Nominations are open for the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Super 60 event. This year, Super 60 is expanded with newly configured categories.
Super 60 seeks to recognize and celebrate businesses that have achieved success and made contributions to the region, as well as nonprofit organizations that have displayed selfless dedication to serving the community through exceptional programming and support.
The Super 60 2023 categories are:
— Revenue Award: Recognizing companies for total revenue in the latest fiscal year
— Growth Award: Recognizing companies for revenue growth over a consecutive three-year period
— Start-Up Award: Recognizing companies that have been in business for five years or less and have achieved revenue growth over a full three-year period
— Non-Profit Award: Recognizing non-profit organizations based on the percentage of their total spending dedicated to programs
— Give Back Award: Recognizing companies that give back to the community, emphasizing the impact of their charitable work and employee engagement in their efforts
Interested businesses and non-profits can submit their nominations until Sept. 8, and the Super 60 luncheon will take place on Nov. 9 at the MassMutual Center.
The Super 60 luncheon attracts more than 500 business leaders each year. Super 60 sponsorships are now available. For information, call 413-755-1309 or email Diana Szynal, president of the Springfield Regional Chamber, at szynal@springfieldregionalchamber.com.
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Monson Savings Bank President and CEO Dan Moriarty recently met with the Scantic Valley YMCA Branch Executive Director Debbie Kelder and YMCA of Greater Springfield President and CEO Dexter Johnson to present them with a $1,000 donation.
This $1,000 donation was made because of the Scantic Valley YMCA Branch placing in the top 10 vote recipients for the Monson Savings Bank 2023 Community Giving Initiative. Community members voted for their favorite charitable organizations and chose the Scantic Valley YMCA to be a recipient of the donation.
The Scantic Valley YMCA is part of YMCA of Greater Springfield and is located at 45 Post Office Park in Wilbraham. To learn more about the Scantic Valley YMCA or to become a member visit: http://www.springfieldy.org/family-centers/scantic-valley-y-family-center/
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The Dowd Insurance Agencies LLC has donated a total of $3,250 to five charities since the beginning of the year as it celebrates its 125th anniversary.
Charities were determined by polling employees. So far in 2023, Dowd has donated to the:
— Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for children diagnosed with critical illnesses.
— Community Music School of Springfield, which provides arts education to local students.
— Therapeutic Equestrian Center, in Holyoke, which provides horseback riding to children and adults with disabilities.
Shriners Children’s, which provides critical medical care to children.
— Homework House, Inc., in Holyoke, which provides free tutoring and mentoring for children living in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The Dowd agencies will continue to donate to charities selected by its employees throughout the remainder of the year.
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Beauty Batlles Lounge, offering beauty and wellness services, will hold a grand opening event at their new location in Chicopee on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 6 p.m. at 46 Cabot St.
This lounge will includeds new equipment allowing Beauty Batlles to offer cryo facial, cryo body sculpt, cryo skin and cryo hair rejuvenation. Cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy, exposes the body to cold temperatures.
If interested, or have questions regarding the fundraiser, contact Meghan Rothschild at (413) 218-4994 or meghan@chikmedia.us.
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The African Hall Committee of the Springfield Museums announces the recipients of the Ubora Award and Ahadi Youth Award which will be presented at a special ceremony at the Museums on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m.
Lisa J. Green, Ph.D., a distinguished professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is this year’s Ubora Award recipient, and Catherine Thompson, a 2023 graduate of Springfield Central High School who is headed to Johns Hopkins University, was chosen for the Ahadi Youth Award.
Named for the Swahili word meaning “excellence,” the Ubora Award has been awarded annually since 1992 to an African American adult who has demonstrated a commitment to Greater Springfield and has exhibited excellence in the fields of community service, education, science, humanities or the arts.
Green, this year’s Ubora honoree, is an expert in syntax and African American English (AAE). She founded the Center for the Study of African American Language at UMass in 2006 and has directed it ever since. She is also the author of two books and is working on a third, all published by Cambridge University Press.
She is an active volunteer and mentor with the Greater Springfield Chapter of Links, Inc.; the Western Massachusetts Chapter of Jack and Jill of America; and the Xi Xi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. And, since 1996, she has been running a children’s summer reading program that she started at a church in her hometown of Lake Arthur, Louisiana.
The Ahadi Youth Award has been given since 2009 to an African American student (age 19 or younger) who embodies the Swahili word for “promise” and excels both in academics and service to the Greater Springfield community.
An outstanding student who graduated sixth in her class, Catherine is also passionate about community service, especially with regard to social justice. Aat the Pioneer Valley Project, she worked on getting teens to pre-register to vote; as a Teen Advocacy Board Member for Girls Inc. of the Valley, she attempted to increase awareness of racial justice, mental health, equal rights, and sexual/domestic violence issues.
She was actively involved in myriad clubs and organizations throughout high school, including the Key Club; the National Honor Society; student government, and the varsity tennis and soccer teams.
The African Hall Committee of the Springfield Museums is a volunteer group comprising educators, businesspeople, and leaders from the Black community.
Sponsored by Baystate Health and the Urban League of Springfield, the 2023 Ubora and Ahadi Awards Ceremony is open to the public; click here for tickets ($20 per person, $15 for children under 12), or to make a donation to the Ahadi Scholarship Fund.
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United Way of Pioneer Valley is working with multiple non-profit agencies to compile a list of volunteer opportunities throughout Hampden County for this year’s Day of Caring. The Day of Caring will take place all day Friday, Sept. 22.
Projects typically include tasks such as mulching, painting, organizing, and gardening at non-profit locations in Springfield, Holyoke, Westfield, Ludlow, Chicopee, and Russell, among other locations. Some projects may require basic carpentry skills.
For more information, contact Jennifer Kinsman at 413-693-0212 or jkinsman@uwpv.org Any non-profits seeking volunteers for projects that day may also reach out.