The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Pinnacle Residential Properties: looking out for our neighbors at home & worldwide

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SPONSORED POST: Vin Spoto, President of the Wellesley Rotary Chapter and the co-owner of Pinnacle Residential Properties, writes about the role of the Rotary Club in the Wellesley community, and worldwide.

The Wellesley chapter of Rotary International has been part of our community for over 74 years, yet most residents remain in the dark about the role of the organization, both locally and globally.

Elizabeth Seton Residence staff members with masks donated by the Wellesley Rotary Club.

The Wellesley Rotary Club is one of over 34,000 chapters worldwide. Like most individual chapters, it focuses mainly on helping to find solutions to local social, economic, or health problems that are impacting the lives of some of our residents. Funds come from local fundraising events, such as the popular Taste of Wellesley event, as well as from sponsorships and grants. There are lots examples of the many programs to which Wellesley Rotary contributes such as Mass Bay Community College’s Food Insecurity Program. Food Insecurity is the lack of resources for sufficient food and the impact of hunger. This a problem that affects up to 52% of the student population.

Other local programs include:

  • partnering with Boston Children’s Hospital to help adolescents with depression. This Wellesley initiative has been brought to several countries including Nigeria and India
  • helping Wellesley restaurants deal with the economic impact of COVID by purchasing 1,000 meals for delivery to first responders
  • supplying face shields to the town’s retailers and masks to MassBay, Elizabeth Seton Residence, and the Kids Backing Kids program, and contributing to Community Investors to help them run their sports programs for our local youth
  • providing over 400 tree samplings to our public-school children to plant in town each year
Pinnacle, Wellesley
A polio vaccine is administered to a boy.

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iCode, Wellesley
Wellesley Youth Hockey

Wellesley charity roundup: Students serving on Youth in Philanthropy board; firefighter gets Patriots’ notice; Kids Backing Kids makes holiday push

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Our roundup of the latest Wellesley news related to charitable organizations:

Students serving on Youth in Philanthropy board

The Foundation for MetroWest has announced that 32 students will represent MetroWest on its Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) Junior Board during this school year. Of these, seven represent Wellesley.

YIP has been offered by the Foundation for more than 20 years to middle and high school students across MetroWest. The student-run board functions like a nonprofit board and supports the work of the Foundation and the YIP program. Students take part in writing grants, volunteering, and visiting local organizations across MetroWest.

The Junior Board is also crowdfunding for the Foundation’s ONEmetrowest campaign, which celebrates 25 years of service to the MetroWest region.

Students representing Wellesley:

Alice Cook Wellesley
Alice Cook
Catherine Friendly
Catherine Friendly
Sawyer Helzberg_Wellesley
Sawyer Helzberg
Samantha Joseph
Samantha Joseph
Sydney Kanter
Sydney Kanter
Alexander Lo
Alexander Lo
Ben Workman
Ben Workman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighter gets Patriots’ notice for cancer awareness efforts

The New England Patriots Foundation has named Wellesley firefighter Joanie Cullinan as its Difference Maker of the Week for her commitment to 15-40 Connection., an organization focused on teaching people how to detect cancer early. The foundation will be making a $5K donation to the organization.

Cullinan less than two years ago was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma at the age of 37. But she recently returned to work after more than a year of cancer treatment, and has been tirelessly using her voice to raise awareness for occupational cancer. “I know early detection saves lives. It’s one of the reasons I’m alive,” she says.

Firefighters deliver homemade masks to schools

The Wellesley Fire Department recently delivered 2,500 homemade masks to Wellesley Public Schools to help keep kids safe while attending classes in person. The masks were sewn by members of the group, Sewing COVID-19 Help – Working Together, with supplies purchased from a Wellesley COVID-19 Relief Fund grant that was awarded to the Wellesley Fire Department.

The Sewing COVID-19 Help group was founded by former Wellesley resident Lynda Cowin-Nijensohn and includes more than 40 volunteers from Wellesley, Newton, Needham and other local communities.

WFD masks for kids
Wellesley Fire officials collect boxes of child-sized masks from Lauren McNamara, Wellesley resident and current coordinator of the group Sewing COVID-19 Help-Working Together. Pictured from left to right: Lauren McNamara with her niece Lily and nephew Liam, and WFD Lt. Michael Leach, Dep. Chief Jeff Peterson, Lt. Dana Gerrans, and Firefighter Alex DeLorie.

 

Kids Backing Kids launches holiday gift drive

Kids Backing Kids, the nonprofit spearheaded by three Wellesley sisters to supply children in need with school backpacks and more, is now aiming to brighten the holiday season for low-income families already strapped financially due to the pandemic.

The nonprofit is partnering with the local housing authority, health department, and schools for a Holiday Gift Drive addressing the needs of 75 Wellesley families.

If you agree to sponsor a family, Kids Backing Kids will give you a list of gifts the children have asked for (max 3 gifts per child, max $250 per family). You can buy the gifts yourself and arrange for them to be delivered to the nonprofit for wrapping, or Kids Backing Kids will pick them up at your home or business and make sure they get to the family. Financial donations are also accepted to help support the initiative.

kids backing kids logo

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Save the date: Wellesley Spelling Bee will be Nov. 12th

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The Wellesley Education Foundation will hold its yearly Spelling Bee as a virtual event on Thur., Nov. 12th. Just as in years past each team will include three spellers, but teammates will be brought together virtually for each of the rounds. All participants should plan to attend from their own home.

