BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Friends of the Yitzhak Rabin Center (AFYRC) will honor Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick with the 2014 Yitzhak Rabin Leadership and Public Service Award. The award will be presented to Governor Patrick at a gala dinner taking place at The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston on Wednesday, May 14, 2014. AFYRC is a non-profit organization supporting the mission of The Yitzhak Rabin Center, a national institute dedicated to the late Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Yitzhak Rabin.
Event co-chairs participating in the program include: Robert Kraft, Chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group and the New England Patriots; Jonathan Lavine, Managing Partner of Bain Capital and Chief Information Officer of Sankaty Advisors, the credit affiliate of Bain Capital; and John Fish, Chairman and CEO of Suffolk Construction Co. and chair of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
In addition, Rabin’s daughter and chair of the Yitzhak Rabin Center in Tel Aviv, Dalia Rabin, along with Kenneth R. Feinberg, chair of the JFK Presidential Library Foundation, Managing Partner of Feinberg Rozen, LLP, and Administrator of the One Fund Boston, will provide remarks. Stuart Davidson, chair of the AFYRC, will emcee the event.
Similar to Yitzhak Rabin who confronted many social and economic obstacles while serving as Prime Minister during two different terms, Governor Patrick has also experienced his fair share of trials, including a challenging economic environment. However, much like Rabin, Governor Patrick has helped to overcome this challenge by pursuing a strategy of investing in education, in innovation and in infrastructure while also responsibly balancing the Commonwealth’s budget and achieving the highest bond rating in Commonwealth history.
Governor Patrick will be recognized for his commitment to helping position the state as a global leader in biotech, bio pharmaceuticals and IT, and as a national leader in clean energy, including making Massachusetts home to the country’s first offshore wind farm. In addition, Governor Patrick will be acknowledged for promoting trade relationships between Israel and Massachusetts.
“With many Israeli managed or owned start-ups in Massachusetts, we are pleased to be able to present this award to Governor Patrick to thank him for helping to provide Israelis and all Bostonians with innovative economic and social opportunities,” said Dalia Rabin. “Like my father, Governor Patrick recognizes the importance of investing in education and equalizing opportunity for all citizens and we are proud to honor him with this recognition.”
Aside from the dinner, event attendees will enjoy the museum’s galleries, a special Cuban missile crisis exhibition and musical entertainment from The Berklee College of Music.
For information about the gala dinner, please call (347) 797-5888 or email patrickdinner@friendsofrabin.org. For information on The American Friends of the Yitzhak Rabin Center, please visit www.friendsofrabin.org. The AFYRC is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the mission of the Yitzhak Rabin Center in Tel Aviv.
About The Yitzhak Rabin Center
The Yitzhak Rabin Center is the official memorial dedicated to teaching the legacy of the late Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, who devoted his life to public service, equal opportunity, peace, leadership, social justice and educational opportunity for all Israelis. Modeled after an American Presidential library, The Yitzhak Rabin Center contains archives, an educational department, event and public meeting space, and the Israeli Museum, a state-of-the-art facility that tells the compelling story of the state of Israel and Rabin’s life. The Center’s educational programming reinforces democratic values, promotes tolerance and understanding among diverse groups in Israeli society, and teaches conflict resolution with the goal of helping form future leaders of Israel.