Friends of Chevalier Auditorium and Gene Mack Gym invites you to help celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special event featuring Bill Cummings at Chevalier Theatre. Cummings will share insights from his hit book “Starting Small and Making it Big: An Entrepreneur’s Journey to Billion-Dollar Philanthropist,” his life story of going from modest Medford roots to multi-billionaire and international philanthropist.

Cummings grew up in the Hillside and Haines Square neighborhoods of Medford and learned the value of hard work and kindness from his parents. They also encouraged his entrepreneurship, like selling sodas to workers removing trolley tracks on the Fellsway, and hawking Christmas trees in Medford Square.

After graduating from Medford High and Tufts University, Bill’s business career blossomed. Sweet success selling Old Medford Fruit Punch led to the creation of his giant real estate venture, Cummings Properties, and its nonprofit arm Cummings Foundation, through which Bill and wife Joyce have donated millions of dollars to Medford nonprofit organizations and hundreds of millions worldwide.

Cummings will appear onstage in a conversation with former Medford mayor and longtime friend Michael McGlynn. Audience questions and a book signing will follow.

Admission is free and no tickets are required. All seating is general admission. Discounted copies of Bill Cummings’ book may be purchased through the Friends of Chevalier for $15; all proceeds benefit Cummings Foundation and the Friends of Chevalier. For ordering details please email friendsofchevalier@gmail.com.

This event is part of Arts Across Medford, a month of arts and cultural happenings throughout the city in October exploring the theme “Roots,” curated by CACHE in Medford.