Boston College High School alumnus donates $5 million to found ‘innovation’ center

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Design in Design Innovation | 0 Comments

More than 40 years after Jack Shields learned to be a “man for others” at Boston College High School in Dorchester, the entrepreneur and philanthropist has made the second-largest donation to his alma mater in the school’s history.

Shields, founder and chairman of Stoughton-based Shields Health Solutions, is investing $5 million in BC High to establish the Shields Innovation Center to prioritize entrepreneurial thinking while preparing students for the rapidly evolving innovation economy.

“I’ve spent my career working in organizations that sought to innovate on behalf of patients in Massachusetts and beyond,” Shields said in a statement. “The path to my accomplishments started in the hallways of BC High,” a Jesuit, Catholic, college-preparatory school for 1,402 boys in grades 7 to 12.

Knowing how — and when — to design creative solutions is a major focus of Shields’ innovation investment, as COVID-19 has demonstrated the need for the business world to adapt quickly, school officials said. The center will enhance BC High’s ability to help students reach their full potential, while growing the school’s influence and integration with Boston’s business leaders.

“Jack’s investment, along with his enduring confidence and commitment to the Jesuit ideal of living compassionately in service of others, will help generations of students make sense of an increasingly complex and interconnected world,” said Kelly DeGregorio, the school’s vice president of advancement.

The Shields Innovation Center will have three components:

an innovation curriculum that encourages students to grow into agile thinkers and resilient contributors who are courageous, reflective and committed to addressing society’s most pressing issues;
student and alumni network programming, including influential guest speakers, hack-a-thons, pitch competitions and entrepreneurship tournaments with other schools, along with opportunities for students and alumni to develop and grow personal and professional connections; and
a center that offers hands-on experience in computer science, robotics and media, and is accessible to all students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Each phase of the Shields Innovation Center, which will launch in 2021, is designed to foster innovative thinking and risk tolerance. The center also will create new connections to resources in Boston’s thriving economic ecosystem and around the world.

“Jack feels BC High should be a beacon, and he wanted to help us do that,” said Grace Cotter Regan, the school’s president. “I was absolutely humbled, absolutely grateful for his enormous heart. He said to me, ‘This will be the best investment I make.’”