Malcolm
Farmer III will receive Family Service of Rhode Island’s Brighter Futures
Award, given annually to a person or organization making an outstanding
contribution to the well-being of children.
“Mac
Farmer helped change Rhode Island and the nation,” said Margaret Holland
McDuff, Family Service of Rhode Island’s CEO.
“His is a life of building brighter futures for people suffering from
hatred and injustice and for children and families in crisis from abuse,
homelessness and other issues.”
The
event takes place Tuesday, October 20, beginning at noon at the Rhode Island Convention
Center. Seats and sponsorship
opportunities are available by clicking here or visiting www.familyserviceri.org, phoning Johnnie Chace at
401-519-2289 or emailing her at chacejo@familyserviceri.org.
Mr. Farmer is an attorney and a partner
at law firm Hinckley Allen. As a young
lawyer in 1965 he left Hinckley Allen and went to Mississippi where he
represented civil rights workers and organizations as well as local
African-American citizens in efforts to obtain and protect their constitutional
rights against state and local governments which endorsed and enforced racial
segregation and discrimination. Returning
to Rhode Island in 1967, he continued to work for fairness as the executive
director of the Governor’s Commission on Crime Delinquency and Criminal
Administration. Later, as a member of the Providence City
Council he was a strong and early advocate for racial equality and to end
discrimination due to sexual orientation.
He and his late wife Susan created the “Malcolm Farmer III and Susan L.
Farmer Fund” at the Rhode Island Foundation promoting equality in issues
involving race, sexual preference, gender, education, immigration—any area
where discrimination takes place.
“As
our longtime board president, his compassion and idealism were complemented by
a commitment to accomplishment,” Ms. Holland McDuff said. “He has provided tireless leadership to
improve the agency’s services and fundraising capacity,” she said.
The Brighter Futures Award Luncheon
has become over the past eleven years a signature fall event for the state’s
business community. IGT is the Diamond Sponsor of the event; other major
sponsors include: Malcolm G. Chace, Jr.; the de Ramel Foundation; Hasbro, Inc.;
Hinckley Allen; Citizens Bank; Amica Insurance; Capitol Securities; Cooley Group; Deepwater Wind; Bank of America; Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island; Cornerstone Group; Christopher and Heather Crosby; CVS Health; Elizabeth Z. Chace; Thomas and Debra Chase; Customers Bank; Delta Dental of Rhode Island; Dimeo Construction Company; Malcolm Farmer, III; Foundry Associates; Fuller Box Company; H. Carr & Sons; William F. Hatfield; KLR; Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island; Joseph R. Paolino, Jr.; Residential Properties.
Family Service of Rhode Island is a
non-profit social service and educational organization. More information is
available at www.familyserviceri.org.
