Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 7, 2024 ~ Celebrating Jewish History Month in Malden ~ Ed Ames, a legendary singer and actor – Part 4 By Inna Babitskaya E d as a soloist singer: hits that were played by heart In 1957, being a member of the Ames Brothers, he, as “Eddie Ames," recorded the single “The Bean Song (Which Way to Boston?).” During the “Daniel Boone” TV show, Ames continued to sing and released such hits as “Try to Remember” (his signature song), “My Cup Runneth Over” (a pop and adult contemporary hit), “Apologize” and “Who Will Answer?” (Pop Top Twenty). Among his adult contemporary hits are “When the Snow is on the Roses,” “Time, Time,” “Pete Raids” and “Timeless Love.” Ames’ incredible performance of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” became a regular radio gift to the audience during the Christmas season. He frequently performed across the country, including concerts with famous conductor Leopold Stokowski, and released over 20 solo albums. On the 2007 PBS special “My Music: The Fifties,” Ed Ames once again charmed the audience with his beautiful voice and great performance. While telling the audience about his artistic life, he said, with a somewhat nostalgic note, “I’ve been very blessed to have had an exciting career. I had a lot of hit records and did a lot of concerts. But it all began long ago.” Ed Ames, a lifelong student Ed began his singing career as a student at Boston Latin School, so as he acknowledges, he had to leave “high school in Boston to go into show business with my brothers when I was 17.” He thought that his self-education in music and literature was not enough: “I got my diploma later through night school, and at that time I made a promise to myself that someday I would go on to college and get my degree.” In 1970, he became a student at UCLA. He studied stage direction and playwriting, with a minor in film direction and writing. As a student, Ames called himself “an open slate, waiting to be written upon," adding that he didn’t “want to impose my experience on them [professors].” In 1975, he received a BA in theater and cinema, graduating with high honors. According to Ed, his college experience was invaluable to him: “By being on the same level with other students, I’ve had an insight into the cultural change that few others of my generation have been afforded.” Ames loved to learn, explaining that “there are so many Ed Ames singing “Old Man River” at the New York Alumni Association’s October 2009 Annual Reunion things that I’m interested in that I never get bored. Learning is a lifelong process; no one ever completes it, and no one ever should.” Ed Ames' role as a humanist, social activist and ecologist Ed Ames was always a multidimensional person. Besides his love for singing and art, he was also an avid ecologist. As he said in 1971, “I’ve been an ecology freak for a long time— before it was even fashionable.” Ed Ames and Dinah Shore singing “Sunrise, Sunset” on The Ed Sullivan Show mother.” Remembering his family struggle with poverty, he considered it his moral responsibility to help people. For more than 15 years, he has performed at the annual charity benefit for the homeless at the Chabad House in Los Angeles. On May 18, 2008, Ed Ames was named a Hero of Conscience by the American Freedom Alliance. Ed Ames in 1969 before his performance in a concert. He also called himself “an outdoor nut—a nature lover, a conservationist,” adding that he hated it "when glass and brick eat up grass and woods.” Though he called himself a secular Jew, he always felt a close connection with the Jewish community and never forgot about his roots. Ed recalled how he “had to learn Yiddish to speak to my grandmother, whom I visited once a week. At the time, I thought she felt it was a duty call on my part, but just before she died, she gave me a beautiful prayer book, and I realized how much my visits really meant to her. I have that book to this day and often open it, read a passage, and remember my grandEd Ames' life story – the embodiment of the American dream The story of Ed Ames’ amazing career shows how a talented and hardworking person can achieve great success. His fame did not fade, and his charming baritone, nearly until his last years, sounded as fresh and youthful as decades ago. In his voice, we can hear joy and sadness, love and drama, romantic notes and courageous motives. He always put deep feelings into songs and acting, creating scenes where captivating performances and real life were closely intertwined. (Inna Babitskaya is a Malden historian; a member of the Malden Historical Commission and author of historical books “From Maldon to Malden”, “Time of Converse” & “Fellsmere Park – Emerald of Malden.”) Tailored for Success, Inc. awarded $60K Cummings Grant Malden nonprofit receives three years of funding from Cummings Foundation T ailored for Success, Inc. (TFS) is one of 150 local nonprofits that will share in $30 million through Cummings Foundation’s major annual grants program. The Malden-based organization was selected from a total of 715 applicants during a competitive review process. It will receive $20,000 over three years. TFS empowers job seekers to become economically self-sufficient by providing resources, skills training and supportive reinforcement. The organization’s vision is that anyone who wants a job or wants to advance their career has the resources and self-confidence to do so. TFS Executive Director Elizabeth Hart stated that “the grant from the Cummings Foundation is a game changer in our ability to expand services to more job seekers through multiple locations.” Funding from the Cummings Foundation will enhance collaboration and growth of TFS through expanding its partnership with MassHire Metro North Career Center by launching a Career Closet in their Cambridge location. The Cummings $30 Million Grant Program primarily supports Massachusetts nonprofits that are based in and serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk Counties, plus six communities in Norfolk County. Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the areas where it owns commercial property. Its buildings are all managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate, Cummings Properties. This Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages 11 million square feet of debt-free space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation. “Greater Boston is fortunate Tailored for Success, Inc. Executive Director Elizabeth Hart celebrates in the Woburn Career Closet. (Courtesy photo) to have a robust, dedicated, and highly capable nonprofit sector that supports and enhances the community in myriad ways,” said Cummings Foundation Executive Director/Trustee Joyce Vyriotes. “The entire Cummings organization is thankful for their daily work to help all our neighbors thrive.” The majority of the grant decisions were made by nearly 100 community volunteers. They worked across a variety of committees to review and discuss the proposals and then, together, determine which requests would be funded. Among these community volunteers were business and nonprofit leaders, mayors, college presidents and experts in areas such as finance and diversity, equity and inclusion. “We believe strongly that grant decisions will be more equitable when made by a diverse group of community members,” said Vyriotes. “We’re incredibly grateful to the dozens of individuals who participated in our democratized philanthropic process.” The Foundation and volunteers first identified 150 organizations to receive threeyear grants of up to $300,000 each. The winners included first-time recipients as well as nonprofits that had previously received Cummings grants. Twenty-five of this latter group of repeat recipients were then selected by a panel of community volunteers to have their grants elevated to 10-year awards ranging from $300,000 to $1 million each. This year’s grant recipients represent a wide variety of causes, including housing and food insecurity, workforce development, immigrant services, social justice, education and mental health services. The nonprofits are spread across 49 different cities and towns. Cummings Foundation has now awarded $500 million to greater Boston nonprofits. The complete list of this year’s 150 grant winners, plus nearly 2,000 previous recipients, is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org. Additional information about TFS is available at www. tailoredforsuccess.org.
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