SPRINGFIELD Fifteen Pioneer Valley residents got more than a good chicken lunch and entertaining program at the Community Foundation's recent Annual Meeting: they left with a serious philanthropic decision to consider. The program included inspiring and humorous stories of the founders of the organizations, seven heartwarming profiles of those assisted by scholarships and grants, but no one was prepared for a video message from Bill Cosby and Development Director Katie Allan Zobel filmed at Roberto's Pizza in Greenfield. Their message told in classic Cosby fashion was of an anonymous donor who contributed $15,000 so that 15 randomly selected attendees at the Annual Meeting might recommend $1,000 grants to Pioneer Valley charities at their choice. In the last five minutes of the program, Cosby and Zobel, with a cameo appearance by Robert L. Pura, Ph.D., President, Greenfield Community College directed the audience to "check under your plates for a gold ticket." The normally sedate lunchtime demeanor erupted in plate moving (some coffee spilling) and a few entrepreneurs checking out the place settings of those who left the meeting early. The recipients ascended to the stages as the meeting was closed by new Board Chair, Stephen A. Davis, to the strains of the Hooterville Junkyard Jazz Band. The point of this unconventional exercise was to "recreate the spirit of those who founded the Foundation and to re-inspire those in our community about philanthropy!" said Kent Faerber, Community Foundation President. The 15 "newest Pioneer Valley philanthropists" are: Pam Barnes, South Deerfield Nina Berman, Wilbraham; Margaret Boyko, Palmer; Constance Clarke, Shelburne Center; Henry E. Geberth, Jr., Wilbraham; Denise Granger, Springfield; Sally Griggs, Northampton; Mary Hoyer, Amherst; Michael Jonnes, Springfield; Michael Korzeniowski, Holyoke; Tony Malone, Springfield; Lisa McMann, Westfield; Bernadette Nowalkowksi, Chicopee; and Diana Stiles, North Hatfield. One donor has chosen to remain anonymous. The charities that will benefit include the arts, education, animals, civic engagement and human services throughout the Pioneer Valley. Several winners will be continuing the "Giving to the Future" theme, by using their gift to inspire others to give. Stephen Davis of Longmeadow was introduced as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees, new Trustees include: Peter Daboul, retired information technology officer of MassMutual, Jean Deliso, of Deliso Financial & Insurance Services, James Morton, President of MCDI, and Peter Picknelly, owner of Peter Pan Bus. New Distribution Committee members include Paula DesRoberts, retired from Bay Path College and William Fisher, Springfield College faculty member. The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is a public charity serving donors and nonprofit organizations throughout Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. For more information about the Foundation's work, log on to www.communityfoundation.org, or call 732-2858. | ||||||
