Michael R. Bloomberg to Be Honored by Old North Foundation

BOSTON – “One if by land, two if by sea.” On Wednesday, April 13, the Old North Foundation will honor Medford, Mass. native Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg LP and the 108th Mayor of New York City, with the Third Lantern Award during a re-enactment of the famous signal that illuminated the path for the American Revolution.

The ceremony commemorates the events of April 18, 1775, when two men hung two lanterns from the steeple of the Old North Church, the city’s oldest surviving church building and one of the most visited historical sites along the Freedom Trail. After passing critical information to the signal holders, Paul Revere began his midnight ride warning rural patriots that the British troops were marching to Lexington and Concord. The act of defiance that inspired a nation to collectively win our independence from Britain is a reminder of the power of active citizenship to create a more perfect union

Since the 1975 centennial anniversary of the lantern hanging, Old North Church and the Old North Foundation have invited residents and community leaders to participate in a ceremony honoring the patriots who facilitated that fateful night. Bloomberg is the 2022 recipient of the national landmark’s Third Lantern Award for his tenacious commitment to community building and his lifelong drive to create positive change that embodies the values of the Old North Church & Historic Site. His leadership lights the way for others to actively engage in their communities. He will serve as the keynote speaker for this year’s event.

“The Third Lantern, presented to Old North Church and lit by President Gerald Ford to kick off the nation’s Bicentennial, signifies the hope that the ideals of this nation will continue to light the way into our third century,” says Nikki Stewart, Executive Director of the Old North Foundation. “Mr. Bloomberg’s leadership, patriotism, and lifetime of service to the communities he has called home is a shining example of the active citizenship that we aim to inspire in our visitors and embodies the founding ideals that inspire us in the ongoing work to deliver on the promise of liberty and justice for all.”

Beginning on April 13, a new digital guide to the Old North Church & Historic Site will be available on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Visitors to the church or audiences interested in learning more about the Old North Church & Historic Site from home will be able to access a range of engaging information, ranging from the role Old North played in Paul Revere’s “Midnight Ride” during the Revolution, and a glimpse into the lives of some notable congregants, to a closer look at the famous steeple and its booming bells, and the series of contemplative gardens that surrounds the sanctuary. The Bloomberg Connects app offers free digital guides to more than 60 cultural organizations around the world.

An entrepreneur and three-term mayor of New York City, Bloomberg’s innovations in business, government, and philanthropy have made him a pioneering leader on critical issues facing America and the world. He has launched major efforts to save and improve lives, including America’s largest campaigns to prevent gun violence and fight the climate crisis, a historic $1.8 billion gift to make Johns Hopkins University need-blind and loan-free, and global initiatives to tackle pressing public health issues. He serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions, and as WHO Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries. Bloomberg LP now employs some 20,000 people, and Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 941 cities and 173 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people through its core focus areas: Public Health, Education, the Environment, Government Innovation, the Arts, and the Greenwood Initiative, which aims to accelerate the pace of wealth accumulation in Black communities and address systemic underinvestment in them. To date, Bloomberg has given away more than $12.7 billion.

“Receiving the Old North Foundation’s Third Lantern Award is a special honor for me, a Boston-born boy who grew up reading ‘Paul Revere’s Ride’ on Patriots Day – and I’m glad to support a place that holds such deep meaning to the whole country,” says Mr. Bloomberg.

Lantern2022 will be an uplifting evening featuring the Middlesex County Volunteers Fife and Drums, a reading of the poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council, a keynote provided by Bloomberg and Old North Foundation Executive Director Nikki Stewart’s reflections on the role of active citizenship in the ongoing struggle for justice and equity. The event will conclude with the ceremonial lighting and hanging of the two lanterns in the iconic steeple as a beacon of liberty, tenacity, and hope with a reception to follow.

This year’s celebration will be held in-person from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Old North Church & Historic Site, located at 193 Salem Street in Boston. The event will also stream for a virtual audience. Proceeds will support the Old North Foundation’s virtual and on-site programs, which aim to inspire children and adults alike to consider the ways in which they can build a more just and equitable world. Individual tickets range from $25 to $200 and must be purchased in advance. All attendees must show proof of vaccination and wear masks when indoors. To register, visit: www.oldnorth.com/Lantern2022

About The Old North Foundation of Boston / Old North Church & Historic Site

Established in 1991, The Old North Foundation of Boston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is responsible for historic site operations and interpretative, educational, and preservation programs at the iconic Old North Church & Historic Site. A secular organization that is independent of Christ Church in the City of Boston, the foundation welcomes approximately 500,000 visitors annually while overseeing the preservation of an enduring symbol of American independence. The Foundation serves a wide audience by creating meaningful experiences through educational outreach, site-specific programming, and historical analysis. The Old North Foundation works collaboratively with the City of Boston, the U.S National Park Service, the Freedom Trail Foundation, and other non-profits to foster educational and interpretive programs for students and visitors while engaging the public in Old North Church’s history and its role in inspiring liberty and freedom. For more information, visit: www.oldnorth.com.

###