GBFB Honored At Emerson Commencement

(The 2014 Doctor of Humane Letters recipients (from left): Scott Simon of NPR, Don Lemon of CNN, Jay Leno ’73, and Catherine D’Amato of the Greater Boston Food Bank with Emerson President Lee Pelton. Photo by Frank Monkiewicz.) It’s graduation season in Boston, when students end one chapter in their lives and embark on new journeys. It’s a time that sparks reflection in many of us about our own journeys and purpose in life. Facing the intent of our actions and how those actions fit into the world can be humbling for many, and Catherine D’Amato, CEO and President of The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), is no exception to this kind of experience. Last month at the Emerson College commencement, the work of GBFB was recognized by Catherine receiving an honorary college degree. She received this honor among several remarkable and successful people, including Jay Leno, the extraordinarily funny comedian; Scott Simon, an award-winning journalist from NPR; and Don Lemon, popular CNN reporter and correspondent. All four honorees addressed their passions in life and how those passions led them to their respective achievements. There was camaraderie and respect among all of the honorees as they learned about one another’s different experiences and accomplishments. For Catherine, it was a humbling experience to be recognized among such prestigious fellow honorees. All was really put into perspective when Jay Leno spoke at a pre-graduation dinner and declared, “If you think I’m successful, that’s nothing! Look at Catherine D’Amato. I’ve never distributed 48 million lbs. of food! That’s something.” It was an incredible compliment to Catherine and the hard work of Team GBFB. It is a testament to no matter what your passions may be, whether it is making people laugh or feeding hungry people who do not know where their next meal will come from – no act goes unnoticed. At this time of year, we want to congratulate all of the graduates and wish them prosperous and passionate futures! In the spirit of education, we invite all to learn more about how to end hunger here in Eastern Massachusetts by donating time, money, or food.