Detailed instructions will be provided in advance of the Bee.

The Wellesley Spelling Bee is a WEF community fundraising event which raises money to fund enrichment programs for the Wellesley Public Schools. Town celebrities judge and officiate the competition. The Wellesley cable station records the event and broadcasts it several times. A program is printed for the Spelling Bee, and The Swellesley Report is always on hand to cover the event.

Last year a jubilant Upham PTO team practically danced off the stage after winning the Bee just three words into the final round. The winning word: “Jarabe,” referring to a Mexican dance.

upham 2019 spelling bee winner
Upham PTO for the win: Rebecca Delgado, Lisa Boccabella and Nisha Patel, and fans
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Enter Wellesley Gardeners’ Guild raffle for chance to make your holidays sparkle

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Wellesley Gardeners’ Guild members will offer raffle tickets for its annual  “Deck the Halls” fundraiser to raise money to replace the well-worn flower boxes at the Post Offices, in addition to the club’s other civic projects in town.

Wellesley Gardeners' Guild
Wellesley Gardeners’ Guild 2019 Grand Prizewinner was Collette AuFranc of Wellesley. Colette had the exterior of her home decorated for the holidays by Nature Works Landscaping. Photo by Beth Shedd Photography.

There will be three raffle winners. The grand prize winner will have the exterior of their home decorated for the holidays (a $2,500 value); the next winner will receive two outdoor holiday planters for the home entrance (a $600 value); the next prize is a custom-made table centerpiece (a $150 value).

The details

WGG members will sell raffle tickets for $20 through November 8th.

A maximum of 300 raffle tickets will be available for sale.

The raffle drawing will be held on November 10, 2020.

For more information about WGG or to make a tax-deductible donation, write to Wellesley Gardeners’ Guild at P.O. Box 812032, Wellesley, MA 02482.

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Wellesley Turkey Trot registration opens: Virtual race dedicated to Carol Chaoui

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Registration is now open for the Wellesley Turkey Trot, which will be a virtual event in light of COVID-19 restrictions. The race, which has been held under its current name since 2014, traditionally takes place early on Thanksgiving Day, but this year runners will have the flexibility to run or walk a 5K course of their choosing anytime between Nov. 21-29.

Kate Maul and the team behind the race are dedicating this year’s trot to race founder Carol Chaoui, the inspirational runner and Wellesley resident who passed away in August. Chaoui, who lived with multiple forms of cancer for years, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical research and other good causes through the Wellesley Turkey Trot Foundation and other fundraisers.

“We’re hoping to really make it a community event even though it will be ‘a virtual’ race this year,” Maul says. “We are asking our runners to honor Carol’s memory by wearing pink or orange,  her favorite colors, and/or super hero gear.”

Chaoui earned the nickname Wonder Woman for her endlessly amazing accomplishments. Running and walking mates became known as her Super Hero Friends.

broe turkey chaoui wellesley turkey trot
Carol Chaoui helping former Wellesley High running coach Tim Broe with his turkey costume. (Photo by Karen Griswold)

 

Participants are encouraged to share photos of themselves in their running attire on the Wellesley Turkey Trot Facebook page.

Runners will receive bibs and shirts as usual. The race logo has been updated with C.C. as well as a ribbon.

While runners can choose a 5K course of their own, race organizers strongly encourage participants to avoid the traditional Wellesley Turkey Trot course since it includes a mile through the Wellesley College campus, which is closed to the public during the pandemic.

Traditional age category prizes won’t be awarded, but plenty of other prizes will be doled out for categories such as largest family team and fastest team.

Register now.

wellesley turkey trot 2019

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Wellesley Food Pantry moving back to Hills church, sets new hours

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Wellesley Food Pantry is moving back to its original home at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church as of Monday, Oct. 5.

wellesley food pantry

The pantry’s new hours for collecting curbside donations are Mondays from 2-3 p.m, and for its walk-in clients are Tuesdays from 2:30–4:30pm.

Wellesley Food Pantry spent the summer at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills, which the pantry thanks for its flexibility and generosity.

Its usual home at the Hills church underwent renovations. These included removing the rear wall to make the shopping area larger, adding a sprinkler system, and removal of the radiators allowing for more usable space along the walls.

Curbside donations and walk-in client entry will still occur at the west entrance, while client curbside pickups will be made from the north entrance.

For more information please visit the pantry website or call us at 781.235.1188.

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Elizabeth Seton Residence online auction this week

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The Elizabeth Seton Residence of Wellesley Hills celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. And while it would like to be hosting its annual Meet the Need dinner fundraiser, this time around it will host an online auction through this Friday, Oct. 2.

Inspired by what’s been a challenging and heartbreaking year, staff members at the skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility performed and produced a music video that gives a glimpse into what things have been like for them and residents. It also serves as a way to thank so many who have contributed to the facility via meals, protective gear, and more.

The town has declared Oct. 2 as Elizabeth Seton Residence Day in honor of its 40th anniversary.

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