MARSHFIELD, QUINCY, BOSTON, MA, ISSUED OCTOBER 4, 2024 … Road to Responsibility (RTR), one of the region’s largest and most successful nonprofit organizations supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, recently honored George M. Ford for his 35 years of dedicated leadership of the RTR Board of Directors at their 36th annual “Making Lives Better” Gala, held September 26 at Granite Links in Quincy.
The event also raised $450,000 in support of the organization, the most ever for the gala.
State Senator Patrick M. O’Connor and State Representative Joan Meschino presented a commendation from the Massachusetts Legislature in recognition of Ford’s important work with RTR and in the community.
As the leader of the RTR Board of Directors, Ford modernized the corporate structure of RTR, empowered the Board and helped create a milieu within the leadership that enabled the organization to succeed.
For 60 years, Ford has also impacted the landscape of family law through his practice. He is of Counsel with Conn, Kavanaugh, Rosenthal, Peisch & Ford of Boston. Ford convened the Family Law Forum, which lasted for almost 30 years and was emulated by all other trial courts. He was recently inducted into the 2024 Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame.
George Ford and Candy O’Terry, emcee of the gala“George has always believed in RTR’s unique mission to develop the level of expertise and innovative practices that meet the needs of all adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities regardless of the complexities,” said RTR President and CEO Christopher T. White, Ed.D. “This sets us apart from other groups, and creates the ‘RTR difference.’
“George has a vision to establish a fund that will help us to continue our mission for generations to come,” White continued. “He is committed to providing those we serve with full, rich and happy lives in the community. We thank George for his vision, his leadership and his generous heart.”
Celebrating more than 35 years of making lives better, Road to Responsibility, Inc. (RTR) was established in 1988 with the overarching belief that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve to have full, rich, and rewarding lives in the community, and therefore works to provide the means, the opportunity, and the support necessary to allow citizens with disabilities to take their place as productive members of the community. RTR offers residential, work/employment, day habilitation and other day supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. RTR supports individuals with very diverse needs, including those with significant challenges who would otherwise go unserved if not for RTR. It succeeds where other organizations often fail, through the use of an integrated clinical behavioral approach. This model has proven successful and yielded positive results for the organization and the individuals served.
Road to Responsibility offers services to almost all the towns and communities throughout the South Shore and South Coast of Massachusetts, operates 49 residences as well as co-operative and supportive living apartments, and manages nine day-service locations that focus on education, employment, and community enrichment. Road to Responsibility’s main office is located at 1831 Ocean Street, Marshfield, MA. For more information, please visit https://roadtoresponsibility.org/.
