BOSTON, September 30, 2025 –Launching a new initiative recognizing leaders who have left a lasting positive influence on Massachusetts through philanthropy, Philanthropy Massachusetts (PMA) this evening honored five women and men as the inaugural recipients of its new Legacy Awards, at the conclusion of its newly expanded
Annual Conference.
Honored at a reception following PMA’ afternoon-long conference, held at the University of Massachusetts Boston, were:
“We are lifting up five leaders who demonstrate courageous and values-driven leadership, and create space to explore the path forward—together,’’ said PMA CEO Mary Skelton Roberts. “We created this award as a way to honor leaders who have made an impact on Massachusetts through philanthropy, and I couldn’t be happier with our first slate of honorees.’’
The conference, a reimagined and expanded version of PMA’s customary annual meeting, focused on exploring all the ways Philanthropy Massachusetts and its members were “built for this moment” and the unique strengths, duties, and opportunities the sector has to advocate for equity, justice, and a strong social compact.
Participating in a panel discussion entitled “Strengthening the Social Compact” on how leaders from different sectors can come together to meet the challenges of this moment were Ira Jackson, Research Fellow, Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, Harvard Kennedy School; José C. Massó, Host of WBUR’s ¡Con Salsa!; and Amy McIsaac, Former Managing Director of Learning and Experimentation, Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement.
Skelton Roberts, who moderated the panel discussion, described how it reinforced that “the only option is to chart a new course—one where Massachusetts builds new civic infrastructure, renews pride in our ability to get big things done, and ensures that all residents thrive. The strong message is that philanthropy does nothing alone, leaves no one behind, and is most effective when working across sectors to achieve racial, social, and economic opportunity for everyone in Massachusetts.’’
During the official-business meeting portion of the conference, PMA members elected four new members to the board, reelected four others, and honored five stepping down from the board. Newly elected to three-year terms were: Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council; Turahn Dorsey, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Bank Foundation; Ruth Goldman, Executive Director of the Merck Family Fund; and Barr Foundation Director of Communications Stefan Lanfer.
Reelected for one-year terms were: Karen Gill, Director of Finance and Operations at the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation; Nancy Huntington Stager, former president and CEO of the Eastern Bank Foundation; Peter Taylor, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation president emeritus; and GMA Foundations Senior Director Prentice Zinn.
The PMA community also recognized and thanked five members concluding their terms of service on the board: Kate Carney, Trustee of the Carney Family Charitable Foundation; Jay Kim, Executive Director of the Foundation for Metrowest; Merck Family Fund CFO Jamie Maguire; Amie Shei, President & CEO of The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts; and Rob Zaccardi, senior client strategist and senior vice president at BNY Mellon.