Agenda
For more events, or to submit your upcoming events, visit BusinessWest’s event calendar online: https://businesswest.com/eventcalendar
94.7 WMAS Radiothon for Baystate Children’s Hospital
March 4-5: The public is invited to join in the fun at the 24th annual 94.7 WMAS Radiothon for Baystate Children’s Hospital at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on March 4 and 5, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Broadcasting live from the 94.7 WMAS studios, the Kellogg Krew will connect listeners with stories from patients, team members, and community members that are filled with hope, miracles, and the impact of Baystate Children’s Hospital. Among the many stories shared will be that of Emilia Cecchetelli, the 2025 Children’s Miracle Network ambassador for Baystate Children’s Hospital. Four-year-old Emilia was born at 26 weeks and spent 143 days in the Davis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit fighting chronic lung disease and craniosynostis, a condition that causes problems with normal brain and skull growth. Listeners will hear how she’s doing today and how the care at Baystate Children’s Hospital played a critical role in her life. Attendees of the Radiothon will be able to have their photo taken on the red carpet, make a donation, and get a sneak peek of the Kellogg Krew broadcasting live. There are many ways to donate. Listeners can visit wmaskids.com, text WMASKIDS to 51555, or call the Lia Auto Group Phone Bank at (413) 794-1111 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 4 and 5.
Bingo Night Fundraiser
March 21: The Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce announced its Handbag & Hand Tool Bingo Night fundraiser will take place at 6:30 p.m. at AMVETS Post 74 in Three Rivers. Doors open at 6 p.m. The chamber will produce 10 bingo rounds, each with a grand prize featuring one of seven designer handbags or one of three premium tools up for grabs. Tickets can be purchased on qhma.com. The registration fee is $40 per person and includes 10 bingo cards, a bingo dauber, snack platters, a bonus raffle ticket, and a cash bar. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce and its ongoing mission to assist its more than 200 member businesses succeed and grow with programs and initiatives throughout the year.
Second Chance Auction Gala
March 29: Second Chance Animal Services will host its 26th annual Auction Gala at the AC Marriott in Worcester. This is Second Chance’s most important fundraiser of the year, raising critical funds to help provide life-saving services to more than 56,000 pets in need. The evening will feature hundreds of silent auction items, raffles, and a small but exclusive live auction offering one-of-a-kind experiences. All proceeds will support Second Chance’s mission to transform the lives of pets by providing affordable veterinary care, keeping pets with their families, and finding loving homes for animals in need. Tickets are on sale now, and seating is limited, so early reservations are encouraged. Businesses and individuals can also support the event by sponsoring, which includes recognition in event materials, highlighting their commitment to supporting pets in need. Donations to the auction are another way to get involved. To purchase tickets, become a sponsor, or donate auction items, visit www.secondchanceanimals.org/dinner-auction or email [email protected].
Women’s Leadership Conference
April 3: Bay Path University announced that award-winning journalist, author, and television personality Hoda Kotb will be the keynote speaker at the 28th Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC), taking place in Springfield. Most well-known as the former co-anchor of NBC News’ Today and co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna, Kotb joined Today as a co-host of the fourth hour in 2008, alongside Kathie Lee Gifford, and recently retired from the show after 17 years, during which time she received several Emmy Awards for her work. A New York Times bestselling author, Kotb has written eight books and continues to host the popular podcast “Making Space with Hoda Kotb.” The WLC will also feature lunchtime speaker Amelia Rose Earhart, a pilot, author, and reporter who, inspired by her namesake, circumnavigated the globe in a single-engine aircraft. Earhart has 15 years of experience as a helicopter and breaking-news reporter in Denver and Los Angeles, has sent numerous teenage girls to flight school during her 10-year tenure as president of the Fly with Amelia Foundation, and hosts a tech podcast focused on the future of AI in business. This year’s conference will also feature breakout sessions led by business experts and coaches, including Shira Abel, a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley, who taps into her experience working with companies such as Siemens, Samsung, AXA, and Allianz to speak about navigating the complexities of modern business and the impact biases and expectations have on success. In addition, the WLC will welcome Jackie Glenn, former chief diversity officer at Fortune 500 EMC Corp. and founder and CEO of Glenn Solutions, where she partners with executives to reimagine organizational practices and implement strategies such as cultural assessments, executive coaching, and advisory services to foster thriving, innovative workplaces. For further information on the conference, sponsorship opportunities, and ticket sales, visit baypath.edu/wlc.
Difference Makers Gala
April 9: Tickets are now on sale for BusinessWest’s 17th annual Difference Makers awards gala at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The class of 2025, profiled in this issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com, are Jennie Adamczyk, executive director of Providence Ministries; Sheryl Blancato, CEO of Second Chance Animal Services; Andrea Bordenca, managing partner of Generative Leadership Consulting; Mychal Connolly, CEO of Stand Out Truck; John Delaney, director of Ride to Remember; John Doleva, president and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; the Michael J. Dias Foundation; and Dan Moriarty, president and CEO of Monson Savings Bank. Tickets cost $95 per person, and tables of 10 are available. They can be purchased at businesswest.com/eventcalendar/difference-makers-tickets. The 17th annual Difference Makers program is sponsored by Burkhart Pizzanelli, the Royal Law Firm, TommyCar Auto Group, and Westfield Bank.
Link to Libraries Gala
May 8: Link to Libraries announce its biennial gala, an evening that celebrates the organization’s transformative impact in the community while raising vital funds to ensure children have access to the books and programming they deserve. This year’s gala, taking place at the Basketball Hall of Fame, will feature a Swifty-themed evening inspired by Taylor Swift’s celebrated Eras Tour. Guests will enjoy an elegant night filled with cocktails, dinner, an auction, and the opportunity to connect with others passionate about the power of reading to transform lives. All proceeds from the gala go directly to Link to Libraries, a nonprofit committed to fostering literacy by providing books and programming for children in underserved communities. Tickets cost $90 per person, or $250 for VIP tickets that include a pre-gala VIP cocktail reception. Tickets are available at www.linktolibraries.org.
