Charity

Watertown Resident Helped Create Party to Fight Hunger

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More than 400 foodies came together at MIT’s Morss Hall, Walker Memorial Building to “Party Under the Harvest Moon,” an annual benefit for Food For Free, including a Watertown resident. The event raised more than $69,000 to support the nonprofit’s food rescue and transportation programs which feed more than 25,000 families in Greater Boston and beyond. Car Talk’s Ray Magliozzi, WBUR’s Here and Now host Robin Young and Executive Director of Food For Free, Sasha Purpura lead the evening as the night’s emcees. The local faces in the crowd included Watertown resident, Patrick Mertens, Party Under the Harvest Moon planning committee member and Founder/Senior Recruiter at Pure Placements of New England. Since 1981, Cambridge based Food For Free has responded to local hunger by rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste, and distributing it to local emergency food programs including food pantries, youth programs, and shelters.

Charity

Foundation Honoring Former Police Officer Collecting Gifts for Kids

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Each year, the Whooley Foundation gathers gifts to make sure that no child in Watertown goes without a present during the holidays. The Watertown Police Department sent out the following announcement:

The Whooley Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in the memory of John “Sonny” Whooley a Watertown Police Officer, resident, father and husband. He loved the community and served it for over 30 years as a Watertown Police Sergeant. He always had a special place in his heart for those less fortunate than himself. He would always strive to make others just a little happier during the holidays.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Hands out $12K in Health Grants

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More than $12,000 in grants went to organizations working to make Watertown a healthier place, and will fund efforts to stop substance abuse, a school gardening program and more

The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) Board of Directors has awarded $12,550 in “Healthy Watertown” grants funded by Tufts Health Plan Foundation to the following organizations serving Watertown. Improbable Players: A grant to continue alcohol and drug abuse prevention education for the 6th grade students at Watertown Middle School. Watertown Health Department and Live Well Watertown: A grant to help implement an after school wellness program that prepares high school students to educate and empower middle school students to make healthy lifestyle choices when enter high school. Watertown Health Department and Watertown Police Department: A grant to help fund a substance abuse task force coordinator to raise awareness of substance use disorder in the community and further goals of prevention and education, and support, intervention, treatment and recovery. Watertown High School Counseling and Academic Program: A grant for transportation so WHS students with emotional and behavioral disabilities can attend tours at two nearby colleges.

Alzheimer's Association

Tufts Health Plan Raised Most Money for Walk to End Alzheimer’s

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Tufts Health Plan announced it has been named the No. 1 fundraising team in Massachusetts and No. 5 in the country for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The Watertown-based company sent out the following announcement:

More than 150 Tufts Health Plan employees and family members walked to end Alzheimer’s last month, raising a combined $160,000 that included a match from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation. The money will go toward advancing research and supporting those living with the disease. “My father had Alzheimer’s, so I know how valuable the Association’s support services are,” said Tom Croswell, Tufts Health Plan’s president and chief operating officer.

Art Show

Art Show Raising Money for Watertown’s First Parish Church

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On Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, members and friends of the First Parish of Watertown will host the first Open Door Art Show. A percentage of all proceeds will benefit their Opening Doors Capital Campaign. Emphasizing community, commemoration and comfort, the campaign’s goal is to create more comfortable and welcoming spaces throughout the church, including a memorial garden. The show will be hosted from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the First Parish church, 35 Church St.

Charity

Donate to the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots at the Watertown Mall

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This holiday season, the Watertown Mall will host a distribution center for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. The Mall sent out the following information:

From November 17-26, drop off toys in the mall office, located near the RMV. From Nov. 27-Dec. 15, drop-off bins will be located at Santa’s Village, near Carter’s and Target.

Around Town

Belmont Savings Foundation Gives Boys & Girls Club Big Donation

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The Watertown Boys and Girls Club received a large donation from the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation. The foundation gave the Boys and Girls Club a $10,000 donation this week. The money will support the club’s Power Hour Education Program, a homework help and tutoring program for Club members ages 6 to 18. The grant is a result of winning a voting program held in Watertown by the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation, according the bank announcement

Business

Watertown Insurance Agency Hopes for Record Toys for Tots Haul

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During this holiday season, the joy of giving and receiving gifts is what drives the cheer and community of Watertown, but not everyone is so fortunate. That is why Toys for Tots was created, which has been able to distribute over 469 million toys to children thanks to the help of kindhearted people all over the country. Every year, H & K Insurance Agency, Inc., in Watertown, has participated in a local Toys for Tots drive. Last year was its best toy-raising year to date, almost doubling the previous year’s donation, and with help from the community H & K hopes to increase it yet again, H & K announced. That is where the local community comes in.