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Assistant Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD The Ad Club of Western Mass last week announced this year's recipients of their prestigious William Pynchon Award. The honorees, each introduced at a press conference Monday in downtown Springfield, will receive the Pynchon Medal and will be inducted into the Order of William Pynchon on Nov. 15. Recognized for their lifelong efforts to improve the lives of their local and global neighbors are Steven Botkin from Pelham, Kimball "Kim" Howes of Florence, Brenda J. Lopez of Springfield, and Vincent McCorkle of Springfield. Pynchon Trustee Karen Woltjen Hines introduced the honorees, highlighting their work and accomplishments. Botkin is the founder and executive director of the Men's Resource Center in Amherst and an investor/supporter of the two-year-old global non-profit organization Men's Resources International (MRI). His community work has taken him from Springfield to Canada, Japan and Zambia, with plans to travel more to promote MRI's mission and help improve the lives of men and women. Botkin explained that he recently helped conduct men's leadership training in Zambia, with the goal of allying men with women and helping them to become role models in preventing violence and promoting positive masculinity. Botkin said a common mission among the organizations he is involved with is helping people to live "safe, healthy, productive lives." "I hope this award helps to promote that mission," he added. A new Springfield men's network, which is being organized by Men's Resources International, will conduct leadership training in December. Howes's community work has been done for many organizations over his life. He said he grew up in a family where "you did the right thing," and followed his parents' example when pursuing charitable causes. "It's a family tradition and it makes life interesting and worthwhile," he said. "Helping each other that's what has made our country so great." Howes has contributed in many ways to the United Way, the American Red Cross, the YMCA, the Kiwanis Club, the Shriners Hospital, National Ski Patrol, the Association for Community Living, Lathrop Communities, and Edwards Church in Northampton. As administrator of Domestic Violence Policy for Springfield and coordinator of Domestic Violence Prevention at the Springfield Police Department, Lopez's career and volunteer work have focused on making life safer for women and families in greater Springfield. Introduced as a 52-year resident of the city, Lopez replied, "I don't think of myself as 52 yet." She said she was humbled by the award. She thanked the Pynchon Trustees "for thinking that I am worthy of this prestigious award." Lopez's career began at the YWCA of Western Massachusetts where she was employed as a temporary cook in the preschool program. She became more involved in the organization, eventually becoming director of outreach and education. She also worked for the Massachusetts Department of Social Services, coordinating policy, protocol and education and supervising the domestic violence specialist in three regions. Lopez also belongs to the Spanish American Union (La Casa Hispana), where she is president of the board of directors; the Springfield Vietnamese American Civic Association; Committee on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence in Immigrant and Refugee Communities; and the Governor's Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence Justice and Accountability Committee. She is a speaker for GoFit, Inc., a former co-chair of the Springfield Commission on the Status of Women and former board member of the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts. McCorkle is president and CEO of the Sisters of Providence Health System in Springfield and was responsible for bringing Health Care for the Homeless to Mercy Medical Center. "When he learned that homeless families from Boston were being bussed to Springfield to live in inadequate housing, he joined the mayor of Springfield to find a solution to the various problems this caused," Hines told the press conference attendees. She said he arranged for adequate housing and food, and in some cases helped families return to live with their families and other loved ones. He is also credited with helping the Vietnamese Health Project relocate to Mercy Medical Center so the project would not have to close. "The work I do is my life and passion," he said. Not a native of Massachusetts, McCorkle said he was drawn here by "the incredible women of the Sisters of Providence." He shared a motto that he follows in his work: "Never rest on what's been accomplished but look toward all that needs to be done." His other memberships and volunteering include the United Way, the Urban League, the Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity, the Western Mass. Economic Development Council, the YMCA and Life Choices. Pynchon Award recipients are nominated by members of the community, and are researched and chosen by unanimous decision of the Pynchon Trustees, who are the Ad Club's current and five most recent past presidents. 2006 Pynchon Trustees are Christopher Buendo, Gary Czelusniak, Richard DeBonis, Susan Wiggin and Karen Woltjen Hines. The 2006 William Pynchon Award winners will be honored at a celebratory dinner and ceremony Nov. 15 at Chez Josef in Agawam. Information and reservations can be obtained by calling the Ad Club at 736-CLUB or by visiting www.adclubwm.org. William Pynchon was a colonist born in Springfield, Essex, England in 1590 and was the founder of Springfield, Massachusetts. After traveling to America in 1630 he became a noted trader and established a plantation in the area. He was said to have been respectful to Native Americans, learning their dialect and serving as an intermediary between them and colonists. | ||||||
