Watch: The Last Bipartisan: A Tribute to Peter Kelly »
Peter Kelly, chairman of IFES’ Board of Directors, was honored in a tribute on 8 June 2010 in Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Kelly was celebrated for his lifetime’s dedication to supporting many of Connecticut’s fundamental institutions—including Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Connecticut Public Radio—and other organizations in the United States and the world with his time and vision, as well as for engaging in many philanthropic missions.
The event, entitled Living Large, was emceed by Mary Matalin and Ed Rollins. It included a number of video clips with congratulatory messages from friends and colleagues, including President Jimmy Carter, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Mr. Kelly’s partners at Updike, Kelly and Spellacy. Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) were among the speakers of the night. Both Senators praised Mr. Kelly for his ability to work with both sides of the aisle in his efforts to get things done. Charles Mannatt, chairman emeritus of IFES, and a former U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, commented on Mr. Kelly’s commitment to helping people around the world have a say in the way they are governed.
After dinner, Mr. Kelly and other members of the all-male singing group the Georgetown Chimes, which Mr. Kelly has been a part of since he was a student at Georgetown University, treated the audience to a few songs. The Mayor of Hartford presented Mr. Kelly with a proclamation that June 8 has officially been designated as Peter G. Kelly day in Connecticut. And a large cake with lighted candles was presented to Mr. Kelly as the tribute took place close to his birthday.
Mr. Kelly addressed the audience at the end of the night. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the many sponsors and all the attendees. He insisted that many members of the audience were just as worthy of the honor as he, but he was grateful for the generous acknowledgement of his work, which to him does not feel extraordinary, and for the opportunity to raise money for the organizations he supports. The beneficiaries of the tribute are the Malta House of Care, which provides free primary health care to the uninsured of Central Connecticut; Children’s Programming at Connecticut Public Television; the Governor William A. O’Neill Endowed Chair in Public Policy and Practical Politics at Central Connecticut State University; and IFES.
Mr. Kelly’s parting message was about the importance of being of service to one’s community. He said he fully understands the temptation to focus on one’s self and family as life is busy and often complicated, yet the satisfaction derived from building relationships and doing what’s possible to help one’s community, country and people around the world, is beyond measure. Mr. Kelly also stressed the importance of civility between persons and groups so that important matters can be placed above politics and be addressed as quickly and effectively as possible.
The tribute was co-chaired by an impressive array of high-profile public figures, all of whom see Mr. Kelly as a friend, including Senator Richard G. Lugar (R-IN), Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA), and Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT). President Jimmy Carter and Vice-president Al Gore were Honorary Chairs.