Medal of Hope History
Each year the Medal of Hope is awarded to a special person who through his or her work has been a source of inspiration for a better community. 2007 marked the 16th annual presentation of the award. Please take the time to look through past honorees and pictures from prior events.
2007
Senator Carol Moseley-Braun delivered the 2007 Medal of Hope Keynote address.
See photos from the 2007 Medal of Hope ceremony.
2006: Helen B. Spaulding, Lifelong Community Volunteer and Philanthropist
As a generous philanthropist and through her volunteer work as a board member to over 30 local and national non-profit organizations, including Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, The Boston Foundation, Georgetown University, Boston University, University of Vermont, New England Aquarium, Conservation Law Foundation and Island Alliance, Helen Spaulding has shown a life long commitment to ensuring those individuals and communities most in need have the resources and ability to progress through some of life’s most difficult times.
In 2006, Citizens Bank was also inducted into the Economic Opportunity Hall of Fame.
2005: Economic Opportunity Hall of Fame Inductions
- Massachusetts State Senator Jarret T. Barrios
- George A. Russell Jr.
- Eugene A. Ludwig
- Gail Snowden
- Ambassador Charles Stith
- Ellen Seidman
- Massachusetts State Sentator Dianne Wilkerson
- Robert K. Sheridan
- Bank of America
- Fannie Mae
- Mellon Financial Coroporation
2004: Nader F. Darehshori, CEO & Chairman, Cambium Learning
Mr. Darehshori, has committed himself to giving individuals, especially children, the chance and the ability to succeed in this world. From his initial work as a schoolteacher in Iran, to his current position as Chairman and CEO of Cambium Learning, Nader has positively impacted the lives of thousands of people.
In 2004, O•N•E was proud to unvail two new awards. Benaree Pratt Wiley, President and CEO of The Partnership Inc., was presented the Community Leader Award and Citizens Bank was presented the Corporate Citizens Award.
2003: Gail Snowden, formerly at FleetBoston
Ms. Snowden has shown her commitment to the causes for which O•N•E fight through her work in community investment. Ms. Snowden, a veteran of the financial services industry for the past 35 years, formerly held the positions of Managing Director of FleetBoston Financial's Community Investment Group and President of the FleetBoston Financial Foundation.
Ms. Snowden has launched innovative financial services and wealth and equity creation programs that have left a visible mark on many of Boston's low-income neighborhoods. Her achievements place her in an extraordinary category of women who have accomplished great things. Ms. Snowden's commitment to the causes of helping her community and creating equal economic opportunity make her a role model for all individuals striving to make a difference.
2002: Mayor Thomas Menino
The 2002 Medal of Hope award was presented to Mayor Thomas Menino on November 20. O•N•E's mission to provide equal access to education, employment, and economic resources are well served through Mayor Menino's dedication to the expansion of economic opportunity to all Bostonians.
Mayor Menino's clear devotion to providing housing for America's working families and narrowing the ethnic gap in homeownership have been highlighted in his agenda. As president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, he made affordable housing the top priority. Through his involvement with the Mayor's National Housing Summit in Washington D.C. and their work with Congress to address the housing crisis, he committed himself to bringing the crisis into national focus and working to provide solutions to the problem.
2001: Ambassador Charles Stith, O•N•E Founder
In 1985, the Reverend Charles Richard Stith founded the Organization for a New Equality (O•N•E) with the central purpose of achieving economic equality for women and people of color. He did so in the belief that a new generation of civic leadership is emerging in America that represents a shift in thinking about racial discrimination. O•N•E's programs were established with the mission of expanding financial opportunity and providing access to quality education, employment, credit and capital
After leading the organization for thirteen years, Charles Stith was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania on September 17, 1998. During his ambassadorship he spent much of his time forging new partnerships in Africa. With the Clinton Administration's focus on the burgeoning economic markets that African nations represent, Ambassador Stith focused the work of the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania on fostering investments and increasing trade between East Africa and the United States.
Ambassador Stith has returned home and is concentrating his efforts on developing the African Presidential Archives and Research Center at Boston University. The Center will serve to broaden the study of Africa's movement toward democratization and free market reform, resulting from the efforts of contemporary elected African leaders.
2000: Cathy E. Minehan
The 2000 Medal of Hope recipient was Cathy E. Minehan, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Ms. Minehan was recognized for her impressive dedication to areas of structural economic development in New England, including community development, public education and training. Her civic and business leadership have made the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston a national leader in enhancing credit delivery in low and moderate-income areas, and providing financial information to individuals and neighborhoods that have traditionally been locked out of the economic mainstream.