Dowd employees show support for Make-A-Wish

Date: 5/11/2015

HOLYOKE – The Dowd Insurance Agencies, a leading insurance provider serving New England for over 115 years, recently announced four employees participated in the fifth annual Walk for Wishes event last month raising $877 for the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Make-A-Wish charitable organization.

Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Since its inception in 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 254,000 wishes including more than 14,200 wishes in 2014 alone. Furthermore, a study conducted in 2011 surveying health care professionals found most believe that these wishes positively impact the health of children by giving them renewed strength to fight their illness.

“We are very proud to have participated in this terrific event,” John E. Dowd, Jr., president and CEO of The Dowd Insurance Agencies, said. “This is a cause that has great meaning to all of us.”

Four employees of The Dowd Insurance Agencies participated in the Walk for Wishes event taking place at the Holyoke Mall, where participants joined together to raise funds needed to grant wishes:
• Assistant Account Manager of Commercial Lines Donna Desmarais, a resident of Westfield;
• Director of Business Development Lynn Ann Houle, a resident of Chicopee;
• Personal Lines Assistant Account Manager Julia McCarthy, a resident of Springfield;
• Vice President of Operations and Director of Human Resources Catherine Palazzo, a resident of Enfield, CT.

Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island has granted the heartfelt wishes of thousands of children battling life-threatening medical conditions. Beginning in 1987 with a family trip to Maine for a young girl battling Niemann-Pick disease, the organization has granted the wishes of over 6,000 courageous children in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island is a nonprofit organization and raises all funds and allocates them locally. This chapter does not receive government funding.