Picture This

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Exciting Chapters

The nonprofit group Link to Libraries (LTL) continues to expand its presence in the region and write new chapters in its success story. Above, students at Bowie School in Chicopee and librarian Joyce Hogan thank LTL for a literacy and technology grant the agency awarded to the school. It will be used to purchase library programs and headphones for the students at the school. Meanwhile, on June 4, LTL celebrated its end of year with a volunteer ice-cream social and make-your-own-sundae party. More than two dozen volunteers turned out to enjoy a sweet evening of social fun. Included were volunteers from Westfield, West Springfield, Longmeadow, Wilbraham, Monson, Springfield, Hampden, and Holyoke.

UTCA Celebrates Milestone

Unemployment Tax Control Associates Inc. (UTCA), a national unemployment-insurance service provider based in Springfield, with offices in Boston and Houston, recently celebrated a quarter-century in operation with an Anniversary and Client Appreciation Party on May 27. The event, held at One Financial Plaza in Springfield, included a distinguished guest list comprised of clients, business owners, presidents, and CEOs of several local and national companies. At right, Suzanne Murphy (left), founder and CEO of UTCA, celebrates with her first client, Barbara Pilarcik, executive director of the Assoc. for Community Living in Springfield.

Common Cents

PeoplesBank sent two Chicopee High School teams to Boston recently to compete in Common Cents, a program hosted by the Mass. Banking Assoc. (MBA). The bank supported participating students from Chicopee High School and Chicopee Comprehensive High School at the statewide competition last fall at the State House. At top, the Chicopee Comprehensive High School team is seen with, from left, Mary Paleologopoulos, teacher at Chicopee Comp; Jermaine Wiggins, former New England Patriots player; Jeffrey Fuhrer, executive vice president, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston; Ashlee Feldman, radio personality, JAM’N 94.5; Karen Volpe, branch manager, PeoplesBank Fairview office; Latoyia Edwards, anchor, NECN; and Donna Wiley, regional manager, PeoplesBank. Below, the Chicopee High School Team with, from left, Wiggins; Shavon Diaz, teacher, Chicopee High School; Fuhrer; Feldman; Edwards; Volpe; and Wiley.

Transforming Care

Mercy Medical Center announced that ProShred Security and Convergent Solutions Inc. (CSI) have joined together to pledge a gift of $25,000 to Transforming Cancer Care — the Capital Campaign for the Sister Caritas Cancer Center. The campaign was launched to support the $15 million expansion of the Sister Caritas Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center. These funds will be used to consolidate all cancer services into a single, unified space and meet the increased demand for outpatient cancer services. The $25,000 contribution reflects a joint gift from two Wilbraham-based companies: ProShred Security, owned and operated by Joseph Kelly and Barry Sanborn, and Convergent Solutions Inc., owned and operated by their wives, Arlene Kelly and Kim Sanborn. Both couples are longtime supporters of the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS) and Brightside for Families and Children. From left, Daniel Moen, president and CEO, SPHS; Barry and Kim Sanborn; Joseph and Arlene Kelly; and Diane Dukette, vice president of Fund Development, SPHS.