01/29/2026
Our honorees embody the values that guide our organization. They lead with purpose, act with compassion, and create the kind of change that lifts others up.
Few reflect that spirit more deeply than the late Philip W. Johnston, one of the founders of RFK Children's Action Corps (now RFK Community Alliance), who will be honored with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.
A lifelong champion for civil rights, compassion, and second chances, Phil helped shape RFK Community Alliance from the very beginning. After working on Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 presidential campaign, he became the first Executive Director of the Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps—now RFK Community Alliance—advancing a bold vision of care and opportunity for youth.
Phil’s commitment to justice defined a distinguished career spanning public service at the Massachusetts State House, the state’s Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and later as New England Administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Throughout, he championed children and families in crisis, people with disabilities, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and communities facing poverty and homelessness.
To us, Phil was more than a founder—he was a trusted advisor, a steady advocate, and a reminder that our work must reflect our deepest values. Through the Lifetime Achievement Award, we honor his extraordinary service and lasting impact. We extend heartfelt gratitude to his wife, Beverly, and his family for sharing him with a world made better by his courage and compassion.
Philip W. Johnston’s legacy lives on in every young person offered a fresh start and every family met with care. We hope you will join us at our Embracing the Legacy celebration where we will honor Phil.
