Former Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane Patrick Join 2025 Good Apple Award Reception as Honorary Host Committee Members

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 9, 2025

Boston, MA- The Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice is proud to announce that Diane Patrick, Retired Partner from Ropes & Gray LLP, and former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick have joined as Honorary Co-Chairs for the 2025 Good Apple Awards Reception. 

The Good Apple Award celebrates outstanding leaders in the legal community who exemplify Massachusetts Appleseed’s mission: advancing social justice, removing barriers to opportunity, and expanding access to the legal system for all Massachusetts residents. 

“We are honored to support Massachusetts Appleseed’s good work and to help celebrate this year’s Good Apple Award recipients,” said Governor Deval Patrick and Diane Patrick in a joint statement. “The fight for equity and justice has never been more important, and Appleseed’s work ensures that every Massachusetts resident—regardless of income, language, or background—has a fair chance to be heard and to thrive.” 

The 2025 Good Apple Honoree is James Parker, Sr. Vice President, General Counsel of the Boston Celtics, recognized for his exceptional leadership, community service, and commitment to equity in the legal system. His work on behalf of youth, including those experiencing homelessness, and his community involvement demonstrate his alignment with the values and vision of MA Appleseed.   

“I am deeply humbled to receive this year’s Good Apple Award,” said James Parker. “Massachusetts Appleseed’s work is vital to our legal community, striving to ensure that justice is not limited to the few, but accessible to all. I am proud to stand alongside Appleseed in advancing this vital mission.” 

2025 Good Apple Host Committee members include: 

Akhill Chopra (Technology & Analytics Leader), Alison Douglass (Goodwin), Amy Spencer (Nixon Peabody), Chidi Oteh (Ropes & Gray), Chris Hoyle (StoneTurn), CJ Davis (Puma), Devin Cohen (Proskauer Rose), John Shutkin (MA Appleseed Board Chair), Kerry Timbers (Sunstein Law), Laura Martin (Murphy & King), Mandy Petrillo (Fenway Sports Group), Marty Mazzone (Milken Institute), Melina Muñoz Turco (Turco Legal), and Wesley Gee (ArentFox).

Two inaugural awards will also be presented at the reception. The first-ever Pro Bono Award will be presented to Ropes & Gray, in recognition of their longstanding dedication to providing pro bono legal services to underserved communities, including most recently working with Massachusetts Appleseed to help youth experiencing homelessness to understand their legal rights. The inaugural Community Leadership Award will be presented to Ursula Furi-Perry, for her passionate advocacy for youth experiencing homelessness and efforts to expand their legal rights and protections.   

The 2025 Good Apple Award Reception will take place on November 13, 2025 at the Winthrop Center in Downtown Boston, bringing together legal, business, and community leaders to recognize those whose work has had a profound impact on advancing equity and justice in Massachusetts. Past honorees have included Mo Cowan, former U.S. Senator and President of Global Government Affairs and Policy at GE, and Elaine Weddington Steward, Senior Vice President & Assistant General Counsel of the Boston Red Sox, along with other leaders from the Commonwealth’s most respected law firms, companies, and public institutions. 

For more than three decades, Massachusetts Appleseed has helped children and families overcome poverty and crisis by opening doors to vital services, legal protections, and quality education. From expanding language access in schools and courts, to protecting the rights of youth in state systems, to removing obstacles to housing and economic stability, Appleseed builds solutions that create lasting impact for communities across the Commonwealth. Proceeds from the Good Apple Awards directly support this critical work. 

If you are interested in purchasing tickets or exploring sponsorship opportunities, visit our website or contact Toni Troop at toni@massappleseed.org or 617-212-7571. 

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About Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice    

MA Appleseed is driven by a mission to promote equal rights and opportunities for Massachusetts residents by developing and advocating for systemic solutions to social justice issues. Through policy analysis and research, coalition building, education and training, community organizing, and advocacy, the nonprofit seeks systems-level change so all Massachusetts families and youth can exercise their legal rights, build pathways out of poverty and crisis, and thrive. Responding to emerging and enduring inequities, MA Appleseed addresses an array of complex issues including self-representation in the civil justice system, language access for immigrant families, the school-to-prison pipeline, and youth homelessness.

To learn more about the 2025 Good Apple Reception, explore recent research, or donate, please visit massappleseed.org.