New England Council chief Jim Brett recognized for his neighborhood volunteerism

Many local business leaders know Jim Brett as the New England Council’s longstanding chief executive.

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Some are familiar with his work on behalf of those with disabilities, and others remember his political career: a state rep from Savin Hill who went on to run for mayor and lose to Tom Menino.

But it was another side hustle of Brett’s that was recognized on May 8 at the annual gala for the United South End Settlements, an anti-poverty nonprofit. There, Brett received the Philip Dushku Changemaker award (named after the late school teacher). The honor is meant to recognize Brett’s efforts helping USES and mentoring USES chief executive Jerrell Cox, along with the food and holiday toy donations he provides to USES from the Mary Ann Brett Food Pantry in Dorchester. (Also honored that night: Gary Bailey, program director for Simmons University’s school of social work, received the Mel King Social Innovator award.)

Brett first started helping Cox and USES about five years ago, after Becca Gould, senior vice president of public affairs at American Tower, introduced the two of them. Brett took Cox under his wing and showed him around Boston’s business community. The food pantry also gives dozens of toys to USES kids at Christmastime, and provides meals to families served by USES.

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Brett’s food-pantry work goes back even further, around 20 years — to when Father Paul Soper, a pastor in Dorchester at the time, started the pantry at St. Margaret’s church. Seventeen years ago, when Jim Brett planned his 60th birthday, he threw a party to raise some $40,000 for the food pantry, prompting church leaders to name the pantry after his mother. Now he helps out almost every Saturday at the pantry, along with his wife Pattie, and two-dozen other volunteers who prepare and pack food for around 200 families.

“The reward is so great, knowing you are helping your neighborhood,” Brett says. “I get a lot out of it, to say the least.”

This is an installment of our weekly Bold Types column about the movers and shakers on Boston’s business scene.

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