The Swellesley Report

Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Rotary Club of Wellesley seeks volunteers to help at “Farmer’s Market”

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The Rotary Club of Wellesley is seeking community volunteers to help with food distributions sites during summer 2025. The Club will host a “Farmers Market” featuring fresh vegetables, fruits, and bread on eight Monday nights, beginning July 7, 6pm-8pm, for residents at Barton Road.

You can volunteer for one Monday or multiple Mondays to help host the Farmer’s Market, or to bag groceries in the Community Room at Barton Road, then deliver those bags to seniors living at 50-60 Grove St.

Please contact Andrea Kaiser at ccstpg@verizon.net

Wellesley Rotary Club, trees for Arbor Day
Wellesley Rotary Club volunteers

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Community news: Wellesley Girl Scout sells 500-plus cookie boxes; Metrowest Women’s Fund ambassador named

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The latest Wellesley, Mass., community news:
 

Wellesley Girl Scout sells 500-plus cookie boxes

Wellesley Girl Scout Reagan Der, of Troop 63316, has earned special recognition for selling more than 500 packages of cookies. A portion of the cookies were donated to Needham’s Good Shepherd Hospice, specifically the pediatrics palliative care program that Der’s younger brother Wyatt had been a part of .

According to the scout, the cookie program offered entrepreneurial and other skills. The cookie sales helped earn the troop funds to use for an end-of-year special event.

Just over 500 Girl Scouts sold over 500 packages of cookies in 2024-25.

More information on Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts.

cookies
Reagan Der, center, surrounded by the Good Shepherd Hospice team in Needham

 

Metrowest Women’s Fund ambassador named

 
The Metrowest Women’s Fund, which focuses on the needs of women and girls in the area, has named Wellesley’s Christina Pavlina as a community ambassador.

The fund accepts grant applications annually for programs serving women and girls from low incomes. These range from programs focused on health, education, legal assistance, activities, and more.

Christina Pavlina
Christina Pavlina

 

 
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School news: Wellesley High grad earns high honor at Stanford; WHS seniors collect home goods for those in need

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The latest Wellesley, Mass., school news:

Wellesley High grad earns high honor at Stanford

2015 Wellesley High School and Northeastern University graduate Ian McRae last week was awarded the highest academic achievement award at Stanford University.

McRae, only the second-ever MBA graduate to post a 6.0 grade point average, received the Henry Ford ll Scholar Award. The recognition, which includes a cash reward, is given to the MBA student with the highest academic achievement in the class.

According to his family, who contacted Wellesley High’s principal about this news, the support and education he received at WHS has played a major role in his higher education success. McRae left his mark during high school in part by coaching, mentoring and tutoring.

 

WHS seniors collect home goods for those in need

A Wellesley High School senior project has resulted in the largest single donation of used home goods that the Welcome Home organization has received in its eight years of operation. According to the organization, over the course of an hour, car after car pulled up filled with high quality, mostly used goods for those in need. A Welcome Home volunteer team then sorted and shelved the items at the Newton pantry.

Co-founder and Executive Director Julie Plaut Mahoney said the students made a connection with the organization through one of Welcome Home’s volunteers. “They delivered everything we needed, from blankets and sheets to sliverware, mugs, pots, and pans,” she said. “Not only were these our most needed items, but they were also really good quality. Good quality items show dignity to our clients.”

What’s more, the students were “high spirited, helpful, and energetic” in delivering the goods, she said.

Welcome Home has a waiting list that is months long, so these items will go a long way toward addressing people’s needs.

Photo by Sheryl Kalis

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Wellesley residents honored for volunteer & community contributions

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The latest Wellesley, Mass.-related charity & fundraising news:
 

Kristin Der named a Myra Kraft Community MVP

 

The Kraft Family and New England Patriots Foundation earlier this month celebrated the 2025 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award Winners. These 26 volunteers were recognized for their contributions to the New England community at an awards ceremony at Gillette Stadium. In total, $275,000 in donations were distributed to the nonprofits represented by each volunteer. Twenty-five organizations each received $10,000 and THE BASE received this year’s grand prize of $25,000.

Kristin Der of Wellesley was honored for work with AllPaths Family Building in Concord, Mass.

kraft awards
2025 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award winners, with executives (Photo courtesy of Eric J. Adler/New England Patriots)

 

Carol and Jack O’Neil named Community Foundation for MetroWest honorees

 

The Community Foundation for MetroWest last month presented its 11th Annual Spring Inspiration Breakfast at the Wellesley Country Club. It brought together donors, philanthropic leaders, and community members to explore the diverse paths to impactful giving.

The non-profit recognized Wellesley’s Carol and Jack O’Neil as this year’s Community Philanthropist Honorees. Longtime supporters of the Foundation, the O’Neils have played a pivotal role in strengthening nonprofit initiatives across MetroWest and beyond in areas from housing to food insecurity to healthcare. Jack is a former chairman of the Foundation’s board.

Carol and Jack O’Neil (courtesy photo)

 
Community Fund for MetroWest breakfast (courtesy photo)
Community Fund for MetroWest breakfast (courtesy photo)

 

Now, thanks to The Swellesley Report’s partnership with Tiny News Collective, you can make tax deductible contributions to support our efforts to bring you the news.

