Worcester Community Action Council, Inc, (WCAC) held its 45th Anniversary Celebration Event on April 28, 2010 at Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA. WCAC’s 45th Event celebrated the many organizations that have helped to contribute to WCAC’s achievements over the years, along with key action heroes. This year’s Action Heroes recognized included: Unum, Seven Hills Foundation, Main South Community Development Corporation, Center of Hope, Energy All Stars, Smith & Jones, NSTAR Electric & Gas Corporation, Webster Five Cents Savings Bank, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce and Education Foundation, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, and Charter-TV3.
At the same time, WCAC was thrilled to announce the establishment of the Senator Edward M. Kennedy Education Scholarship Program that was generously sponsored by National Grid and Quinsigamond Community College Foundation. The Scholarship Program will assist young people graduating from WCAC’s GED and Job & Education Center programs, as they pursue higher education. WCAC also recognized the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy; his support and advocacy have been invaluable to our success over the past 45 years. We were honored that Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy served as our keynote speaker and accepted an award on the late Senator’s behalf.
Thank you to the many sponsors, in-kind donors, WCAC employees, volunteers, agency partners, community members, and guests for making WCAC’s 45th Anniversary Celebration such a special and momentous occasion.
View photos from the event below:
Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. 45th Anniversary Celebration April 28, 2010
WCAC’s Signature Pin created by James Cade Creations
Barbara Hassan, Chair, 45th Planning Committee; Allison Frechette, WCAC, and Charla Hixson, WCAC
(Left to Right): WCAC’s Priscilla Holmes, Joyce Rowell, Sharon McCorn, Jill C. Dagilis, Beverly Jones, Kerry Brennan, Allison Frechette, Vanessa Lopez, Donna McGrath, Krishonna Murray, Charla Hixson, Lisa Johnson, and Barbara Hassan
(Left to Right) Jill C. Dagilis, Executive Director; Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Keynote Speaker; Patsy C. Lewis, Former WCAC Executive Director; Nora M. Donoghue, Former WCAC Executive Director; and Deborah Penta, Board Chairwoman
Senator Edward M. Kennedy Super Action Hero Award and Education Scholarship Program
Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA
Jill C. Dagilis, Executive Director; Priscilla Holmes, Deputy Director; Joyce Rowell, Director of Early Childhood Education & Family Services
WCAC’s Jodi Casselman and Jackie Langelier
Priscilla Holmes, Deputy Director; Barbara Hassan, 45th Planning Committee Chair; Jill C. Dagilis, Executive Director; Donna McGrath, Director of Planning & Development; Deborah Penta, Board Chairwoman
Tony Simas, 45th Planning Committee Member, NSTAR & Honoree; Bill Van Dam, WCAC Board Member, NSTAR & Honoree; Nancy Concemi, WCAC Board Member, National Grid
Bob Morrison, WCAC Job Developer; Bob Tangney; Joyce Rowell; and Donna Morrison
Gracie LaFrance, WCAC Fuel Specialist and Todd Smith, WCAC Case Manager/Job Developer
45th Anniversary Guest; Kellie Hurrell, Grafton Job Corps; and Dave Tirendi, Grafton Job Corps
Christine Mullaney; and Jeffrey E. Long
Joselyn Zayas, WCAC Intern and Denise Peterson, WCAC Receptionist
Lee Gaudette, Education Foundation Chair; Mary Lou Anderson, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation; Louise Redding, Member of the Education Foundation Board; and Jeannie Hebert, President, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce
Gerald Bell, Director, Department of Housing & Community Development and Jean Giguere, Smith & Jones, Honoree
Linda McGowan, Director, Community Relations, The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.; Robert Kennedy, Executive Director, Mechanics Hall; and Timothy Garvin, Executive Director, United Way of Central Massachusetts. Background: Elice Chiapulis, WCAC Fuel Specialist; and Jenn Reed, Program Manager, Healthy Families of Southern Worcester County
Tony Pini, Retired National Grid; Lisa Piehler, American Red Cross; Carol Dik; Ann Flynn, United Way of Central Massachusetts; and Lynne Feraco, United Way of Central Massachusetts
Fatima Muhamed; and Sofia Ghelle, East African Community Outreach Program, hosted by Worcester Community Action Council, Inc.
Kim Thomas, New Hope, Inc.; Michael Carroll, AllCom Credit Union; and 45th Anniversary guest
WCAC’s Janet Lee, Director of Finance; Mark Sanborn, Director of Energy Resources; and Calvin Bradshaw, Energy Resources
Todd Rodman, Seder & Chandler, LLP; Fran Madigan, F.W. Madigan Company, Inc.; Susan Madigan, F.W. Madigan Company, Inc.; Steve Pratt, F.W. Madigan Company, Inc.; and Susan Pratt
Mullen Sawyer, Executive Director, Oak Hill CDC; Richard Kennedy, President, Worcester Chamber of Commerce; John G. O’Brien, President, UMass Memorial Health Care, Inc.; Cheryl Lapriore, UMass Memorial Health Care, Inc.; Roberta Brien, Worcester Business Development Corp.; and John Weaver, Worcester Business Development Corp.
