Business

Hundreds of Tufts Employees Volunteer Around Watertown

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Nearly 220 Tufts Health Plan employees demonstrated with their actions that community matters during the company’s annual volunteer day. Embodying Tufts Health Plan’s mission to improve the health and wellness of the diverse communities it serves, teams set out to clean and beautify three Watertown landmarks, made cards for the elderly, and helped homeless and low-income children get new clothes and toys. “Our employees are generous in giving of their time, treasure and talent to support the communities where they live, work and play,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, Tufts Health Plan Foundation president and Tufts Health Plan vice president of corporate citizenship. “We’re committed to magnifying their passions and commitment through these efforts especially our Corporate Volunteer Day.”

“Employee volunteering is at the heart of our Corporate Citizenship program, and it’s clear from testimonials and surveys that employees appreciate the chance to give back to their communities,” said Stacey Mann, Tufts Health Plan’s enterprise manager for corporate citizenship. Corporate Volunteer Day service projects included:

Sprucing up and planting spring and summer perennials at The Old Burying Place in Watertown
Painting a retaining wall and railing in Watertown’s Coolidge Square in preparation for a public art mural students and residents will paint involving Watertown High School
Scraping and painting the water feature and removing debris at Filippello Park in Watertown
Making “Happy Summer” cards for elderly Meals on Wheels recipients through Ethos
Inspecting and sorting donations, stocking shelves and compiling packages for Brighton-based Cradles to Crayons

Around Town

Community Spirit Awards Presented to People Who Have Served Watertown

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The Community Spirit Awards went to 17 members of the Watertown community who have worked to help the youth in town and make it a better place. On Monday, June 22nd, at Arsenal Park, the Wayside Multi-Service Center/ Watertown Youth Coalition (WYC) hosted the annual Community Spirit Award picnic to honor Watertown community members who:

serve as a positive influence or mentor to others in Watertown
show courage to address challenging issues that affect youth and the community
actively take steps to improve the Watertown community

“We applaud these spirit award recipients and the people that nominated them. Watertown is a wonderful community with so many caring adults looking out for the interest of the youth living here!” the Wayside/WYC announcement said. The 2015 Community Spirit Award Recipients:

Andrew Allegro (Watertown Middle School)
Bob Galante (Lowell School and Pequossette Summer Program)
Rebecca Grossman (Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leader)
Kraig Gustafson (Watertown High School)
Michael Hayes (Watertown High School Hockey)
Laura Kehoe (Right Turn)
Detective Mark Lewis (Watertown Police Department)
Chris Lowry (Friends of Watertown Music)
Wendy Morrissey (Watertown Against Substance Abuse)
Cris Patvakanian (Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leader)
Larry Raskin (World in Watertown)
Greg Salvucci (Watertown Youth Baseball)
Arlene Smith (Watertown Family Network)
Ernie Thebado (Recreation Department)
Christopher Thigpen (Benchmark Recovery Center)
Lt. Daniel Unsworth (Watertown Police Department)
Wil van Dinter (Watertown Health Department)

Additionally, the organizers thanked to Ralph Vitiello, General Manager of Not Your Average Joe’s restaurant in Watertown, who previously served as co-chair for the Watertown Youth Coalition’s Steering Committee.

Charity

Community Foundation Awards $74K in Grants to Local Groups

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On June 16, at a reception for its 25 spring grantees, the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) celebrated by distributing checks totaling $74,050.  In the twelve years since WCF was founded, WCF has awarded over $600,000 in grants to organizations serving Watertown. WCF Grant Committee Co-Chair, Rob Kelly, stated, “The Foundation is extremely happy to be able to recognize and financially support the outstanding contributions that these programs and organizations make to our vibrant community.”

All of the grants are funded from WCF’s Arsenal Education Income Fund. 13 Educational Program Grants totaling $23,550 were given to:

Friends of Watertown Music to ensure that instruments are available for Watertown’s free instruction program that starts in fourth grade. Historical Society of Watertown to publish a Watertown self-guided bicycle tour booklet, “Wheels Along the River.”
Improbable Players to present six theater workshops about substance abuse prevention and healthy choices for Watertown Middle School eighth graders. Perkins School for the Blind for their Watertown newspaper accessibility project.

Charity

Local Foundation Awards Grant to Help Music in Watertown Schools

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The Watertown Community Foundation awarded a grant to help the music program in the Watertown Public Schools. The Friends of Watertown Music announced this week that they were awarded one of the Watertown Community Foundation’s 2015 Educational Program Grants. “Our $2,250 grant will be used to purchase musical instruments and repair existing instruments so that more children will be able to participate in the excellent instrument program which is offered for free to all students in Watertown’s public schools, starting in fourth grade,” the Friends said in an announcement. Find out more about Watertown Community Foundation on their Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/WatertownCommunityFoundation – or visit the Watertown Community Foundation’s website www.watertownfoundation.org.

Charity

Watertown Woman Raising Money for Alzheimer’s Awareness

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Judy Johanson, of Watertown is rallying her team, This is Our Life, to raise funds and awareness for an Alzheimer’s Association event called The Longest Day on June 21, 2015. The Longest Day, focused on the summer solstice was created in recognition of the long days that are part of living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the announcement from the Alzheimer’s Association. Johanson’s husband Steve was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s just prior to his 59th birthday. Judy and Steve had previously reached out to the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter when his mother was diagnosed in her late 70s. The family used many of the free support services offered to families such as care consultation to help manage care for Steve’s mother.

Charity

Auction Raises More Than $50,000 for Watertown Boys & Girls Club

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The Watertown Boys and Girls Club held its Annual Spring Auction on Thursday, May 7 at the Oakley Country Club. Over 150 Club supporters were in attendance for the fundraiser featuring a live and silent auction. The event raised over $50,000 for our organization including $13,000 in camp scholarships. These funds are used to help defray the cost of attending our Summer Adventure Program at Camp Hale in Westwood, for kids whose families might otherwise not be able to afford it. “We wish to thank all our sponsors and guests for their support!

Business

Vote to Help Your Favorite Local Charity Win a Share of $30,000

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The Belmont Savings Bank Foundation today announced the next round of a $30,000 grant competition for its charitable giving initiative in Watertown. Previously, residents nominated local charities that are now eligible for a donation based on voting, according to an announcement from the bank. Through the initiative, the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation will invest $10,000 into three programs located in Watertown. The voting deadline is June 15, 2015. 

All approved organizations have a 20-day period to drive voting which is taking place on the Foundation website. During the initial round, Watertown charitable organizations had until May 20th to submit an application after being nominated.

Charity

Watertown Eighth-Grader Met the Governor, Ran Kids Clothing Drive

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Eighth-grader Honor Petrie was chosen to represent all of Watertown Middle School in a statewide event – Project 351 – where she got to meet Gov. Charlie Baker. This spring, she organized a clothing drive at the school that collected dozens of bags of clothes to give to Cradles to Crayons, a children’s charity. 

Watertown News asked Petrie about her experiences as Watertown’s ambassador to Project 351 and her clothing drive. Q: How were you chosen to represent Watertown Middle School for Project 351, and why did you want to become an Ambassador? A: I hadn’t ever heard of Project 351 until I was called down to the office one day at school, and my principal (Mr. Carter) explained to me what Project 351 is, and why I was chosen to be Ambassador. I was really surprised and so excited.