May 8, 2009

Photo Finish for the May 11, 2009 issue

PHOTO/COURTESY As featured guests of the Nichols College-sponsored Kids2College Program, students and employees of the Worcester Tornadoes baseball organization recently visited sixth grade classrooms at Webster Middle School. The Kids2College Program, a new offering at Webster Middle School, strives to help low-income and minority students consider college as a realistic option. Pictured, from left to right, are: Alise Wales, ticket manager for the Worcester Tornadoes; Dave Peterson, vice president of sales and marketing for the Worcester Tornadoes; and Nichols College students Melisa Bianchi and Glenn Cacaro.

PHOTO/COURTESY Bay State Savings Bank of Worcester raised $5,000 for Project Smile through its Champions of Children program, which aims to recognize and reward individuals and organizations that help youth in the Worcester area. The recent funds were raised through ticket sales for a Worcester Sharks hockey game and through All-Star team jersey auctions at the game and online. Since its inception in 2004, the Champions of Children program has raised more than $85,000 for local youth organizations. Pictured, from left to right, are: Michael Mudd, senior vice president of hockey and business administration for the Worcester Sharks; Catherine Pisacane, founder and director of Project Smile; Paul Gilbody, executive vice president and COO of Bay State Savings Bank; and Diane Giampa, vice president of human resources and marketing at Bay State Savings Bank.

PHOTO/COURTESY GFA Federal Credit Union of Gardner recently celebrated the opening of its newest, and eighth, branch in Ashburnham. The branch features a â€œGFA CafÃ&Copy;,â€ where visitors can relax, enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the news. It also includes a community conference room that is available to local organizations. Pictured, from left to right, are: Rep. Robert Rice Jr. (D-Worcester); Ashburnham Selectman Jonathan Dennehy; Ashburnham Selectwoman Maggie Whitney; Michael Horrigan, GFA chairman of the board; Tina Sbrega, president and CEO of GFA; Christie Scarpino, Ashburnham Business Council chairperson; and Patrick Harvey Ashburnham branch manager.

PHOTO/COURTESY The NET, an organization of Worcester-area professionals committed to reinvesting in the community, recently held a charity Texas Hold â€˜Em poker tournament at Leicester Country Club. The proceeds of the event benefited Why Me, a nonprofit organization that provides emotional and financial assistance, as well as housing to children and their families dealing with cancer treatment. Pictured, from left to right, are: Rick McCarthy of Worcester Fitness; Peter Bogren of Unisource Management; Thomas Valentine of FMG Financial Services; Tony Tyan of Mancuso-Nowak Insurance; Danielle Perron of Why Me Inc.; Paul Bessette of Get Set Marketing and Peter DeCaro of The College Network.

PHOTO/COURTESY As a part of the Bolton area's annual Relay for Life, employees from Clinton Savings Bank and students from the Nashoba Regional High School banking program recently donated $1,000 to the American Cancer Society. The donation marks the third straight year in which Clinton Savings Bank and Nashoba Regional High School have participated in the event. Pictured, from left to right, are: Deanna Witkowski, Nashoba Regional High School student; Samantha Paulino, Nashoba Regional High School banking program manager; Robert Paulhus Jr., president and CEO of Clinton Savings Bank; Gina Hall of the American Cancer Society; Cindy Alden, vice president of branch administration at Clinton Savings Bank and Rachel Hole, Nashoba Regional High School student.