Elizabeth Peabody House Seeks 'Champions' of Children and Families for Awards

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Somerville, Massachusetts -- Actor Leonard Nimoy and Sir Winston Churchill didn’t know each other, but both were connected to a Boston-area children’s non-profit that has been doing work among immigrant families for more than a century.

The Elizabeth Peabody House, which Nimoy attended and Churchill donated money to, is asking the public’s help in submitting the names of individuals who have done outstanding work among children and immigrant families in Greater Boston over the last year.

“We are looking to find the inspiring stories of four local champions of children and immigrant families, and give credit where credit’s due,” said Selvin L. Chambers, III, executive director of The Elizabeth Peabody House, sponsor of the 4-Who-Care Awards benefit.  “The children of immigrant families have been the focus of our work dating back 115 years and improving their lives remains our mission.”

The 4-Who-Care Awards is benefit where the public is asked to nominate four local champions individuals who will be selected, recognized and their stories shared at a dinner and auction in downtown Boston on, Thursday, May 3^rd from 6-9 p.m. The dinner program will be held at The Holiday Inn Boston @ Beacon Hill in the top-floor ballroom overlooking the Charles River and Boston skyline.

Serving as master of ceremonies is WBZ-TV News Reporter Paul Burton, whose own family, through itsRon Burton Training Village, also works with predominantly low-income youth from diverse communities to help advance their spiritual, physical, and educational growth .

Delivering remarks will be Chicago-based author and historian Louise W. Knight. Knight will also be signing copies of her 2010 book JANE ADDAMS: SPIRIT IN ACTION and her 2005 book CITIZEN: JANE ADDAMS AND THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY.  

Chambers said the public is asked to go to The Elizabeth Peabody House website at www.teph.org where they can submit nominees’ names, along with a 200-word or less statement given strong examples of the outstanding work of the individual among children and immigrant families in Greater Boston (i.e. inside I-495). The deadline for submission is Monday, April 16^th by midnight.

The four awards categories include one for a senior citizen (65 or older), a business, a member of general public (age 64 or younger) and an individual doing the work in either Somerville or Sharon where The Elizabeth Peabody House maintains campuses.

Each award is named for an individual who has a historic tie to The Elizabeth Peabody House founded in 1896.

For example, The Winston Churchill Award bears the former British Prime Minister’s name because on March 10, 1932, he donated all proceeds from speech delivered at Boston Symphony Hall speech to The Elizabeth Peabody House.  It’s presented to a champion who has done outstanding work among children and immigrant families in Greater Boston and is from the business community.

The Leonard Nimoy Award bears the actor’s name because he attended The Elizabeth Peabody House as a child and trained in its theater before becoming Mr. Spock of the 1960s’ hit TV show Star Trek. It’s presented to a champion who has done outstanding work among children and immigrant families in Greater Boston, and is 64 years of age or younger. 

The Mary J. Garland Award pays tribute to Elizabeth Peabody’s lead protégé at her historic Beacon Hill kindergarten, who also was the driving force behind organizing the settlement house that bears her boss’ name. It’s presented to a champion who has done outstanding work among  children and immigrant families in Greater Boston, and is 65 years of age or older. 

The Jim Campano Award salutes another Elizabeth Peabody House alumnus, who continues to publish a newspaper, advocated for the creation of The West End Museum and has fought all his life to preserve the history and heritage of the people The Elizabeth Peabody House serves:  children belonging to immigrant families. It’s presented to a champion who has done outstanding work among children and immigrant families in either Sharon or Somerville where the Elizabeth Peabody House maintains its two campuses. 

In addition to the awards ceremony, the benefit will feature a live and silent auction with proceeds directed to The Elizabeth Peabody House.

For details on the 4-Who-Care nominating process and ticket sales, go to www.teph.org  and press the “4-Who-Cares” link and follow the prompts. .