Mass Arts Center honors artist who created Betty White Forever® stamp
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 24, 2025
MANSFIELD, Mass. ─ The Mass Arts Center is thrilled to announce that Dale Stephanos, creator of the soon-to-be-released Betty White Forever® stamp, will receive the Distinguished Artist Award at its MAC Masquerade Gala on Friday, March 14th.
Since 2009, MAC has been at the forefront of the local art scene with the creation of the Morini Gallery. MAC will recognize Stephanos for his contributions to the art world and recent success as creator of the stamp in honor of the late actress. Stephanos, from Foxboro, is a professional illustrator with more than 30 years of experience.
The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Betty White with the new Forever® stamp, featuring a digitally created portrait of the actress against a violet background, designed by Greg Breeding with art by Dale Stephanos. The stamp will be released on March 27. White, known as the “First Lady of Television,” had a career spanning over eight decades, including roles in ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ and ‘The Golden Girls,’ and was a passionate animal advocate.
The public is invited to purchase tickets to MAC’s Masquerade Gala fundraiser, to be held from 6:30-11 p.m. at Lakeview Pavilion, 45 Lakeview Road, Foxboro, by visiting https://onecau.se/_5ubh31. This year’s event is supported by presenting sponsors the Spier Family Foundation, Gail Hayes and Evelyn Malm. Also being honored that night will be Director Steve Dooner, volunteer Patricia McDougal and MAC sponsor Bob Saquet of Egger’s Furniture.
Stephanos’s work has appeared in magazines such as Rolling Stone, TIME, and Sports Illustrated, as well as newspapers like the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. His work has also been featured in numerous exhibits. In 2017, he opened his own gallery in Boston. Stephanos has received honors from the Society of Illustrators, Illustrators West, American Illustration, and Communication Arts.
In addition to his work as an illustrator, Stephanos also teaches at Suffolk University in Boston and Lyme Academy College of Fine Art in Connecticut. A U.S. postage stamp commission has been a lifelong dream for Stephanos. The 2025 Betty White issuance is his first project for the United States Postal Service. He created the art for the stamp, based on a 2010 photo of White.
Stephanos, husband of WCVB’s co-anchor Maria Stephanos, shared his excitement about the stamp on social media: “So excited to share the news that my Betty White stamp for the US Postal Service will be released soon. I’d love to send a letter back to my 18-year-old self with this stamp on it and tell him that everything is going to be OK.”
Stephanos was also quoted by WCVB as saying: “She always had a mischievous look in her eye. You know, she was a little bit terrifying, very funny, very charismatic. But you always had the feeling that you had to sort of sit up straight if you were in her presence,” he said.”
Stephanos revealed a hidden detail in the picture. White was a lifelong animal activist, and her family wanted to reflect this on the stamp. Stephanos honored her with a paw-print-shaped earring.
The Mass Arts Center is honored to present Dale Stephanos with the Distinguished Artist Award.
The Mass Arts Center, formerly The Mass Music & Arts Society (MMAS), has been a cultural home for artists, audiences, and aspiring performers of all ages since 1993.
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The Mass Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. The Mass Arts Center runs the Reservoir Stage, the Morini Gallery, and the Academy at Mass Arts, providing a wide array of artistic programs, performances, and opportunities for aspiring and experienced performers, artists, and patrons from across the region. Programs are supported with grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the MCC Facilities Fund and the Local Cultural Councils of Mansfield, Attleboro, Foxboro, North Attleborough, Norton, and Sharon.