Page 76 - BusinessWest September 15, 2021

Gift of $50 Million from
Robert and Donna Manning
Is Largest in UMass History
BOSTON — The University of Massachusetts announced it will receive a cash gift of $50 million from Robert and Donna Manning. The gift, the larg- est of any kind in the university’s history, is aimed
at increasing access and opportunity across the five-campus university system. The first distribution of the $50 million will be $15 million to endow the UMass Boston Nursing program, which will become the Robert and Donna Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences. The funds will be focused on supporting student diversity and ensuring that the new cohort of nursing professionals are champions of equitable patient care. Donna Manning’s 35-year
from the Morningside Foundation to UMass Medical School. The transformational gift is unrestricted and will more than double the medical school’s endow- ment. It comes as the medical school celebrates its 50th year of educating future physicians, nursing leaders, and biomedical scientists and as its Nobel Prize-winning research enterprise has grown to $400 million. In recognition of the gift and of the commit- ment to education, research, and healthcare by the Chan family of investors, entrepreneurs, and philan- thropists, UMass Medical School will be renamed the UMass Chan Medical School. Its three gradu-
ate schools will be renamed the T.H. Chan School
of Medicine, the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, and the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. T.H. Chan, for whom the School of Medicine will be named, is the late patriarch of
tronic equipment, including computers; and docu- ments that have sustained water damage.
Freedom Credit Union Raises
$2,710 for Food Bank
SPRINGFIELD — Throughout June and July, Free- dom Credit Union collected cash donations at its branches throughout Western Mass. to benefit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, which leads the fight against food insecurity throughout Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties. It raised $2,710 thanks to the generosity of members and staff. Since 1982, the Food Bank has helped provide much- sneeded food to area residents. It sources its products from donations and then supplies it to participat-
ing pantries, meal sites, and shelters throughout the region.
Whalley Computer Associates Announces Partnership with Cynet
SOUTHWICK — Whalley Computer Associates has joined forces with cyberattack defender Cynet to offer customers an enhanced layer of protection with an autonomous breach platform. The joint venture between the two IT solution providers offers cus- tomers another cybersecurity option to keep data safe with state-of-the-art prevention and detection. Cynet pioneered the autonomous breach-protection platform and offers cybersecurity to organizational security teams already stretched thin by the resources demanded to integrate and employ disparate solu- tions across frequently complex and wide-ranging security needs. The Cynet 360 platform secures orga- nizations of every size, deploying and integrating across thousands of endpoints in hours, and provid- ing all the fundamental capabilities of NGAV, EDR, UEBA, Network Analytics, and Deception solutions, plus backing through its frontline CyOps, a team made up of SOC experts available 24/7.
Paragus IT Named to Channel Futures MSP 501 List
HADLEY — The Channel Futures annual MSP 501
list is a definitive ranking of the most influential and fastest-growing managed service providers (MSPs) around the world. This year, Paragus IT ranked sev- enth in Massachusetts and 15th in New England, making it one of the top-ranked MSPs in Western and Central Mass. Channel Futures is a media and events platform serving companies in the information and communication technologies channel industry with insights, analysis, information, and in-person events. Its annual 501 list serves as a critical benchmarking tool and speaks to the rapidly evolving IT-channel ecosystem and its diversity of business models.
Monson Savings Donates $1,000
to Town’s Christmas Lights
MONSON — Monson Savings Bank recently donated $1,000 to the town of Monson’s Christmas lights dis- play to honor the hard work and long careers of John Malo and John Morrell. Malo recently was recognized by the town of Monson for his 50 years of service to the town’s post office, and he has no plans to retire. On July 23, family members, friends, and town resi- dents gathered together at the Post Office to celebrate his long and successful career. In November 2020, Morrell celebrated 53 years of service to the Monson Highway Department as the Monson highway sur- veyor. He started his career with the town in 1968 as
a truck driver and spent many years working hard to keep the townspeople safe.
