Maureen’s Work for MDA 

For over 35 years, Maureen served the Muscular Dystrophy Association as an active Board Member, Vice President, and Chairperson of the record-breaking Shamrocks Against Dystrophy campaign – serving as a regular featured artist on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

The following Resolution was presented to Maureen following her service to MDA: Resolved…that the MDA Board of Directors expresses to Maureen McGovern, a world-class humanitarian, its heartfelt gratitude for her dedicated voluntary support of MDA’s mission for more than three decades, which include her numerous show-stopping Telethon performances; her long-term role as Chairperson of MDA’s Shamrocks Against Dystrophy campaign that has generated millions of dollars annually for MDA’s comprehensive research and health care services programs and which has helped spread MDA’s message of help and hope nationally; and her lay leadership as a Corporate Member, Vice President and, since 2003, her service on the Board of Directors. Maureen’s generous and gracious support of MDA in myriad ways reflects her lifelong dedication to MDA’s fight against neuromuscular diseases and her desire to make the world in which we live a truly better place. We recognize MDA’s very own “diva” on this day for her talent, which is extraordinary, and for her compassion to our cause, which is equally extraordinary.

~ Board of Directors, Muscular Dystrophy Association, July 13, 2012

Maureen’s Work in Music & Healing 

An equally passionate supporter of music therapy, Maureen had a long history serving as an Artist Spokesperson for the American Music Therapy Association. Currently, Maureen serves as a Board Member of Medicine and the Arts/Humanism in Medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

“Whether on stage, in clinic, at bedside, on grand rounds or in the community, Maureen
has used her voice as a platform to enhance and transform lives, while promoting the
love of music and the music therapy profession – she is a deserving icon of profound
hope and healing.”

~ Dr. Deforia Lane, Director of Art & Music Therapy at University Hospitals, Cleveland Medical Center

Maureen’s Work for AIDS Awareness

While living in New York City in the early 1980s, Maureen’s career in Theatre, Stage and Cabaret opened the floodgates to her awareness and involvement to assist with the AIDS pandemic – she sadly lost dear friends and, with the disease moving into children, her desire to assist grew even more deeply. Maureen reached out to a number of organizations volunteering to sing at various fundraisers in hopes of raising much needed awareness and funds. Her first solo debut at Carnegie Hall was dedicated to AIDS Awareness and she donated her artist payment to help with the fight. Maureen also donated her artist payments from Help Is on the Way and Works of Heart: Songs of Hope, to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. In addition to her recordings, Maureen performed concerts throughout the United States to raise awareness, support and funds to assist in the campaign to fight AIDS.

The following was authored by Maureen in 1994. The following text exemplifies her bold passion to make a difference. It was addressed to advocacy groups; Northern Lights Alternatives; Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS; Heartstrings AIDS Awareness Tour; Hearts & Voices in support of ARCS (AIDS RELATED COMMUNITY SERVICES.)

“Over the years, all of us in the arts have lost far too many friends and colleagues to AIDS.

It dawned on me recently that I have been participating in AIDS Benefits since
1982. And now, twelve years later, I was shocked (just last week) to read a
letter from a Midwest AIDS Outreach group that had to change the name of
their organization because people still refuse to write a check to an organization
with the word “AIDS” in it!

IF WE CAN’T EVEN SAY IT, WE CANNOT STOP IT.

I greatly admire the love and dedication of AIDS caregivers. I applaud
organizations like ARCS who provide counseling, support groups, buddy
programs, transportation to medical, mental health and social service
appointments, and advocacy and medical research information.

But mostly, I stand in awe of the courage and strength that people living with
HIV/AIDS demonstrate daily.”