Effective immediately, the Frozen 5K road race that runners throughout Quincy and beyond have come to know and love over the past 8 years has officially been renamed the “SSYMCA George “Trigger” Burke Frozen 5K.” Burke and his family will be honored at the 2019 Frozen 5K on January 6, 2019.
Burke has been a strong advocate for the South Shore Y over the years, and ultimately attributes this passion and the soft spot in his heart to the place that helped teach and instill his love for the sport which would forever change his life.
“When I was a young boy, I attended camp through the Quincy YMCA,” said Burke. “I started playing basketball in that gym on Washington Street in the YMCA and ended up with the greatest team ever in the history of basketball. People ask me ‘why do you give to the Y,’ and it’s simple. It’s because they do so much good in our community.”
A pro-level basketball player and esteemed lawyer, the former Quincy High, UMass and Boston Celtics player remains one of only a select few Minutemen to have his jersey number retired alongside names like Julius “Dr. J” Erving. Burke continued to rack up records while wearing green for his next team – the Boston Celtics. He’s received a lengthy list of accolades over time including being named a second team All American, and first team All East, All New England, All Yankee Conference, and All Boston Garden.
After wrapping up his basketball career on the parquet, he finished law school and began his legal career. A former acting mayor of the City of Quincy and District Attorney of Norfolk County, Burke went on to enjoy a successful law career.
He is recognized as a community leader and philanthropist throughout the Quincy and beyond, and is still supporting causes that resonate with him in and around the city he loves.
“George is a community leader through and through,” said Kathy Quigley, Development Director, South Shore YMCA, Quincy Branch. “He cares deeply about Quincy, and that every individual in our community has the opportunity to do better in their life. He’s given so much of himself to so many, and his generous philanthropic efforts have touched more people than we’ll ever know. George believes in the South Shore YMCA, and in the good we are doing in our community. He loves that people can use the Y as a catalyst to embrace their community, and that they receive opportunities here that they likely wouldn’t elsewhere.”
“The Y is a charity and generous donations like George “Trigger” Burke’s help to remove barriers so that everyone can learn, grow and thrive,” said Mary Orne, Vice President of Development, South Shore YMCA. “When you support the Y, your gift changes lives. No matter your level of involvement with the Y, you’re helping to bring lasting change about for you and for those in your community.”
To now have his name side-by-side with the Y and an event like the Frozen 5K means the world to Burke.
“It means everything to me because I believe that you’ve got to help others in life. You have to do things for others. You have to support those who have less than you. I have a little, and I made what I have right here in the city I love. It’s only right to give it right back to the city and to organizations who help to do so much for our community like the South Shore Y.”
The SSYMCA George “Trigger” Burke Frozen 5K will take place on Sunday, January 6 at 9 am. To sign up for the road race, visit ssymca.org. For details on sponsorship opportunities at the South Shore YMCA, contact Mary Orne at morne@ssymca.org or 781-264-9400 ext. 3306.
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About the South Shore YMCA
The South Shore YMCA is a not-for-profit association of individuals dedicated to improving the quality of life for all through programs that promote healthy spirit, mind, and body. Serving the communities of Quincy, Randolph, Holbrook, Weymouth, Braintree, Milton, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate, Norwell, Hanover and beyond, the South Shore Y provides the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive through its services and programs. Financial Assistance is a Y community benefit available to all families in need, applicable to all Y programs and services. To learn more about the South Shore YMCA, visit www.ssymca.org. The South Shore YMCA. The Better You Belongs Here.
