November 14, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MBHP Honors Acton’s Robert Whittlesey at Founders Celebration Event
BOSTON- The Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP) was proud to honor Acton’s own Robert B. Whittlesey, longtime affordable housing advocate and visionary, at its Fourth Annual Founders Celebration held on Wednesday, November 9th, 2011.
The event, which also honored Mary-Anne Morrison and the Corcoran Jennison Companies for their work in affordable housing, raised more than $140,000 in donations. Proceeds will help fund MBHP’s many programs and services which assist those most at risk of homelessness.
Co-Chairs for the Founders Celebration included Jerry Sargent, President of Citizens Bank Massachusetts, and Lawrence H. Curtis, president of WinnDevelopment. The event was hosted by State Street Corporation.
Robert B. Whittlesey has been a leader in national housing policy issues for the past 50 years—through his recent work with The Housing Partnership Network, his founding role in creating the Boston Housing Partnership (the forerunner of MBHP) in the 1980s, his work on reform of the Boston Housing Authority, and his pioneering role as the founding director, in 1964, of South End Community Development, Inc.
“Bob Whittlesey stands as an iconic figure in the state’s storied affordable housing history,” said MBHP Executive Director Chris Norris, “Without his vision and leadership, it’s unlikely Massachusetts would be at the vanguard of affordable housing issues and policy. We are so happy to be able to recognize this giant in our field.”
Currently, Whittlesey resides as the state-appointed Board Chair of the Acton Housing Authority, and also lends his time and expertise to the Acton Community Housing Corporation.
Photographs of Robert Whittlesey and the event are attached.
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MBHP is the state’s largest regional provider of rental housing voucher assistance. We serve homeless, elderly, disabled, and low- and moderate-income individuals and families. Our region spans Boston and 29 surrounding communities.
Our mission is to ensure that the region’s low- and moderate-income individuals and families have choice and mobility in finding and retaining decent affordable housing; all of our programs and initiatives are designed to encourage housing stability, increase economic self-sufficiency, and enhance quality of the lives of those we serve. To achieve our mission and to promote efficient service delivery, we work collaboratively with a broad array of service providers and neighborhood-based organizations.
For more information, contact MBHP Communications Manager Christopher Blagg at (617) 425-6691, or log onto www.mbhp.org.