Cathy Burke

Cathy Burke is a lifelong Atlantic City resident,entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She and her husband, Richard, established the iconic Irish Pub on St. James Place in Atlantic City, later expanding with additional Irish Pubs in Philadelphia. Known for its remarkable collection of historic boxing memorabilia, the Irish Pub has long been a gathering place for boxing writers, athletes, and fans, earning recognition as “Boxing’s BestFriend.” Beyond her success in hospitality, Ms. Burke also founded one of New York City’s top casting companies and is a partner in Dream Street Productions.

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Deeply committed to community service and the preservation of history, Ms. Burke has been recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record as“Woman of the Year” for her charitable and civic work. She has served on the New Jersey Governor’s Advisory Committee on the Preservation and Use of EllisIsl and and currently chairs the Board of Directors of Save Ellis Island,leading efforts to restore and repurpose more than 30 historic buildings on the island. She also produced the documentary The Spirit of Ellis Island and has sponsored countless cultural and historical exhibitions in Atlantic City.

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A dedicated supporter of law enforcement and first responders, Ms. Burke co-founded the Irish Pub Children’s Fund and its signature event, the “Tour de Shore,” which has raised more than six million dollars for families of fallen police officers. In 2014, she founded In The Line of Duty, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to children of police officers and firefighters who lost their lives serving their communities. That same year, she commissioned the First Responders & 9/11 Memorial on the Atlantic City Boardwalk at St. James Place, featuring bronze statues of a police officer, firefighter, and K9, along with twin granite towers honoring 9/11.

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Ms. Burke was the first recipient of the Hero Award from the Atlantic City Police Foundation and more recently received the Laoma Byrd Woman of Excellence Award from the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. She has also been honored with the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation Award, theAtlantic City Humanitarian Award, and the New Jersey Women in Law Enforcement Benefactor Award.

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