“… For a long time, mental health struggles were things we whispered about. Things we hid. Things we were ashamed of. I want to talk about these things honestly…”
These words rang through the packed ballroom at Granite Links in Quincy, Massachusetts shortly after the 8pm hour on Tuesday May 19. The attentive audience had just enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner served by the venue’s staff and was eagerly awaiting the upcoming main event – a fashion show showcasing the local talents of George & Dino, Pattee Silver Designs and Lululemon.
The crowd sat silently captivated by the candor and vulnerability of the evening’s keynote speaker, a man who was courageously sharing his personal story about asking for help – hoping his openness might inspire others to do the same.
That man was Liam Martin, the former WBZ-TV and WCVB-TV news anchor, who in 2024 left his dream job to treat his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Today, Liam serves as the Chief Marketing Officer for Newsmaker Marketing, is the co-host of The OCD Confessional podcast, and is a tireless and outspoken mental health advocate.
On a Tuesday night baked in unseasonably hot temperatures that were briefly interrupted by a strong thunderstorm – which down-poured on guests just as they were arriving – Liam Martin was speaking in support of the Quincy-based non-profit Maria Droste Counseling Services at the organization’s annual fundraiser Fashion for Compassion.
Originally established by Sister Joanne Westwater, Maria Droste remains headquartered in the same offices at 1354 Hancock Street in Quincy Center where it first opened its doors in 1992. The agency provides professional mental-health counseling and holistic therapies to all who are in need – regardless of their ability to pay. Maria Droste was founded by and remains affiliated with the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, a worldwide congregation founded in Angers, France in 1835 by Saint Mary Euphrasia.
Mike Shanahan, who is the agency’s first lay Executive Director, delivered the evening’s welcoming remarks. He dedicated Fashion for Compassion to the late Thomas M. Maloney, Jr., the long-time Quincy native and Maria Droste board member who passed away this spring, who had been an avid supporter of this event.
Lisa Donovan, the evening’s emcee and co-host of iHeart Radio’s Billy & Lisa in the Morning, returned to the stage after Shanahan’s remarks to welcome the evening’s first guest speaker, Maria Droste board member Karen Donnellan.
In a heartfelt and emotional address, Karen shared the story of her extraordinary 400-mile pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago that she embarked on in September 2025 – walking from Lisbon, Portugal to Santiago, Spain in memory of her beloved brother Robert, whose life was lost to suicide in 2023 at the age of 59.
“Robert was not a broken man,” Karen shared, “he was a brilliant, funny, fiercely loved human being who simply could not find his way to the help he needed.”
For Liam Martin, the path to finding the help he needed began with support from his wife, Lia. “Eventually,” Liam confessed to the spellbound audience, “I told my wife what was happening. And when she asked why I hadn’t told her sooner, I said, ‘because I didn’t want to be weak.’ And then she said something that changed my life – ‘the strongest thing a person can do is ask for help.’ And I did.”
The help came from Liam’s therapist, who, in an early session, after asking about the schedule demanded of a morning news anchor, asked a pointed and poignant question – “why are you doing that to yourself?” This question proved to be the turning point for Martin, and it was the catalyst he needed to find his own way to recovery.
This is the type of work that happens every day at Maria Droste Counseling Services, where a staff of dedicated therapists change lives for the better, and bring hope to life. Fashion for Compassion was a celebration of healing and of hope, and it was also an important opportunity to support a non-profit organization on the front lines of a mental health crisis.
This work is making a real impact – in 2025, Maria Droste provided more than 7,000 counseling sessions and waived over $350,000 in client fees. More than 85% of their clients received mental health and holistic therapy services at a reduced rate. In line with their mission, rooted in the ideals of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd – they don’t turn anyone away who has the courage to ask for help. Maria Droste can only do through this the generosity of donors, and Fashion for Compassion is their biggest fundraising event of the year.
Liam Martin ended his powerful keynote address with gratitude. “Thank you to Maria Droste Counseling Services for doing this work. Thank you to the therapists, clinicians, staff, volunteers, board members, donors, sponsors, and supporters who make this care possible.”
And he didn’t miss the opportunity to conclude with some light-hearted self-deprecating humor, giving thanks for the invitation to speak despite being “wildly underqualified on the fashion side of this event.” The quip was followed by the heartfelt observation – “but I am very qualified on the compassion side. Because I have needed it. I have received it. And I know what it can do. Thank you.”
The event then culminated with its grande finale – an upbeat, high-energy fashion show that delivered jaw-dropping style and no shortage of “glam” – the result of tireless work from many dedicated volunteers and led by Karin Monfredo of George & Dino.
The runway in the middle of the ballroom was taken over by nearly 30 models strutting their stuff in the finest of fashions while the music bumped and the audience of 300-plus Maria Droste supporters cheered them on. It was a cathartic celebration of compassion and healing in celebration of an important cause.
For any questions, please contact:
JJ Sorensen, Director of Engagement
617-471-5686 x505
Maria Droste Counseling Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located at 1354 Hancock Street in Quincy, MA. Since its founding in 1992, Maria Droste has been “bringing hope to life,” guided by its mission statement: “to provide professional mental-health counseling and holistic therapies that are compassion-based and affordable to ALL in need.”