Day: November 8, 2019

SPRINGFIELD — NeighborWorks America, through its affiliate Way Finders, has awarded Congressman John W. Olver Scholarships to two individuals — Melissa Fales, program manager for Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp., and Kerry Homstead, community facilitator for the Treehouse Foundation — to attend the NeighborWorks America Training Institute (NTI).

The scholarships provide travel, lodging, and tuition to a catalogue of more than 100 topic- and skill-focused courses. NTI creates an opportunity to network with other community-development organizations from across the country to share ideas and learn best practices in their field. Two scholarships are awarded annually to NTI attendees.

The Congressman John W. Olver Scholarship recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that demonstrate leadership, dedication, and commitment in the housing and community-development field in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties.

Olver retired in 2012 after more than 40 years in public service, including 20 years serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. While in office, he not only provided strong support for NeighborWorks America, but also increased funding for housing vouchers, community block grants, and other affordable-housing programs. He was instrumental in the establishment of the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling Program, which assisted more than 1.5 million distressed homeowners through May 2013.

SPRINGFIELD — On Monday, Nov. 11, American International College (AIC) will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony dedicated to honoring and supporting those men and women who have served their country.

The ceremony will be held in the Schwartz Campus Center auditorium beginning at 11 a.m. The multi-generational Alumni Veterans Committee sponsors this annual event, which includes alumni spanning more than 50 years. The public is invited to attend.

This year, the college will also remember a founding member of the Veterans Committee, Henry Benjamin, who died late last month. In addition to being a two-time alumnus (1950 and 1962) and founding member of the Veterans Committee on campus, Benjamin was a professor at AIC for 50 years. A tribute to his lifetime of devotion to the institution as a student, alumnus, and veteran will be part of this year’s remembrance.

The ceremony includes the presentation of colors by the U.S. Marine Corps, the display and historical significance of the POW/MIA Missing Man table by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, and keynote speaker Brig. Gen. Sean Collins.

Collins assists the deputy surgeon general in the overall operation of the Air Force Medical Service, composed of a $6.1 billion, 44,000-person integrated healthcare delivery system across the U.S. and overseas. Key areas of his responsibilities include clinical operations, aeromedical evacuation, global force management, readiness, strategic medical plans, programs and budget, medical force management, and medical information systems management. He facilitates Air Force Medical Service operations through major commands, joint service agencies, the assistant secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), the Defense Health Agency, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Collins began his career at the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, where he was commissioned in the nurse corps. He earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in philosophy from UMass Medical School in Worcester.

In keeping with tradition, freshman English students are asked to write a patriotic essay. The committee selects standout works, and the top three winners are announced at the event, with the first-place essay read by the student. 

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) was awarded an ‘A’ grade in the fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing HMC’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safe healthcare.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization driven by employers and other purchasers of healthcare committed to improving healthcare quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A,’ ‘B,’ ‘C,’ ‘D,’ or ‘F’ grade to all general hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harms to patients in their care. 

“Being recognized again with an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group is a testament to the hard work and dedication practiced by each one of our team members every day. We give thanks to them and express our sincere gratitude for the commitment they provide to every patient who chooses Holyoke Medical Center for their care,” said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems Inc.

Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.
Hospitals that receive ‘A’ grades “show us their leadership is protecting patients from preventable medical harm and error,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of the Leapfrog Group. “It takes genuine commitment at every level — from clinicians to administrators to the board of directors — and we congratulate the teams who have worked so hard to earn this ‘A.’”

HOLYOKE — In its inaugural year in Western Mass., the Real Men Wear Pink campaign raised more than $21,000 to support the American Cancer Society’s efforts to save lives from breast cancer. During October, 20 area leaders raised funds and encouraged community members to take action in the fight to end breast cancer.

The community is invited to attend a free celebration and networking event to recognize the efforts of these dedicated individuals on Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Nadim’s in Springfield. No tickets are needed to attend, but donations are welcome. Guests of the event will be treated to appetizers and music by Aaron Fay of Maxxtone. A cash bar will also be available.

“We are grateful for all our Real Men Wear Pink participants for lending their voices to our cause,” said Jill Monson of the American Cancer Society. “Not only did they wear pink, but they raised awareness about breast cancer and made a huge commitment to raise funds to help save more lives. Those donations help us save lives from breast cancer through early detection and prevention, innovative breast-cancer research, and patient support.”

Congratulations to the 2019 Real Men Wear Pink of Western Mass. candidates: American International College baseball team; American International College hockey team; Nadim Kashouh, Nadim’s Mediterranean Restaurant & Grill; Jay Seyler, PeoplesBank; Aaron Fay, Maxxtone and the Still Bar; Justin Roberts, MassLive Media; Alfonso Santaniello, the Creative Strategy Agency; Robert Roy, RMG Wealth Management Group; Dave Smith, H.L. Dempsey Co.; Joel Cox, town of Manchester; Drew Hastings, 94.7 WMAS; the Brew Crew, co-ed softball team; Westfield State University Police Department; Van Johnson, Raipher, P.C.; Phil Sheridan, EMT Academy; Viktor Boss, Pioneer Valley Transit Authority; John Paglier, student; Trevor Smith, Blue Sky Consulting and Training; Darren James, Northwestern Mutual; and UMass football team.