Previous Difference Makers
Honorees since the first class of 2009
2018:
• Bob Bolduc, CEO of Pride Stores
• Bob “The Bike Man” Charland, Founder of Pedal Thru Youth
• Girls Inc. of Holyoke
• Evan Plotkin, President of NAI Plotkin
• Crystal Senter-Brown, Author & Adjunct Faculty at Bay Path University
• WillPower Foundation
2017:
• The Community Colleges of Western Massachusetts; Berkshire Community College, Greenfield Community College, Holyoke Community College, Springfield Technical Community College
• Friends of the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round
• Denis Gagnon Sr., President & CEO of Excel Dryer Inc.
• Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts
• Joan Kagan, President & CEO of Square One.
2016:
• Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr.
• Mike Balise, Balise Motor Sales, Philanthropist (1965-2015)
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties
• Bay Path University President Carol Leary
• John Robison, president, J.E. Robison Service
2015:
• Katelynn’s Ride
• Judy Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield
• MassMutual Financial Group
• The ownership group of the Student Prince and the Fort
• Valley Venture Mentors
2014:
• The Gray House
• Colleen Loveless, executive director of the Springfield chapter of Rebuilding Together
• The Melha Shriners
• Paula Moore, founder of YSET Academy and a teacher at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Training Academy
• Michael Moriarty, attorney, director of Olde Holyoke Development Corp., and supporter of childhood literacy programs
2013:
• Michael Cutone, John Barbieri, and Thomas Sarrouf, organizers of Springfield’s C3 Policing program
• John Downing, president of Soldier On
• Bruce Landon, president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons
• The Sisters of Providence
• Jim Vinick, managing director of Investments for Moors & Cabot Inc.
2012:
• Charlie and Donald D’Amour, president/COO and chairman/CEO of Big Y Foods
• William Messner, president of Holyoke Community College
• Majors Tom and Linda-Jo Perks, officers of the Springfield Corps of the Salvation Army
• Bob Schwarz, executive vice president of Peter Pan Bus Lines
• The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts
2011:
• Tim Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
• Lucia Giuggio Carvalho, founder of Rays of Hope
• Don Kozera, president of Human Resources Unlimited
• Robert Perry, retired partner/consultant at Meyers Brothers Kalicka
• Anthony Scott, Holyoke police chief
2010:
• The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation
• Ellen Freyman, attorney and shareholder at Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.
• James Goodwin, president and CEO of the Center for Human Development
• Carol Katz, CEO of the Loomis Communities
• UMass Amherst and its chancellor, Robert Holub
2009:
• Doug Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank
• Kate Kane, managing director of the Springfield office of Northwestern Mutual Financial/the Zuzolo Group
• Susan Jaye-Kaplan, founder of GoFIT and co-founder of Link to Libraries
• William Ward, executive director of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County
• The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield