August 16, 2010

Photo Finish From Aug. 16, 2010 Issue of the WBJ

Harr Motor Group of Worcester is a sustaining sponsor of the Boston-based nonprofit group Tenacity, which offers academic and athletic programs for at-risk youth after school and during the summers. Tenacity works with students from age 6 through high school graduation and beyond, combining tennis with literacy and other academic programs. It also offers continuing support for graduates of the program and gives them a chance to mentor current participants. Pictured: Charles Ribakoff (center right), CEO of Harr, poses with staff and participants of Tenacity.

Savers Bank of Southbridge has donated $5,000 to Alternatives Unlimited, a Whitinsville-based nonprofit serving people with psychiatric and developmental disabilities. The money will fund wellness initiatives, a volunteer coordinator and furniture and adaptive equipment. Pictured from left to right, are: Jackie Gosselin, Savers Uxbridge branch manager; Paul Jalbert, president and CEO of the bank; Craig Browne, an Alternatives client; and Dennis Rice, Alternatives' executive director.

Commerce Bank & Trust recently presented $2,500 to Centro Las Americas Institute of Latino Art and Culture to sponsor the Worcester Latin American Festival. The festival, featuring live music, food and children's activities, will be held Aug. 21 at City Hall Plaza in Worcester. Pictured, from left to right, are: JoAnn Morency, Commerce's senior vice president and director of retail banking; Dolly Vazquez, director of the Institute of Latino Art and Culture; Nancy Hernandez, manager of Commerce's Grafton Street branch in Worcester; and Juan Gomez, administrative and finance director of Centro Las Americas.

Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation has become the premier corporate sponsor of the MetroWest Jewish Day School Social Justice Initiative, with a donation of $5,000. The money will help support a community service and leadership program and expand the school's annual community service-focused Mitzvah Day. Pictured, from left to right, are: Rebecca Schwartz, a MetroWest Jewish Day School student; Rachel Stewart, administrative director of the charitable foundation; Michael Goldstein, development director for the school; and Benjamin Schwartz, Rebecca's brother and also a student at the school.

UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center in Worcester recently opened Massachusetts' first Ronald McDonald Family Room with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern New England. The room provides a space for family members of critically ill children being treated at the hospital to relax, have a snack, do laundry or use a computer. Pictured, from left to right, are: Lynn D'Angelo, inpatient pediatric nurse manager, UMCMC;ˆ Ronald McDonald; Mark Kashgegian, vice president, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern New England; Edie Stevenson, executive director, RMHCENE; Dr. Marianne Felice, physician-in-chief, UMCMC; Walter Ettinger, president of UMass Memorial Medical Center; Laurel Schumm, senior manager of special programs, Ronald McDonald House Charities; John O'Brien, president and CEO, UMass Memorial Health Care Inc.