields family, through the Shields Health Care Group, has been investing in people-centered enterprises- medical, charitable, social service and recreational – that promote the health of individuals and the well-being of the Commonwealth. The Thomas and Mary Shields Scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving pre-medical student from the Brockton area. He was a member of the Stonehill College Board of Trustees for two decades, serving as its Chairman from 1994 to June of 2007. Under his leadership and direction, the College successfully initiated its first capital campaign, and became an educational, economic, cultural, and religious force in the community.

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The Friend and Leader Award was established by MAMH in 1993 to annually recognize an individual or organization who embodies outstanding leadership qualities, and who has significantly contributed to the quality of life, spirit and the common good of Massachusetts and its citizens.

Past recipients of the Friend and Leader Award:

1993 - Loretta McLaughlin, Editor of The Boston Globe editorial page
1994 - Stephen Hegarty, President of the Massachusetts Hospital Association
1995 – Massachusetts Governor William F. Weld
1996 – Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino
1997 - Charles D. Baker, Massachusetts Secretary for Administration and Finance
1998 - U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy
1999 - WBZ TV News and News Anchor Liz Walker
2000 - U.S. Congressman John Joseph Moakley
2001 - Dr. Aaron Lazare, Dean of the University of Massachusetts Medical School
2002 - Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly
2003 – Thomas P. Glynn, COO of Partners HealthCare
2004 – Marylou Sudders, President & CEO, Mass. Soc. for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children and former Commissioner, MA Department of Mental Health.
2005 – Peter Meade, Executive Vice-President Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
Massachusetts.
2006 - Gary Gottlieb, M.D., M.B.A., President of The Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner
Hospitals
2007 – Jack Connor, a founding partner of Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Inc.

The Spirit of Compassion Award was established to annually recognize and honor an individual, who has made a real difference for a disabled person or the disability community.

2006– Larry Cancro, Senior VP Boston Red Sox
2007– Kevin Fitzgerald, former Massachusetts State Representative

Those interested in learning more about the Friend & Leader Award, the Spirit of Compassion Award and the May 19th reception honoring Diane Patrick and Tom Shields should contact Bernie Carey at 617-742-7452 or berncarey@aol.com