Send your photos to: Picture This; c/o Joseph Bednar, The Healthcare News, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103; or e-mail bednar@healthcarenews.com Please include detailed caption material and your name and contact information.
Biotechnology Partnership
Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) and Westfield State University recently created an affordable pathway for biotechnology students with an associate degree to earn a bachelor’s degree. Under the articulation agreement, students who receive an associate degree in biotechnology from STCC can apply credits toward the requirements for a bachelor of science degree in biology with a concentration in biotechnology at Westfield State. Pictured, from left: from Westfield State, David Christensen, Biology Department chair; Jennifer Hanselman, dean of the College of Mathematics and Sciences; Diane Prusank, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs; and Ramon Torrecilha, president; from STCC, John Cook, president; Geraldine de Berly, vice president of Academic Affairs; and Lisa Rapp, Biotechnology Department chair.
Seeing Purple
On June 21, the Bertera Auto Group and Fedor Financial Group, LLC in West Springfield went purple in support of the “Longest Day” fundraising event for the Alzheimer’s Assoc. Pictured, from left: Bianca Walker, director of Fundraising for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s; David Fedor, president of Fedor Financial Group and volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Assoc.; and Michael Bertera, president of Bertera Auto Group.
JGS Lifecare’s Day of Tournaments
JGS Lifecare recently staged the 39th annual Frankel-Kinsler Day of Tournaments, which raised more than $97,000 for the care of the community’s elders. The day featured a golf tournament, but also many other competitions as well, in tennis, bridge, canasta, and mahjong. The event provides JGS a way to continue to honor the memory of Michael Frankel, former chairman of the JGS Lifecare board of directors, and the families of Raymond and Herman Kinsler, longtime leaders and supporters, for their exemplary commitment to those served by JGS Lifecare. Pictured, from left: Susan Goldsmith, JGS Lifecare board chair; state Sen. Eric Lesser; and Richard Halpern, JGS Lifecare board member, share a moment at the cocktail reception.
Rally Against Cancer
Country Bank’s Employee Charitable Giving program recently donated $26,000 to the Jimmy Fund’s Rally Against Cancer. Team Captains Eric Devine, Bonnie Trudeau-Wood, and Jeremy Toussaint led Team Country Bank with fundraising activities to help them exceed their goal of $25,000 and claim the first-place spot in the Corporate Team Challenge. Fundraising activities included staff-donated raffle baskets for employees to win, paying to wear jeans on casual Fridays, a bus trip, bake sales, and online staff donations. In addition to these activities, Country Bank provided a matching donation.
Community Garden
The Valley Educational Associates program site in West Hatfield created a garden plot this year in the Hatfield Community Garden, located on Billings Way. This plot gives program participants an opportunity to learn how to maintain a garden, start seedlings, and even enjoy the produce they grow.
Legacy Gift
During her lifetime, Elaine Marieb donated more than $1.5 million to Holyoke Community College (HCC), the institution where she earned her nursing degree and taught biology for 24 years. Even after her death in December, Marieb’s generosity continues. HCC is the beneficiary of a $1 million legacy gift Marieb set up as part of her estate plan, money earmarked for HCC programs that support non-traditional-age students. Pictured at the check presentation are, from left, John Driscoll, HCC Foundation board chair; Amanda Sbriscia, vice president of Institutional Advancement at HCC; Christina Royal, HCC president; and Robert Gilbert, HCC board of trustees chair.