Company Notebook
the Chan family, who was deeply committed to sup- porting higher education. The Graduate School of Nursing will be named for the family’s matriarch, Tan
career as an oncology nurse at Boston Medical Center inspired the decision to focus the gift on nursing at UMass Boston. Known for her dedication to patients, Manning donated her salary to the hospital each year. The College of Nursing and Health Sciences
is the fastest-growing college at UMass Boston and offers the only four-year public programs in Nurs- ing and Exercise and Health Sciences in the Greater Boston area. The undergraduate and graduate popu- lation of approximately 2,100 students in the college is 19% black, 12% Latinx, and 11% Asian-American Pacific Islander. In the coming months, the Man- nings plan to announce distributions from the overall gift to improve access and opportunity on the other UMass campuses in Amherst, Dartmouth, Lowell, and Worcester. Robert Manning is chairman of MFS Investment Management and the long-time chair
of the UMass board of trustees. The Mannings were already among UMass’ greatest supporters, having committed more than $11 million to UMass Lowell, where the Manning School of Business bears their name. On the Lowell campus, they have endowed several faculty chairs, sponsored a nursing simulation lab, and established the Robert and Donna Manning Endowed Scholarship Fund. The Manning Prize for Excellence in Teaching is awarded to faculty on all five UMass campuses for high-impact teaching.
MGM Unveils Two Sports Lounges
SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield marked its third anniversary by unveiling two widescreen luxury sports lounges. MGM Springfield President Chris Kel- ley recently led a tour of the new lounges, which he said reinforces the resort’s position and commitment as the market’s leading destination for sports and entertainment. The new, multi-million-dollar MGM Springfield Sports Lounge will be positioned on the casino floor and feature a 45-foot, state-of-the-art HD viewing wall, inviting fans to watch multiple sporting events at once, along with more than 70 individual lounge seats. The venue is designed to seamlessly incorporate sports betting via the BetMGM platform should Massachusetts lawmakers pass future legis- lation. The property also unveiled a new VIP Sports Lounge within TAP Sports Bar. This second viewing destination will offer a more intimate experience with an HDTV wall, couches, and a special culinary menu crafted by TAP chefs.
UMass Announces $175 Million Gift to Its Medical School
WORCESTER — The University of Massachusetts has announced a history-making $175 million donation
Chingfen, a nurse who, the family recalled, adminis- tered vaccines to neighborhood children in the 1950s. The choice of Morningside for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences reflects the name of the family’s investment group and foundation.
EforAll/EparaTodos Holyoke
Looking for Volunteers
HOLYOKE — EforAll/EparaTodos Holyoke is actively seeking both English- and Spanish-speaking volun- teers to participate as mentors in the winter 2022 business accelerator program. Accelerator mentors come from a variety of backgrounds and use their business and leadership experience to guide new entrepreneurs through the process of turning their idea into a growing business. Mentors work in teams of three and are matched with an entrepreneur
based on schedule availability and the desire to work together. The team meets as a group to help reaffirm topics and themes raised during classes, while also strategizing with the entrepreneur on how to reach their specific goals during the program. This is a high- touch, year-long commitment. Mentor teams have weekly 90-minute virtual meetings for three months and then meet once a month for the following nine months. Spanish speakers are especially needed. Any- one looking for an interactive and meaningful vol- unteer opportunity and interested in learning more about EforAll should e-mail [email protected].
SERVPRO of Hampshire County Celebrates 25 Years in Community
BELCHERTOWN — SERVPRO of Hampshire County, a cleanup and restoration company, is recognizing
its 25th anniversary in the local business commu- nity. The company will celebrate its milestone with an open house on Thursday, Sept. 16 at its offices at 50 Depot St. in Belchertown. Fall has been in busi- ness since Aug. 16, 1996. SERVPRO clients include insurance companies seeking restoration services,
as well as commercial and residential property own- ers who require routine cleaning services. With more than 50 years of experience, the SERVPRO system’s time-tested techniques and proprietary cleaning products have earned its franchises a spot as a leader in the restoration and cleaning industry. SERVPRO of Hampshire County is capable of cleaning and restor- ing a fire-, mold-, or water-damaged building and its contents, including wall, ceiling, and floor surfaces; furniture; fabric; fixtures; and more. Many franchisees also offer cleaning and restoration of special items, such as HVAC duct systems; building exteriors; elec-
76 SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
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