Patrick and Patricia Forde Good Person Memorial Award

Now seeking nominations for the 2024 Patrick & Patricia Forde Good Person Memorial Award!

Read below on how to access the nomination form.

We are accepting nominations until Friday, December 1st, 2023.

Nominations

Nomination forms are available online (PDF) or at the Needham Youth & Family Services office in Town Hall. 

If nominees are not selected after one year but are still engaged in activities to benefit youth, children, and/or families, their nomination will remain active for a second year. Watch the following to learn more about nominating a deserving person.

Once the nomination form is filled out, it can be downloaded and submitted electronically through email to needhamyouth@needhamma.gov or submitted to the Youth & Family Services office located on the lower level of the Town Hall. Office hours are 8:30am-5pm Monday through Friday. It is strongly encouraged that you schedule a time to drop off a hard copy of the nomination form to ensure the proper staff member is available to assist you. Email needhamyouth@needhamma.gov or call 781-455-7500 to schedule.

Details for the 2024 Award Ceremony will be shared once a winner has been selected. 

Read below for more details and past recipients!

2023 Award Recipient:
Jean Higgins

Patrick and Patricia Forde

In 2005, Needham resident and community activist Patrick Forde passed away unexpectedly at the age of 51. Patrick was a person who cared deeply about Needham as well as youth and families. His community involvement included being a Town Meeting member as well as the Commissioner of Trust Funds. Above all, Patrick was best known for being a good person.

In 2018, after four years of bravely fighting breast cancer, Patricia passed away peacefully on her 40th wedding anniversary. Patricia was also a very active member in the Needham community. Patricia made a profound impact when sharing her extensive human resources expertise serving as a member and chair of the Needham Personnel Board for over nineteen years. Patricia was always the first to help Needham graduates in their pursuit of college and career placements, counseling and celebrating them as they made Needham proud. Patricia was also proud to empower females through the Women’s Entrepreneur Initiative, mentoring aspiring owners as they launched local businesses for over two decades. Her smile would light up any room and despite her very hectic schedule she always made time for her family, friends, and community.

Establishing the Award

Patrick and Patricia were extremely supportive of the work of the Needham Youth and Family Services and understood the importance of families and of the healthy growth of youth. The award was first started in 2006 by Patricia Forde and Needham Youth and Family Services and was call the Patrick C. Forde Good Personal Memorial Award. After Patricia’s death in 2018, the award was renamed the Patrick and Patricia Forde Good Person Memorial Award in an effort to honor both Patrick and Patricia and will be given annually to a Needham resident who embodies their spirits.

Honoring an Outstanding Citizen

This award will recognize an adult in the community who has helped make Needham a better place to live through his/her volunteer work and commitment. The recipient will be a person of high character, a person who has contributed in some significant way to Needham children, youth, and/or families, and a person who has enhanced those with whom they interacted.

Each year a ceremony is held to honor our recipient, and the recipient of this award must:

• Be a Needham resident
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Not be paid for their work with children, youth, and/or families for which they are being nominated

Forde Award Recipients: