With Pulitzer Prize winning author Frank McCourt.

Irish peace activist John Hume with Chicago Alderman
Ed Burke.

With Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Ben Briscoe, former Lord mayor of Dublin.

During the ten years that I ran the Joy of Ireland here in Chicago, I had the good fortune of meeting many fascinating people. One of my proudest achievements was a reception and book signing attended by hundreds of people that we held at the Joy of Ireland for Frank McCourt, Pulitzer Prize winning author of “Angela's Ashes.”

While on the board of Chicago’s Trinity Irish Dance Company, I helped founder and artistic director Mark Howard secure a major new source for funding. Through an intermediary, I arranged for Mark to meet with Driehaus Foundation president Richard Driehaus. Soon after this meeting the Driehaus Foundation announced a new long term funding commitment to Trinity.

I had the privilege of meeting Irish peace activist John Hume during a stop he made in Chicago in 1997. I was invited to attend a dinner held in Mr. Hume’s honor at the home of Chicago Alderman Ed Burke and Federal Judge Ann Burke. The most inspiring moment of the evening was listening to Mr. Hume sing the famous Irish ballad “Fields of Athenry” accompanied by Alderman Burke at the piano.

On another occasion I was asked by a welcoming committee that included the late Federal District Judge Abraham Lincoln Marovitz and Mayor Richard M.Daley to procure and present Ben Briscoe, former Lord Mayor of Dublin, with an engraved piece of Waterford Crystal on behalf of the people of the City of Chicago.

In 1994 I began a relationship with The Employment Project (TEP) that continues to this day. TEP’s mission is to teach formerly homeless men and women the skills they will need to find jobs that pay a living wage. My earliest assignment was as a mentor. Soon after I was asked to join the fundraising committee, and I helped turn the annual “Dream Job” fundraiser into an important source of income. This was followed by an invitation to join the TEP board. I have the deepest respect for the staff, the volunteers, and the clients of TEP and I consider it a true honor to be a part of this organization.

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