 

Catholic Charities Boston honors Kevin Phelan with Kaneb Justice and Compassion Award

 

Wellesley was well-represented at Catholic Charities Boston’s annual Spring Celebration Gala on May 28 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza, which drew about 450 guests and raised over $1.5 million in support of vulnerable clients across Massachusetts. Wellesley’s Kevin Phelan, co-chairman of Colliers Boston, was honored at the event hosted by Catholic Charities Boston, which is led by another Wellesley resident, Kelley Tuthill, president and CEO of Catholic Charities Boston. Spotted in the crowd was the Nilles family of Wellesley and the event was emceed by Paula Ebben, morning anchor for WBZ-TV and CBS News Boston, who raised her family in Wellesley.

Phelan was presented the John and Virginia Kaneb Justice and Compassion Award, which is Catholic Charities’ highest honor recognizing individuals who exemplify the Agency’s core values of social justice and serving others with compassion, respect, and dignity. The annual Spring Gala raises essential funds to support the thousands of individuals and families who rely on Catholic Charities’ 70-plus programs for services and stability.

The event was emceed by Morning Anchor for WBZ-TV and CBS News Boston Paula Ebben and Pastor of Saint Cecilia Father John Unni. Guests included Archbishop of Boston Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., who opened the evening with an invocation, Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, Peter Lynch, as well as Monsignor Bryan Hehir and former U.S. Vatican Ambassador and Boston Mayor Ray Flynn.

Catholic Charities Boston
Kevin Phelan, center, with his daughters, from left to right, Alicia Erickson, Lauren Lipscomb & Carrie Leto, and three of his grandchildren, Ryan, Brendan & Riley.

 

Kelley Tuthill, President and CEO of Catholic Charities Boston; Archbishop of Boston Richard G. Henning, Kevin Phelan, co-chair of Colliers Boston, and Mark Kerwin, Catholic Charities Board Chair.
Kelley Tuthill, President and CEO of Catholic Charities Boston; Archbishop of Boston Richard G. Henning, Kevin Phelan, co-chair of Colliers Boston, and Mark Kerwin, Catholic Charities Board Chair.

 
Paula Ebben, morning anchor for WBZ-TV and CBS News Boston, Will Ebben, Kathleen Nilles, Michael Nilles, John Nilles, Ellen Fantozzi, Megan Nilles, Shannon Tabor and Bill Ebben.
Paula Ebben, Will Ebben, Kathleen Nilles, Michael Nilles, John Nilles, Ellen Fantozzi, Megan Nilles, Shannon Tabor and Bill Ebben.

 

 

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National Charity League to run summer food drives for Wellesley Food Pantry

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From the Wellesley Food Pantry

The National Charity League (NCL) is hosting several food drives to benefit the Pantry, in conjunction with Roche Bros., Wellesley over the summer:

  • Saturday, June 14
  • Saturday, July 19
  • Saturday, August 23

NCL food drives are generally from 9am-3pm. Purchase any wish list items and drop them off with the NCL volunteers on your way out.

Wellesley Food Pantry

You can also make a cash donation by using this link or by mailing a check payable to the Wellesley Food Pantry to Wellesley Food Pantry, 207 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02481. The Pantry is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and donations/contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Tax ID number is 45-0941804.

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Wellesley Rotary Club fundraiser draws hundreds with local cuisine

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David Wade and Shannon Kelly were coChairs
raise close to $ 60 net

Over a dozen local restaurants brought their guaranteed crowd-pleaser dishes, 300 guests showed up hungry, and everyone has the Rotary Club of Wellesley to thank for this annual spring fundraiser.

Who doesn’t love dressing up and hitting the Wellesley Country Club for an evening of food, dancing, and schmoozing? David Wade, co-anchor of WBZ-TV news, brought some stardust to the event, and spoke about the real need many of our neighbors have for help with groceries—even in the leafy-green suburbs. Village Table Wellesley director Shannon Kelley also attended. Kelley, along with an army of volunteers, runs a food program created during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to the many who became food insecure during that time. Since then, the need has only increased.

Co-chairs David Wade and Shannon Kelley. Wade, co-anchor of WBZ-TV, spoke to the crowd in support of Taste of Wellesley. Kelly, director of Wellesley Village Table (hosted by Village Church), works with Rotary to help both organizations further their work in addressing food insecurity.

The hottest spots in town donated their guaranteed crowd-pleasers, served up with aplomb—filet mignon from Smith & Wollensky; oysters on the half shell from Captain Marden’s; crab cakes from black & blue Steak and Crab; sweet treats from Le Petit Four, and ice cream from Truly’s. Other local community-minded foodie businesses who participated included  Alta Strada, Bocado, Caffe Nero, Captain Marden’s, Dryft, Fiorellas, Juniper, Katara, Lockheart, Papa Razzi, Pho Station, and Roche Bros.

Taste of Wellesley 2025 wellesley country club

Taste of Wellesley 2025 wellesley country club

The event netted over $60k, which will provide thousands of meals for low-income residents, and direct support to students of MassBay Community College, and organizations that support homeless veterans.

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