More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
The Foundation for MetroWest’s Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program, which provides middle and high school students with educational and philanthropic opportunities, has a few more spots open for its YIP program.
YIP is a semester-long extracurricular program designed for students interested in learning more about nonprofit organizations and the needs that exist in their own community (no fees or tuition to participate). YIP students research local organizations and award $10,000 in grants.
Wellesley’s Clara Arlotto, who serves as team captain for the Boston Marathon’s medical records volunteer team, reached out to recruit help at the finish line of the 2022 race on April 18.
“These are non-clinical positions assisting runners by filling out medical forms and providing comfort (encouraging words, Gatorade, potato chips),” Arlotto says. “There are doctors and nurses who will do the heavy lifting and provide medical care.”
Registration starts on Jan. 5, and if you’re interested, you can contact Arlotto at bosmarathonmedrecs@gmail.com. COVID-19 protocols will be followed, and all volunteers need to be fully vaccinated.
Arlotto initially got involved in 2013 while working in the IT department at BIDMC—a colleague led the team at that time. While being there the year of the marathon bombing was devastating, Arlotto has returned all but one year since to help the Boston Athletic Association carry on its traditional event.
The medical records team is one small group out of a large cast of volunteers at the finish line. There are 80 slots on the medical records team, and Arlotto expects over half to be filled by returning volunteers.
People check in at 7:30am and leave around 4-5pm. Lunch is provided. Volunteers receive a commemorative jacket (different than the runners’) Adidas Marathon running jacket specifically for volunteers (colors are different from the runners’ jackets).
“People volunteer to be close to the action, to support loved ones who are running, because they are runners themselves (some have run Boston in the past but not me), for the camaraderie,” Arlotto says. “The energy in the tents is fantastic – upbeat and excited for every runner testing their limits.”
The Wellesley Fire Department, family, friends, the Council on Aging Board, and Select Board members joined forces this week to deliver more than 200 Thanksgiving meals to local senior citizens.
“We hope to be back in person next year [to serve meals], but in the meantime not even COVID can stop us from keeping this tradition alive,” says firefighter Joanie Cullinan, who calls the effort one of the department’s favorite events of the year.
The dinner tradition was started in 1966 by the Veterans Council and taken over by Fire Department years later.
Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com
The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club (WHJWC) is accepting scholarship applications for 2022-2023 through March 1, 2022.
In 2021, the Club awarded $62,000 in scholarships and awards to 23 Wellesley students. Scholarships were given to graduating high school seniors and undergraduate college students in amounts ranging from $500 - $4,000.
Applications are evaluated based on demonstrated financial need, academic achievement, and involvement in community service. Applicants must be high school seniors graduating from Wellesley High School, Wellesley residents graduating from high school in or outside of Wellesley, or Wellesley residents currently attending undergraduate institutions on a full-time basis.
Scholarship applications must be submitted by March 1, 2022.
• The Brenda Capobianco Scholarship, on behalf of Dr. Brenda Capobianco, a WHS graduate, WHJWC scholarship recipient, science teacher educator, and researcher in STEM education, recognizes a female college-bound high school senior based on financial need, demonstrated academic achievement, and an expressed interest in pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
• The Patricia C. Doiron Memorial Scholarship recognizes a graduating high school senior who has shown a commitment to early childhood education through participation in the Child Lab program at Wellesley High School, established in memory of Mrs. Doiron, a former Club member.
• The Suzanne Stevens Scholarship recognizes a high school senior (or current college student) who has demonstrated academic strength and a commitment to community service despite adversity or hardship, named in honor of Mrs. Stevens, a former Club president.
The Club is accepting applications for grants through February 1, 2022. In the last six years, WHJWC has given away almost half a million dollars. In 2019, the club awarded more than $100,000 in grants including grants celebrating the club’s 75th Anniversary to local Capital Campaigns. These grants were given to 36 non-profits among Wellesley and Metrowest organizations. In 2020 and 2021, the club focused charitable contributions to meet the immediate needs of our most vulnerable
populations during the coronavirus pandemic.
The club donates to a variety of educational, youth, elderly, civic and community programs. Particular emphasis is placed on those programs that have a significant impact on the Wellesley community. In recent years, the club restructured the grants process, aiming to make a greater community impact through fully funding concrete programs. The club will continue this
approach for 2022.
Application forms can be downloaded online at www.whjwc.org. Completed applications, as well as any questions, should be sent by e-mail to the attention of Erica Gelser at whjwcgrants@gmail.com. If email is not possible mailed, mail applications to WHJWC Grants, PO Box 81194, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-0002. Applications must be received or postmarked by February 1, 2022.
Thanks to the Rotary Club of Wellesley for sponsoring The Swellesley Report’s Restaurants page.
The Club’s “Dinner on Us” fundraiser is aiming to raise $40,000 to help fight food insecurity. Food insecurity exists right here among those who live, work, and go to school in Wellesley. Rotary members want those in need to know that there are resources to help them and their families through these difficult times.
2,000 “Dinner on Us” tickets are available at $20 apiece—every entry bought helps end food insecurity in Wellesley. Get your ticket here.