James Paulhus, UniBank; and Deb Larsen, UniBank
Gail Randall, Greater Worcester Community Foundation and Thuha Lee, WCAC Board Member, Southeast Asian Coalition
Mary Bilotta-Blackman; Mark Bilotta, Colleges of Worcester Consortium; and Bob Blackman
Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Keynote Speaker and Jill C. Dagilis, Executive Director
City of Worcester Mayor Joseph C. O’Brien, Michael Donohue, and Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy
Jill C. Dagilis, Executive Director; Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Keynote Speaker; Patsy C. Lewis, Former WCAC Executive Director; Nora M. Donoghue, Former WCAC Executive Director
Jennifer Roy, J. Christopher Collins, Cary Olson-Cartwright, Unum
Jack Foley, Clark University, WCAC Board Treasurer; and Kenneth Craig, Charter TV 3
Jill C. Dagilis; Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy; and Lois B. Green
Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy and Winifred A. Octave, WCAC Board Member
Fran Ford and wife Shirley Doyle. Esq., Law Offices of Shirley Doyle; and Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy
Jill C. Dagilis; Ruth Reina; Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy; Jim Reina; and Paul Dagilis
Dr. Roberta R. Schaefer, Worcester Regional Research Bureau; and Jill C. Dagilis
Chancellor Michael Collins, UMass Medical School; and Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy
Jack Foley, WCAC Board Treasurer; Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy; Mary Knittle, Quinsigamond Community College; and Dale Allen, Quinsigamond Community College and WCAC Board Member
(Back Row – left to right): 45th Action Hero Honorees: J. Christopher Collins, Unum; James Howard, Center of Hope; Richard Leahy, Webster Five Cents Savings Bank; Bill Van Dam, NSTAR; Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy; Andy Lacombe, Charter TV3; Lee Gaudette, Blackstone Valley Education Foundation; William Breault, Main South Community Development Corporation (Front Row – left to right): Tony Simas, NSTAR; Kathleen Reville, Seven Hills Foundation; Jeannie Hebert, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce; Ann Lisi, Greater Worcester Community Foundation; Jean Giguere, Smith & Jones; and Tony Shirley, Energy All Stars
Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy and Jeannie Hebert, President & CEO, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce
Lee Gaudette, Blackstone Valley Education Foundation; and Victor Somma, Quinsigamond Community College
Julie Jacobson, Assistant City Manager; 45th Anniversary Celebration guest; Peter Zipfel, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce & Education Foundation; Melissa Toupin, Charter TV-3
Colleen O’Brien, Unum and Tim Brady, WCAC EITC Coordinator
Nancy Berry, NSTAR and James Booker, WCAC Fuel Volunteer
John Gardiner, Worcester Comprehensive Child Care Services; and John Hess, Great Brook Valley Health Center, Inc.
Carol Peterson; and Anne J. Cooney
Katie Frechette and Lynn Bruso
Jill C. Dagilis, Executive Director
Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA
Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MA
Barbara Haller, Worcester City Councilor and WCAC Assist. Board Clerk
Deborah Penta, Jill C. Dagilis, and J. Christopher Collins, Unum, Education Honoree
Deborah Penta, Jill C. Dagilis, and Kathleen Reville, Seven Hills Foundation, Employment Honoree
Deborah Penta, Jill C. Dagilis, Jeannie Hebert, Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Lee Gaudette, Blackstone Valley Education Foundation, Employment Honorees
Deborah Penta, Jill C. Dagilis, and James Howard, Center of Hope, Employment Honoree
Jack Foley, WCAC Board Treasurer
Deborah Penta, Jill C. Dagilis, and Tony Shirley, Energy All Stars, Energy Honoree
Deborah Penta, Jill C. Dagilis, and William Breault, Main South Community Development Corporation Board Chair, Energy Honoree
Deborah Penta, Jill C. Dagilis, Bill Van Dam and Tony Simas, NSTAR, Energy Honorees
Deborah Penta, Jill C. Dagilis, and Richard Leahy, Webster Five Cents Savings Bank, Asset Development Honoree
Deborah Penta, Jill C. Dagilis, and Andy Lacombe, Charter TV 3, Capacity Building Honoree
Deborah Penta, Jill C. Dagilis, Ann Lisi, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Capacity Building Honoree
Deborah Penta, Jill C. Dagilis, and Jean Giguere, Smith & Jones, Capacity Building Honoree
Jill C, Dagilis, Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Patsy C. Lewis, and Nora M. Donoghue
Jill C, Dagilis, Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Patsy C. Lewis, and Nora M. Donoghue
Jill C, Dagilis, Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Patsy C. Lewis, and Nora M. Donoghue
Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy
Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy
Deborah Penta, WCAC Board Chairwoman and Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy with the Key to the City of Worcester
Deborah Penta, Board Chairwoman, Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy and WCAC Board Member Winnie Octave
Senator Harriette L. Chandler; Worcester City Mayor Joseph C. O’Brien; and Mrs. Victoria Reggie Kennedy
Kim Long, Paula Buonomo, Congressman McGovern’s Office, Mary Knittle, Quinsigamond Community College; and 45th Anniversary guest
WCAC’s Energy Team: Jeremiah Driscoll, Mark Sanborn, Calvin Bradshaw, and Jamison Graham
WCAC’s Vanessa Lopez, Sharon McCorn, Beverly Jones, Mark Sanborn, Krishonna Murray, and Janelle Correa
Brenda Sullivan, Worcester Public Schools; Dr. Melinda Boone, Superintendent, Worcester Public Schools; Doreen Samuels, Worcester Community Connections Coalition Parent Center
Doreen Samuels, Susan Obiero, WCAC Board Member, and Winifred Octave, Board Member
Jesse Dagilis, Jill C. Dagilis, Paul Dagilis, Kristin Dagilis, and Michael Dagilis
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