New book by Boston billionaire features stories on entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and joining the Giving Pledge

BOSTON, May 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ Real estate magnate and philanthropist Bill Cummings has written an autobiography. In his best seller "Starting Small and Making It Big: An Entrepreneur's Journey to Billion-Dollar Philanthropist," Cummings chronicles his life from his humble beginnings just outside Boston to his membership in The Giving Pledge, an organization founded by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett for the world's wealthiest people. The group's annual meeting takes place this week in California.

The recently released book features praise from Melinda Gates, Ralph Nader, and Dr. Paul Farmer of Partners In Health, among others.

Cummings, age 81, is known for founding Greater Boston commercial real estate firm Cummings Properties and growing it from one small building to debt-free 11 million-square-foot portfolio. In recent years, the Cummings name has also been associated with more than $220 million in grant funding awarded through the eponymous foundation Cummings established with his wife, Joyce, in 1986.

Although he founded and published three local newspapers, including Woburn Advocate and Stoneham Sun, in the early 1990s, "Starting Small" is Cummings' first book.

"Many people over the years have encouraged me to write down stories about everything from my childhood entrepreneurial ventures to my business philosophies to my thinking about philanthropy," said Cummings. "With a strong, capable management team now fully running all aspects of Cummings Properties without me, I finally had the time to put pen to paper."

Since his memoir's April 2018 release, Cummings has appeared on many Boston media outlets, including WBUR's "Radio Boston," "NECN Business Report," WGBH's "Greater Boston," and WBZ's "Nightside with Dan Rea."

"Starting Small" can be purchased online at Amazon and at www.cummings.com/book. One hundred percent of all proceeds go to charitable purposes, according to Cummings.

Joyce and Bill Cummings were the first Massachusetts couple to join the Giving Pledge. They have received several honorary doctoral degrees and have three times served as college commencement speakers. Among dozens of recognitions, they have recently received a Friend of Israel award, a Real Estate Visionary of the Year in 2014, and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce named them both to its Academy of Distinguished Bostonians. Joyce and Bill have lived in Winchester, Mass. for more than 50 years.

Contact:  Kerry Crisley, kac@cummings.com
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