Day: December 7, 2021

Children’s Study Home Names Yamilca Nogué Director of Community Relations and Development

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Children’s Study Home (CSH) announced that Yamilca Nogué has been named the new director of Community Relations and Development. She joins the CSH senior leadership team and will work closely with the Executive Director and CEO William Dávila.

Nogué brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofit and human services. Prior to joining the Children’s Study Home, she worked as a fundraising event coordinator for a large Western Mass. program and during that time also supervised its homefinding team, recruiting foster homes. She has a passion for working with and advocating for children. In addition to her professional experience, she has remained actively involved in her community and serves as a volunteer for the WNBA Her Time to Play program.

Nogué is the first woman of color and first Latina to hold this position. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in counseling foundations and her MBA at Bay Path University. She is also a licensed social worker in the state of Massachusetts.

“I am so excited and proud to be working at such an amazing organization, with so much history and legacy in serving vulnerable children and their families,” Nogué said. “I am lucky to be a part of such a dedicated, talented, and diverse group of staff, who care and are committed to the work we do and our mission. Together we are looking to build a new strategic plan and lead the agency into the future.”

Added Dávila, “we are excited to have Yamilca joining our leadership team and leading the effort to expand our relationships and presence in the community. Her knowledge and experience will help us better identify and engage supporters and friends of the Children’s Study Home, allowing us to do more for those we serve.”

United Way of Pioneer Valley to Present OnBoard Event Today

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) has merged with the Springfield-based nonprofit OnBoard. Continuing under the same name as a UWPV program, OnBoard will continue hosting biennial conferences to increase diversity on the boards of local and regional nonprofits, and work more closely with nonprofits to build diversity through trainings and other tools.

Leadership Pioneer Valley, which provides training and support for rising nonprofit professionals in the region, will work with UWPV to support the program.

An OnBoard matching event is scheduled for today, Dec. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Valley Venture Mentors, 276 Bridge St., Springfield.

“I am excited that the OnBoard programs will continue, now with the strength and support of the United Way,” said Ellen Freyman, founder of OnBoard and partner at Shatz, Schwartz, and Fentin. “Over the years, our area nonprofits and individuals looking to get involved have come to expect and look forward to the OnBoard matching events. OnBoard has facilitated many new relationships not only benefiting those participating, but also the community at large.”

Paul Mina, president and CEO of United Way of Pioneer Valley, added that “OnBoard has been a successful initiative for years, and I believe our plan to expand the popular tabling event into working with nonprofits and building diversity on an individual level will help our nonprofit sector evolve.”

The chairman sponsors for this year’s event are PeoplesBank and Country Bank. Other organizations providing sponsorships are Springfield College; Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.; New Valley Bank; Monson Savings Bank; Belt Technologies; the Davis Foundation; the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts; BusinessWest; the Republican; Westfield Bank, People’s United Bank, and the Mason Wright Foundation.

Registration information can be found at uwpv.org/onboard, and donations can be made at uwpv.org/donate.

Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts Gets Assistance from Balise Auto Group

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts is getting assistance from a local auto dealer for one of its educational programs about car ownership. Balise Auto Group volunteers will present JA All About Cars, a Junior Achievement program that explores the personal-finance considerations that go into purchasing a vehicle, to nearly 200 students in six area high schools during December.

“We are thrilled to be taking part in this program,” said Alex Balise, director of Marketing for Balise Auto Group. “It is so important for teenagers to understand the ins and outs of vehicle ownership before they start shopping. We hope sharing our knowledge with local students will make them more confident when that time comes.”

JA All About Cars programs are funded by a grant from American Honda Finance Corp. Through the program, students make a real-world connection to the car-buying experience, motivating them to make good financial decisions when buying or leasing. Following participation in the program, students will be able to consider whether a dream car is a realistic purchase for most people, explore their driving needs and things to consider when choosing a car, identify a car that meets their needs, and research the cost and understand the pros and cons of financing or leasing a car.

“JA All About Cars combines two things we are passionate about at AHFC: cars and financial literacy,” said Petar Vucurevic, vice president of American Honda Finance Corp. “The lessons taught by Junior Achievement will help teens make smart financial decisions throughout their lives, and we’re proud to be a part of that mission.”

Jennifer Connolly, president of Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM), added that “buying one’s first car is both exciting and daunting. JA All About Cars introduces students to the essential costs related to buying and operating a first car and offers tips on being smart consumers when purchasing vehicles. We are grateful to American Honda Finance Corporation for providing the funding to allow JAWM to offer this program to our students. And with the knowledgeable and experienced volunteers from Balise Auto, we can provide teens with the critical information they need to make more informed decisions when it comes to vehicle ownership.”

Freedom Credit Union Continues Partnership with Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union (FCU) is again proud to partner with the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the Cooperative Credit Union Assoc. on A Bed for Every Child.

“A Bed for Every Child is one of our most cherished organizations that we support,” said Glenn Welch, president and CEO of Freedom Credit Union. “We have a strong commitment to our community, and this group is doing amazing work right here in our backyard. Every child deserves a warm, safe place to rest their head for a restorative night of sleep.”

In 2011, the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless learned that many public-school students were not getting enough sleep because they did not have their own beds. In response, the coalition launched A Bed for Every Child with a mission to help facilitate the healthy sleep children need to learn and succeed. Every $250 equals a ‘comforts of home’ package that provides sheets, blankets, pillows, and oral-hygiene kits. Every $350 allows for a ‘bed buddy’ package, which provides one child with a complete bed set.

Each FCU branch is currently collecting cash donations though Friday, Dec. 17 to benefit A Bed for Every Child and help Freedom reach its goal.

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