Connell and Siobhan Gallagher, publisher of The Irish Emigrant
newspaper are among this year's Silver Key honorees
The Charitable Irish Society will host it's fourteenth annual Silver Key Awards reception this coming Thrusday at The Boston College Club. This year's Silver Key honoree's, Lynn Finn, Connell and Siobhan Gallagher (publishers of The Irish Emigrant), Mary E. Kelleher and Kevin Leary are recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Irish Community.
Recognized as the oldest Irish organization in the US, on March 17, 1737, The Charitable Irish Society was founded by twenty-six "Gentlemen, Merchants, and Others of the Irish Nation" out of "...an Affectionate and Compassionate concern for their Countrymen of these parts...". To this day the Charitable Irish provide aid in cases hardship and emergency, often working with other local Irish organizations and the Irish Consulate. Their quiet and discrete work and giving frequently goes un-recognized, but has continued to serve a great need 275 years later.
Since 1996, the Society has also played a major roll in "Catch the Spirit-Citizenship" - a program to encourage Irish and other immigrant residents to become US citizens. Workshops covering all aspects of the application process are being offered by volunteers from the Society, the Irish International Immigrant Center and the Irish Pastoral Centre. This effort has resulted in the submission of over 1000 applications for US citizenship.
The Silver Key awards is one of two annual fundraising events hosted by the Charitable Irish. For more information on the event and the organization, visit www.CharitableIrishSociety.org. The Charitable Irish Society is a 501c3 registered organization. Donations are tax-deductible and can be mailed to The Charitable Irish Society, c/o Sandra Moody, 56 Thomas Park #3, South Boston, MA 02127