January 31, 2011

Photo Finish from the Jan. 31, 2011 issue

Photo/Courtesy Paul Davis Restoration of Worcester hosted its Third Annual Pictures with Santa event to benefit Veterans Inc. of Worcester, a nonprofit serving the veteran community. Local families received pictures with Santa Claus for donations to the nonprofit shelter. Pictured, from left to right, are: Shelby Wessell, Santa, Cortney Boudreau and Carley Boudreau.

Photo/Courtesy Janelle Ashley, Worcester State University president, and Paul LaCava, WSU alumnus, helped deliver toys to more than 100 children at St. Mathew's Church in Worcester as part of a toy drive organized by the Plant a Seed Foundation. LaCava began collecting toys for children when he was a student at Worcester State in the 1970s. Worcester firefighters Bobby Price and Gilbert Figueroa helped Santa distribute the toys. Pictured, from left to right, are: LaCava, Tommy Donoghue, Price, Ashley, Santa, Figueroa, Laura Jette, Molly McCullough and David Tivnan.

Photo/Courtesy Members of the First Baptist Church in Framingham wrote to Framingham Co-operative Bank asking for assistance with an immediate need to provide four homeless families in their parish a better holiday season. The bank donated $1,000 to help the families. Pictured, from left to right, are: Rachel Stewart, assistant vice president of marketing; Nancy Devine, vice president; Lorna Mailhoit, member of First Baptist Church; and Michael Bilinsky, business development officer.

Photo/Courtesy Worcester-based Bay State Savings Bank employees gave the casual Friday concept a charitable twist, making a $5 donation each week to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Santa Fund for the privilege of wearing jeans to work. Those who participated helped to raise $1,500 for the fund, which helps the needy over the holidays. Pictured: Bay State Savings Bank employees on a casual Friday.

Photo/Courtesy Marlborough Savings Bank employees teamed up with Bolton Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to ensure all seniors had a festive holiday. Twenty-two employees helped out with a giving quilt effort where gift tags indicate seniors' gift wishes, assisting with last-minute shopping and wrapping for surprises for 150 seniors. Pictured, from left to right, are: Sebi Ovesian and Tom Gardner, bank employees; Andrea Sborne, Rachael Mercurio and Chris Condardo, all of Bolton Manor.