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Volume IV, Issue 2
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Fall, 2013
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President's Message
Rogerson Communities is very pleased to be nearing completion of Cooper House in Egleston Square and finishing the restoration to productive use of this historic site.
As we look ahead to Welcome Home! 2014, we are excited to be honoring Gary. P. Kearney, M.D., a longtime board member of Rogerson Communities, philanthropist, military veteran, and committed citizen to the causes impacting our community today. We hope you will join us to celebrate the important work of this outstanding individual.
More than 150 years strong, we embrace the future, and are grateful to those who help make it possible.
James F. Seagle, Jr.
President,
Rogerson Communities
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Rogerson Communities broadens its options
for Roxbury elders
Federal, state and local officials joined the board of Forward Inc.,
community leaders, local residents and staff for the placement
of the Cooper House cornerstone on June 6, 2013.
Photo by John Caplice.
On June 6, 2013 Rogerson Communities celebrated the setting of the Cooper House cornerstone in the company of Forward, Inc. board members as well as federal, state, and local officials, community leaders and local residents. Cooper House, located at Walnut and Columbus Avenues in Roxbury, is a total rehab and expansion of the old Badger Building. It is slated for occupancy at the beginning of 2014 and will provide 37 new units of affordable elder housing.
Overlooking Franklin Park, Cooper House is named in memory of Edward L. Cooper, a longtime Roxbury community activist and advocate for the elderly. The building is one of the three original structures located on the site of the historic Home for Aged Couples in Egleston Square. With Cooper House, the four buildings will offer a combined total of 161 units of affordable housing. The property was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.
The other antique buildings redeveloped and now managed by Rogerson Communities on the campus are Carleton House and Walnut House, which opened in 2005 and 2008 respectively. On the rear corner of the property is Spencer House, a newly constructed low-income elder residence which opened in 2007 that also houses Rogerson's state of the art adult day health and strength-training programs.
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 Edward L. Cooper, longtime advocate
for Boston seniors and residents of Roxbury.
Courtesy photo.
Edward L. Cooper began his remarkable career in the 1930's as the first black manager of the First National Food Stores in Roxbury, and went on to serve as Industrial Director of the Urban League of Greater Boston and Executive Director of the Boston branch of the NAACP.
Upon retirement at age 70 from the Boston Redevelopment Authority, Mr. Cooper continued to feed his passion for improving the lives of Boston's low-income and minority residents. He worked with the City to establish a community garden for seniors and ultimately became president of Boston Urban Gardens. During his two decades of active retirement, he also served as President of the National Caucus and Center on Black Elderly, and was a key member of the Silver-Haired Legislature. His involvement with the Elderly Affairs Commission of Boston was ongoing until his passing in 1998.
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Focus on Philanthropy - Paul Ayoub  Paul and Jane Cronin Ayoub at the Welcome Home! gala.
Photo by Bill Brett.
The modern hush of the hallowed halls of Nutter McClennen and Fish masks a true purpose that lies behind those walls, where partner Paul Ayoub plies his trade in real estate and finance law - a pursuit that has given him an insider's appreciation of Rogerson Communities' work.
Nutter McClennen & Fish has been an annual sponsor of Rogerson's Welcome Home! gala ever since Paul was introduced to the organization by friends Joe and Carolyn Campanelli. "It would be hard to learn about Rogerson Communities and not be impressed, especially when you begin to understand the breadth of its programs. If not for Rogerson, it is not clear who would provide the quality support low-income elders need." Nutter also provides support to other elder care and affordable housing non-profits including HomeStart, a housing advocacy organization Rogerson Communities works with to place formerly homeless individuals in its affordable residences.
With an easy smile and genuine modesty, Paul will gladly share how his family came to be dedicated to the mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, an effort that has been part of his life since before the day the hospital opened its doors back in 1962. Paul's father worked closely with founder Danny Thomas to help realize the dream and raise the funds to make it possible. Paul recalls his parents' excitement and anticipation, but also the fear that comes with the awesome responsibility of such a commitment.
Says Paul, "Any charity to which you are fully dedicated becomes a way of life, your purpose in life and something that makes you reach outside yourself." The Ayoub family believes fervently that when you make a promise, you must find a way to sustain it. To that end, Paul serves as vice-chair of the board of directors of ALSAC, the fundraising arm of St. Jude's. Together, Paul, his wife Jane Cronin, and their daughter Lizzie are all devoted to promoting the St. Jude's mission and to raising the funds necessary to keep it not just viable, but growing.
Paul acknowledges that he and his family have been fortunate in many ways. But, he views any professional or personal "success" in the context of Danny Thomas's words that "success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others." At Rogerson Communities, we couldn't agree more with Mr. Thomas, and feel fortunate to work alongside the Ayoub family in providing critical support to people who need it.
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Welcome Home! 2014 is proud to honor Gary P. Kearney, M.D.
with the Charles E. Rogerson Award for Community Service
Gary P. Kearney, M.D. (right) with Peter Smyth,
Past Charles E. Rogerson Award honoree
and Welcome Home! 2014 Co-Chair.
Photo by Michael Blanchard Photography.
SAVE THE DATE: May 15, 2014
The Charles E. Rogerson Award for Community Service was established in 2000
in honor of Rogerson Communities' namesake, board president from 1904 to 1919
and founder of what is now known as The Boston Foundation.
The award is presented at Rogerson's annual Welcome Home! gala to those
who demonstrate outstanding efforts to build strong, healthy communities.
Click this link to see photos of last year's event.
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Thank You...f or reading Inside Rogerson Communities. It is only with the support of our friends and donors that we can continue to promote the dignity, vitality, and longevity of our elder neighbors. Help support Rogerson by making a donation today - click here.
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Contact Info
Anne Morton Smith, VP, Development & Community Relations smith@rogerson.org (617) 469-5810 |
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