The Rotary Club of Wellesley members have not withdrawn during this pandemic and continue to seek creative ways to raise money with or without gathering in-person.
First, you will be supporting three Rotary projects to end food insecurity in Wellesley. The Village Table feeds community members, the Mass Bay CC project feeds students facing food insecurity, and every year Rotary serves meals to veterans at the New England Center for Veterans.
Second, there is a lot to win. Just think, if you win first or second prize, you could eat at a different Wellesley restaurant every week for more than half a year. If that seems extravagant, it’s because, well, it is.
Absurd Grand Prize – $3,000—Winner takes all $100 gift cards to 30 Wellesley restaurants
Ridiculous Second Prize – $1,500—Winner takes all the $50 gift cards to 30 Wellesley restaurants
The Wellesley Historical Society held its second Craft Beer Experience fundraising event at the Wellesley Country Club’s Sunset Terrace, where representatives from local breweries (and one distillery) poured out pilsners, ales, IPAs and more on a beautiful evening. Appetizers were passed around, the fire pit was going, and the sun, as advertised, did indeed set beyond the terrace.
Historical Society Board of Directors President Jared Parker took advantage of the opportunity to thank the crowd for their support, and to celebrate the recently realized goal of paying off the Stanwood House mortgage. The 5,000 sq. ft. Washington Street property, acquired in 2012 for $1M, will one day house the WHS’s collections and offices. Significant renovations have already been completed, such as accessible bathrooms and ramps, but additional fundraising is ahead to further bring the 1916 building up to code.
Here are some pics of the event. Cheers.
Wellesley sisters Rachel and Adriana Voci are bringing their Mobile Library to the Barton Road Community Center at 109 Barton Road on Tuesday, August 17, 4pm-6pm. Funded with a grant from the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, the Mobile Library will provide free books and personalized reading to kids. Everyone is welcome to stop by for free books, school supplies, pizza, and drinks.
Rachel Voci, a rising sophomore at WHS, and Adriana, a WHS grad and University of Massachusetts Honors student, frequently set up shop at Waltham parks.
“The goal of the Mobile Library is to provide underserved children with brand-new books that they can keep and read as often as they like. Our library primarily serves children in Waltham, as it is a large city with only one library. We set up our mobile library in the Waltham public parks, to be more accessible to families without a car. We want to ensure that underserved children have quality reading materials to encourage learning during the summer months,” Rachel said.
“One of the things I love most is seeing families eagerly waiting for us to set up so that the children can happily choose their next book,” she continued.
During the school year, the Mobile Library offers free tutoring to middle and elementary students in English and writing.
Wellesley Dental Group will host an American Red Cross community blood drive on Thursday, August 19, 9am-2pm at the Wellesley Community Center at 219 Washington St.
Register online or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Please bring picture identification, and remember to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids before donating.
If you have questions, contact Wellesley Dental Group by phone at 781-237-9071 or by email at smile@wellesleydentalgroup.com
After over a year of getting creative with its fundraising efforts due to the pandemic, The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club (WHJWC) is bringing back its in-person, community-based events to keep moving forward with its mission of raising money for as many area charitable organizations and scholarships for Wellesley students as possible.
First up: The Wonder Run will be held on October 2, 2021 as part of Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend.
Also planned: The Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour is scheduled for May 7, 2022.
Wait till next year: As we reported earlier this month, Wellesley Marketplace, traditionally held in November, will not take place in 2021. “Many, many factors played a role in our decision to postpone Marketplace for another year, the biggest one being time,” WHJWC incoming president Lindsey Crowley said. “Marketplace planning typically begins in February, reviewing and soliciting vendor applications. This past February, we decided against starting to plan for 2021 based on COVID-19 conditions and predictions which was the right decision at the time.
“However, since we are now nearly five months behind in planning we just don’t think this large-scale event is feasible to execute this year. We also polled our recent vendors, and the results painted a picture that was uncertain and hesitant to commit, therefore we couldn’t guarantee we would have enough vendors to even fill the venue. But mark my words, Marketplace will be back and better than ever for 2022.”
Although WHWJC last year canceled all three of its major fundraisers, with ingenuity and creativity the membership pivoted. Club members produced a community cookbook entitled Wellesley at Home and brought back Luminary Night. Both events helped fulfill the Juniors’ annual fundraising mission and fostered community connection.
Despite the many challenges COVID presented, the club still distributed $64,000 in scholarships and awarded $63,970 in grants in the 2020-2021 season. “In this unprecedented year, it is truly amazing that we were able to uphold our regular charitable giving levels,” said outgoing WHJWC president, Steph Flynn.
WHJWC also stayed virtually connected to its direct service partners. The Club gave over one hundred $100 Roche Brothers gift cards to Wellesley Friendly Aid for Thanksgiving, and upheld the annual Holiday Toy drive. The Kids on the Block team produced a high-quality video to ensure key messages of self-esteem, friendship and inclusion could be delivered to Wellesley kindergartners. And WHJWC provided snacks and messages of support to Elizabeth Seton Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation residents, planted pots to beautify the new ABC House, and completed several drives to benefit the Wellesley Food Pantry.
