FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 26, 2019

 

CONTACT

Veronica Martinez, Massachusetts Democratic Party, (617) 939-0800

Former United States Senator Paul Kirk Jr. and Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg to receive the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Awards 

 

BOSTON– Former United States Senator Paul G. Kirk Jr. and Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg will be the 2019 recipients of the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Awards. This year’s dinner will occur on the 102^nd birthday of Former United States President, John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy’s grand-nephew, Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III, will be in attendance to mark the occasion. The keynote speaker will be the honorable Tom Perez, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Every spring, two distinguished Massachusetts Democrats are selected to receive this honorable award. Senator Kirk and Treasurer Goldberg will be honored at the 20^th annual Roosevelt Award Dinner on Wednesday, May 29th at the Fairmont Copley Hotel in Boston, MA.

“As strong Massachusetts leaders—both at the national and the state level—Senator Kirk and Treasurer Goldberg exemplify what it means to be a New Deal Democrat.” said Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford. “They have continued President Roosevelt and Ms. Roosevelt’s fight to protect all people in this country—from fighting for our hard-working, middle-class families on the picket line to ensuring everyone has access to affordable healthcare, Senator Kirk and Treasurer Goldberg have led the charge in moving our Commonwealth, and our nation, forward.”

“I am honored to receive this year’s Roosevelt Award alongside Treasurer Goldberg,” said Senator Kirk. “Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s enlightened moral leadership remains a constant inspiration to our Democratic Party and to our country to work tirelessly for fairness and security for all our citizens. To be selected by the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee for an award that evokes those enduring values is among the highest of honors.”

“I am delighted to receive this award with my good friend Senator Paul Kirk,” said Treasurer Deb Goldberg. “As your State Treasurer I work every day to break down barriers and create opportunity for every person in Massachusetts.”

Paul Kirk Jr. was born in Newton, Massachusetts. He is the son of the late Judge Paul G. Kirk, an associate justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. Mr. Kirk was a special assistant to Senator Ted Kennedy from 1969 to 1977. In 1983, he became treasurer of the national Democratic Party.

In 1985, Kirk was elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee. In the 1986 mid-term elections under Chairman Kirk, the Democrats regained the Senate majority from Republicans, who controlled the senate since 1980. During his time as DNC Chair, Mr. Kirk co-founded the non-partisan commission which executes presidential and vice-presidential debates in the general elections. Senator Kirk also chaired the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs from 1992 to 2001 and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation from 1992 to 2009. 

Following Senator Ted Kennedy’s death in August 2009, Governor Deval Patrick appointed Paul Kirk as his successor. Senator Kirk graduated from St. Sebastian’s School in 1956, Harvard College in 1960, and Harvard Law School in 1964. He and his wife, Gail, reside in Marstons Mills, Massachusetts.

Deborah B. Goldberg is the Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver General. In that role she is responsible for the state’s cash and debt management, unclaimed property, and chairs state boards and commissions, including the Massachusetts School Building Authority, the Pension Reserves Investment Management Board, the State Board of Retirement, Massachusetts State Lottery Commission, and the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. In 2015, she established the new Office of Economic Empowerment, the first of its kind in the country, and chairs its Economic Empowerment Trust Fund. Treasurer Goldberg also was elected to serve as Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of State Treasurers.

As a former businesswoman and local elected leader, Treasurer Goldberg brings innovative leadership, disciplined fiscal management and an unwavering commitment to uphold economic stability and create opportunity for every Massachusetts resident. Treasurer Goldberg served for six years on the Brookline Board of Selectmen, including two as its Chair. Prior to her career in public service, she worked in retail operations, buying, and consumer affairs at The Stop & Shop Companies, Inc. 

Treasurer Goldberg serves on the Advisory Board of the Greater Boston Food Bank. She was one of the founders of Berkshire Hills Music Academy, a school for individuals with intellectual disabilities, is a trustee emeritus at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and a Director at Affiliated Physicians Group / Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare. Treasurer Goldberg has been actively involved with numerous philanthropic activities, including The Grow Clinic, the 100 Club, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, and the Combined Jewish Philanthropies.

A graduate of Boston University, Boston College Law School and Harvard Business School, Treasurer Goldberg lives in Brookline with her husband Michael Winter and their son, Evan, and daughter, Meredith.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP here.

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