Page 39 - BusinessWest March 17, 2025

AGENDA>> For more events, or to submit your upcoming events,
visit BusinessWest’s event calendar online: https://businesswest.com/eventcalendar
Bingo Night Fundraiser
March 21: The Quaboag Hills Chamber of Com- merce 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. Pro- ceeds 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 exclu- sive live auction offering one-of-a-kind experiences. With a relaxed cocktail and dressy-casual dress code, the event is designed to be an enjoyable eve- ning for all, combining great company with oppor- tunities to make a meaningful impact. 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 reserva- tions are encouraged. Businesses and individuals can also support the event by sponsoring, which includes recognition in event materials, highlight- ing their commitment to supporting pets in need. Donations to the auction are another way to get involved, with unique goods, services, and once- in-a-lifetime experiences being especially popular. To purchase tickets, become a sponsor, or donate auction items, visit www.secondchanceanimals. org/dinner-auction or email development@second- chanceanimals.org.
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 Kath- ie Lee Gifford, and recently retired from the show after 17 years, during which time she received sev- eral 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 name- sake, circumnavigated the globe in a single-engine aircraft. Earhart has 15 years of experience as a heli- copter 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
BusinessWest
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 complexi- ties 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 assess- ments, executive coaching, and advisory services to foster thriving, innovative workplaces. An instruc- tor at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education, Glenn continues her mission to equip leaders
with the tools to succeed through her work in the school’s Women Leaders: Advancing Together pro- gram. For further information on the conference, sponsorship opportunities, and ticket sales, visit baypath.edu/wlc.
Sip, Bid & Boogie
April 3: The WillPower Foundation, a source of sup- port for Western Mass. individuals and families with different abilities, announced its new spring fund- raiser, Sip, Bid & Boogie. This event will take place
at the Jupiter Club in Easthampton mill building, offering an evening of entertainment, community, and philanthropy. Sip, Bid & Boogie will be a swanky soirée featuring handcrafted cocktails from the Jupiter Club, elevated bites by Blue Door Gather- ings, live music by Mister Brilliant, and a silent art auction showcasing a diverse collection of artwork from artists of all abilities. The event will be emceed by the legal duo Ryan Alekman and Rob DiTusa, corporate donors who have supported WillPower since its inception. They will guide guests through an evening of fun, surprises, and a celebration of community. The art auction is a reflection of the WillPower Foundation’s mission to celebrate unique talents and different abilities. The collection will fea- ture paintings, sculptures, digital art, mixed media, and more. Tickets cost $60 per person, $100 for two tickets, or $400 for a party pack of eight. Spon- sorship opportunities range from $250 to $15,000, offering local businesses the opportunity to align their brand with a nonprofit making a tangible impact.. To purchase tickets, donate art, or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit www. willpowerfoundation.org or email info@willpower- foundation.org.
WTrades Career Expo
April 9: River East School to Career will pres-
ent WTrades, Your Present is Your Future, a skilled trades career-exploration day, from 9 a.m. to 1
p.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. Students in grades 9-12 from school districts in the Greater Springfield and Greater Palmer areas are invited to attend. This program aims to showcase strategic, exploratory resources and hands-on opportunities to about 200 student attendees to enrich their knowledge about prospects for future employment and how to achieve a skilled trades career. River East is seeking skilled trade exhibitors, including those with heavy machinery, to participate in the WTrades career fair. Exhibitors will have the opportunity to speak directly with students, sharing insights about their careers and the skills required to succeed in their industries. By attending WTrades, exhibitors will connect directly with students to
inform them about job opportunities and train-
ing programs that can lead to fulfilling careers. For more information on the event, visit rivereaststc. org/wtrades or call Amy Scribner, partnership direc- tor, at (413) 283-5051 or [email protected].
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 the Feb. 17 issue of BusinessWest and at business- west.com, are Jennie Adamczyk, executive director of Providence Ministries; Sheryl Blancato, CEO of Second Chance Animal Services; Andrea Bordenca, managing partner of Generative Leadership Con- sulting; 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 Differ- ence Makers program is sponsored by Burkhart Piz- zanelli, the Royal Law Firm, TommyCar Auto Group, and Westfield Bank.
UMass 5K Dash & Dine
April 26: UMass Dining Services invites the com- munity to participate in its 14th annual UMass 5K Dash & Dine, with the goal to promote health and wellness at UMass Amherst while raising funds for the Amherst Survival Center. UMass Dining’s focus is on quality ingredients and meals, customer ser- vice, student health and wellness, customization options, and appreciation of global influences. Over the past 13 years, UMass Dining has raised more than $50,000 that has been donated to the Amherst Survival Center. Check-in at the Southwest Horse- shoe will begin at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m., a free Fun Run begins for children 8 years old and under. At 11 a.m., the race begins, followed by an awards ceremony at 11:30 a.m. and lunch at noon in the Berkshire Dining Commons. The race fee is $15 for all Five College students, $25 for UMass Amherst faculty and staff, and $30 for the general public. Children 8 and under may participate free of charge. The race fee includes registration and lunch. Donations can be made and participants can register at runumass. com/about. Online registration will end April 24. Walk-up registration will be available on race day.
Link to Libraries Gala
May 8: Link to Libraries announce its biennial gala, an evening that celebrates the organization’s trans- formative 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 auc- tion, 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 avail- able at www.linktolibraries.org.
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