Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick and Debra Miller, Whittier Board Chair, Honored for Outstanding Community Leadership

Whittier Street Health Center will honor Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick and Debra Miller, Vice President of External Affairs, NH Community Loan Fund and Whittier Chair, Community Board of Directors, during Whittier’s 12th Annual “Saving the Health of the Community International Gospel Concert” Saturday, November 22, 2014 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the Berklee Performance Center of the Berklee College of Music, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA. Honorees are recognized for their civic involvement and commitment to improving the quality of life for Boston’s disadvantaged citizens.

Whittier welcomes back gospel music icon Dr. Bobby Jones, host of Black Entertainment Television’s Bobby Jones Gospel to host and lead one of New England’s most enlivening gospel choirs and performers to support the health and wellness of the community.

Every year during the concert, Whittier recognizes the achievements of people whose work parallels the mission of Whittier Street Health Center. This year’s honorees, Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick and Debra Miller, Vice President of External Affairs for the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund and Board Chair for Whittier Street Health Center, will be recognized for their community involvement and commitment to eliminating health and social disparities among some of Boston’s most disadvantaged citizens.

Governor Deval Patrick

“The concert serves as an opportunity for Whittier to engage the community, honor our community heroes and celebrate the talents of local gospel artists,” said Frederica Williams, President and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. “Our honorees this year, both Governor Patrick and Debra Miller, have been tireless in their pursuit of advancing the health and wellness for all Boston residents, particularly our most underserved citizens. It is an honor to recognize them during this year’s Gospel Concert.”

Debra Miller

Governor Patrick is being recognized for his exemplary leadership and the significant impact he has made in the lives of the residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He has served as an inspiration and role model to many including residents in the communities served by Whittier. He has consistently shown exceptional commitment to Whittier’s mission to promote wellness and prevention and address health and social disparities. As one of many of his commendable initiatives, the Leading the Way program in Massachusetts sets a first-in-the-nation target for controlling the growth of health care costs resulting in nearly $200 billion in health care cost savings over the next 15 years. Additionally, Governor Patrick funded public education at the highest levels in the history of the Commonwealth and its school reform initiatives earned Massachusetts the top spot in the national Race to the Top competition.

With her strong background in public and community relations, media relations, internal communications, special events, charitable contributions and government affairs for the New England region, Debra Miller’s dedication and passion to seeing that diverse populations receive high quality, reliable and accessible primary health care has proven invaluable to the Whittier Street Health Center community and the people it serves.

The concert attracts more than 300 gospel music lovers and fans and is one of Whittier’s largest annual benefits. The 12th anniversary event will feature notable gospel performers and choirs from around New England to include: The Oladipo Sisters, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Jubilee Mass Choir, Branches Steel Orchestra, J. Charley & Family, So Amazing (Children’s Choir), David Altenor, Voices of Imani (Boston College), Static Noyze Dance Company (MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew finalists, Voices of Zion (Suffolk University Choir), Elder Hu White, Radikal Praize and Son del Sol.

Ticket prices are: $20.00 for General seating; $30 for Premium seating; and $75 for VIP Admission, which will include entrance to the VIP reception at the Hilton Back Bay with Dr. Bobby Jones and the honorees (from 5 – 7 p.m.), plus premium seating at the concert. Tickets may be purchased at the Whittier Street Health Center, 1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA, online at: wshcgospelconcert.brownpapertickets.com or by contacting Whittier Street Health Center’s Marketing & Development office at 617-989-3071. All proceeds benefit Whittier Street Health Center.