March 28, 2011

Photo Finish from the March 28, 2011 issue

St. Bridget's Food Pantry in Framingham received a donation of $3,000 from Framingham Co-operative Bank. Since it was established in 1998, the bank's foundation has donated more than $1.7 million to charitable causes. Pictured, from left to right, are: Michael Bilinsky, business development officer at Framingham Co-op; Monsignor Francis Strahan, St. Bridget's Church; Nancy Devine, vice president of Framingham Co-op; and Rachel Stewart, assistant vice president of marketing and administrative director, Framingham Co-op Charitable Foundation.

Leominster-based Rollstone Bank & Trust donated $5,000 to the city's heating assistance program. The fund ran out of money in December. Some agencies reported increases of 30 percent or more for food, coats and utility assistance, according to the United Way. Pictured, from left to right, are: Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella; Phil Grzewinski, United Way of North Central Massachusetts; and Linda Kirrane and Nabil Farooq, Rollstone Bank & Trust.

Episcopal City Mission (ECM) of Boston, which promotes social and economic justice, presented Burgess Urban Fund grants ranging from $8,000 to $20,000. Seventeen grass-roots community organizations benefited, including Ex-Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement (EPOCA) in Worcester and Metropolitan Interfaith Congregations Acting for Hope in Framingham. Pictured, from left to right, are: The Rev. Canon Edward Rodman, ECM board member; Delia Vega, EPOCA executive director; Dr. Ruy O. Costa, ECM executive director; Joseph Yandle, EPOCA; Cassandra Bensahih, EPOCA; and Katie Campbell Simons, ECM's associate director of community partnerships and public policy.

Walmart donated $100,000 to Horizons for Homeless Children, which operates day care centers at shelters, including 13 programs in Worcester. The charity was chosen by 12,000 Massachusetts Walmart associates to receive the funds. Pictured, from left to right, are: former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo, Chris Buchanan of Walmart, former Red Sox pitcher Lenny DiNardo; Asa Fanelli, president and CEO of HHC, and sports analyst Peter Gammons.

The TD Bank charitable foundation gave Rehabilitative Resources Inc. (RRI) $5,000 for restoration at East Brookfield's historic Elm Hill Farm, which RRI took over in 2009. It had been one of the largest working farms in the region, home to Elsie the Cow, the iconic symbol of the Borden Co. RRI is developing horticultural and horsemanship activities and a petting zoo for all people, including those with special needs. Pictured, from left to right, are: Sam Smith and Mark Fellion of TD Bank; Bonnie Keefe-Layden, CEO of RRI; and Kevin Howard.