Price, Burke Lauded for Making Difference in Peabody

Two longtime volunteers were given special recognition Thursday night for their dedicated service to the city in a variety of capacities.

Both Neil Price and James Burke have also been supporting the Making a Difference in Peabody Foundation since its inception 10 years ago. The organization’s president Scott Frasca, board members and other supporters recognized the pair with this year’s community service awards and celebrated the decade anniversary of Making a Difference at .

Lynn native Price, a Peabody park commissioner since 1989 and who founded his family’s financial services firm in 1978, has also spent many a year with Peabody Babe Ruth and Peabody Little League since moving to the Tanner City 40 years ago after graduating from college.

He and Tom Gould co-founded the Challenger Division for Peabody Little League in 1989, allowing Tanner City kids with disabilities to play ball competitively as well. Price also helped establish the George Peabody Memorial Fund.

All in all, a “pretty impressive resume” says Bill Power, who nominated longtime friend Price for the award.

Price, thanking family, friends and colleagues over the years, said he found Peabody to be a “great place to live,” raise a family and operate a business.

Burke, who has practiced law in Peabody for 29 years, has given back in numerous ways so much over the years you’d think he was from Peabody – he’s not. The Arlington native now lives in Tyngsboro, actually.

Burke was one of the founding members of the Peabody Education Council 25 years ago, a longtime member of the (27 years) and on the PACC’s board of directors for 15 years; he is an advisory board member at the  and the Simon Youth Foundation (for the Peabody Learning Academy) and a trustee at Marion Court College.

Burke likewise thanked his family, friends and colleagues for their support and allowing him the time to give back to the community.

Two other longtime civic servants Michael Zellen and James Smerczynski were also due to be honored last week, but were unable to attend the event. Frasca said they would be presented with their awards at a later date.

“I’m big on community service,” said Frasca, noting that all four men have “made sacrifices” in various ways to serve the community and are “making Peabody better.”

Making a Difference in Peabody is a 501(c)(3) organization, which provides basic emergency assistance to Peabody residents, for such things as electricity, oil, gas, food, clothing, housing and emergency disaster relief. You can find more at www.madip.org.