Picture This
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No Shave November
TommyCar Auto Group joined forces with the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Patrick Cahillane for No Shave November, in which participants forgo shaving and grooming for one month to raise cancer awareness. Throughout November, deputies and staff in the Sheriff’s Office were able to opt out of the dress code prohibiting beards for a donation of $20 to the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament, which supports the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Meanwhile, TommyCar Auto Group employees donated the money they would spend on shaving to the charity. In total, the Sheriff’s Office raised $2,700, which Carla Cosenzi, president of TommyCar Auto Group, matched, resulting in a donation of $5,400 to Dana-Farber. Pictured, from left: Sgt. J. Aucion, Hampshire Sheriff’s Office; Kaylyn Cunis, associate director, Jimmy Fund; Cosenzi; Cahillane; and Amy McCallum, assistant vice president, Jimmy Fund.
Cultural Connections
Thanks to a grant received by the Tufts Health Plan Foundation, the Dementia Friendly Holyoke collaboration is strengthening its services for local Spanish-speaking individuals who are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or related dementias. The grant from the Tufts Foundation will specifically fund Cuidadores Unidos, a Spanish-speaking caregivers support group (pictured) that meets monthly at the Holyoke Senior Center. In addition to Cuidadores members, participants in the Spanish-speaking caregiver support group Grupo de Apoyo de Demencia in Springfield will be invited to participate in the expanded programming.
Advocating for Wellness
Students from Springfield College Student Advocates for Wellness recently presented information on the health risks of vaping at the National Assoc. of Student Personnel Administrator General Assembly in Baltimore. The students presented a breakout session titled “Escape the Vape: A Public Health Crisis,” which highlighted the programs they have initiated on campus to raise awareness of the health risks of vaping. More than 50 health-promotion peers attended the presentation from colleges and universities throughout the country. Pictured, from left: Student Advocates for Wellness team members April Phelps, Grace Pedersen, Sarah Hogan, and Allison Leary with Christine Johnson, Springfield College assistant director for Alcohol and Other Drug Education and Health Promotion.
