Irish Pastoral Centre volunteer appreciation night

The IPC will host their annual volunteer appreciation event at the Irish Social Club of Boston in at 119 Park Street in West Roxbury, this Saturday, May 16th starting at 7:00 pm. Honorees this year are Doc Walsh, Emer Mezzetti and Mark Porter. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance at the IPC offices at 15 Rita Rd in Dorchester or at the door. Entertainment by Erin's Melody and featuring a special appearance by the Green-O'Leary Dancers.

Volunteer profile: Mark Porter

Mark Porter hails from Buncrana, Co. Donegal and emigrated to the US (Boston) in 1987. Other than a short period in San Jose, CA and one year in Washington Mark has called the Boston area home since then. Currently he lives in Quincy.

In his self-effacing way Mark describes himself as “not the brightest bulb but also not the dimmest” in his classes. Clearly he is being modest; after doing his leaving certificate he studied carpentry for three years at a Northwest College of Technology in Derry and from there launched a successful thirty year career in construction. For the first half of his professional life Mark was self-employed; in the last fifteen years he has been working for JMP Construction in the Boston area primarily doing residential work.

When not working Mark enjoys boxing. He cites as his reason for volunteering at the IPC “All the good work that the IPC does “ and adds that “To be able to help a little is not only a pleasure but an honor.”

A man of few words Mark says his “proudest moments are every time I look at my 3 children and see how far they have come in their lives.”