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Giving
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Dan Moriarty throws out the first pitch for a game put on the Miracle League of Western Mass.
“The other huge impact that giving back has is on
the culture of our dealership and our employees; giving back brings them together as a team.”
community,
the businesses in the local community, and strengthening our region,” she told BusinessWest. “The other huge impact that giving back has is on the culture of our dealership and our employees; giving back brings them together as a team.”
This sense of team building is just one of the many benefits of giving back, said Cosenzi, adding quickly that the most obvious is the dollars raised for the various causes that the company and
its individual employees support. But there are many others, everything from visibility within the community to improved ability to attract and retain employees.
Dan Moriarty, president and CEO of Monson Savings Bank, agreed.
“Giving back to the many organizations that we support creates some good morale,” he explained. “It shows that we’re committed to helping organizations progress or fill a need, whether it’s basic needs or education or organizations that our employees have a passion toward.
“From a company perspective, it creates a lot of good will within the organization, but it also helps build a stronger community,” he went on. “What we find is that the values of these organizations also align with our goals for giving back. We want to help those in need; we want to improve lives and help people get through some difficult times and challenges.”
Helping individuals understand the awesome power of giving back, identifying ways that individuals and businesses can do so, and spotlighting agencies and causes to which
groups and individuals can give are at the heart of BusinessWest’s annual Giving Guide, presented each December, during what is generally regarded as the season of giving.
On the pages that follow, area nonprofits are
extensively profiled, with detailed glimpses of what they do, how they do it, and how people can give back to these organizations, both with dollars and with other forms of support, everything from serving on the board to participating in a fundraiser.
Some of these nonprofits, like the United Way, the Community Foundation, and Providence Ministries, are well-known, while others, such as the Miracle League of Western Mass. and Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, are not. But in each case, their mission, and their work, are critical to quality of life in Western Mass.
Ernie Fitzell Jr., co-founder, with his wife Tammy, of the Miracle League of Western Mass., said the organization’s mission is simple — to provide chil- dren and young adults of all abilities with the oppor- tunity to play baseball.
“We remove all the barriers for any child who has any physical, emotional, or mental challenges,” he explained, noting that each participant has a ‘buddy’ who stands by them to ensure they are not hit by a batted or thrown ball. “We have children in wheelchairs, children in walkers ... everyone gets an opportunity to play.”
The Miracle League, like all nonprofits, relies
on the support of individuals and businesses, like Monson Savings, which has become a season sponsor of the agency. Moriarty, as president and CEO of the bank, was present to throw out the first pitch for the start of the season.
He said it was a powerful moment for him, one that certainly helped drive home the importance of not just giving back, but really getting involved.
“That was one of the highlights of 2023 for me,” he told BusinessWest. “It’s a great organization; the
30 DECEMBER 11, 2023 << GIVING GUIDE >>
BusinessWest
Giving
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