Dropkick Murphys’ Ken Casey Honored with Catholic Charities’ Jack Shaughnessy Service Award 

Governor Baker and Michael P. Shaughnessy presented the award on behalf of the Agency in recognition of the Claddagh Fund, Dropkick Murphys’ charitable foundation 

Boston (May 2, 2022) Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys was presented the Jack Shaughnessy Service Award by Governor Charlie Baker and Michael P. Shaughnessy on Thursday, April 28 during Catholic Charities Labouré Center’s 38^th annual Spring Reception at the Exchange in Boston.  

Casey accepted the award on behalf of The Claddagh Fund, the charitable foundation of the Dropkick Murphys. Founded by Casey in 2009, the Claddagh Fund raises money for worthy, underfunded non-profits that support the most vulnerable individuals in our communities. The foundation has been a generous benefactor of the Labouré Center, which provides a wide array of services to over 3,000 children, teens, individuals, and families within South Boston and surrounding communities. 

“We are grateful for the ongoing collaboration between the Claddagh Fund and the Labouré Center,” said Catholic Charities Boston’s CEO and President Kevin M. MacKenzie. “Their support has directly helped over 200 Boston residents receive critical mental health counseling, childcare, basic needs, and educational services.” 

Governor Baker recognized the impact that the Claddagh Fund has had within the Boston community while introducing Casey to the over 200 guests in attendance at the event. When accepting the award, Casey gave tribute to the band’s fans who have helped raise funds for the foundation through grassroots efforts over the years. 

“As we’ve built our fan base and had this music career, the Claddagh Fund was our way to feel like we could do something.” said Casey. “We cannot talk about the Claddagh Fund without talking about the band’s fans as that’s how we’ve been able to raise most of our money and pay it forward.” 
 
About Catholic Charities Labouré Center 
For more than 100 years, the Labouré Center has been responding to the needs of the South Boston community. Programs include rental and utility assistance, mental health counseling, adult education including English classes, nursing education and IT job training, refugee and immigrant services, childcare, as well as elder and addiction services.  

About Catholic Charities of Boston  
As one of Massachusetts’s largest social service organizations, Catholic Charities of Boston serves our most vulnerable neighbors each year, regardless of religion, race, gender, age, disability, or ethnicity. Catholic Charities has five hub locations in Dorchester, Lynn, Brockton, Lowell, and South Boston, with 23 program locations supporting families across Eastern Massachusetts. The agency’s four core services assist clients with Basic Needs, Family & Youth Services, Adult Education & Workforce Development, and Refugee & Immigrant Services. We help our clients move from crisis to stability to self-sufficiency.