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Chamber donates $5,000 to Y.E.S. program

By Sarah M. Corigliano

Assistant Managing Editor



WILBRAHAM Last Thursday, the Hampden/Wilbraham Chamber of Commerce presented $5,000 to the Youth Entrepreneurial Scholars (Y.E.S.) program at Minnechaug Regional High School (MRHS).

The money was raised at the Chamber's third annual golf tournament last year and will be used to support the purchase of textbooks, computer upgrades, field trips, scholarships and other program needs.

Joe Lawler, treasurer of the Hampden/Wilbraham Chamber of Commerce and a member of its golf committee, presented the check during the school day to a classroom of Y.E.S. students and Diane Jeserski, director of MRHS' Y.E.S. program.

In the last year, Lawler said, the Chamber has raised a total of $15,000 and has awarded six scholarships to MRHS students.

He explained to the students that the golf tournament was supported by the business community and encouraged them to make contact with local business leaders to share their ideas and gain mentorship.

In addition, he said scholarships will now be available to all seniors who participated in the Y.E.S. program, even if they did not in their senior year.

Other Chamber members who were instrumental in procuring the donation were Maura Tobias, president of the Hampden/Wilbraham Chamber of Commerce, and co-chairs of the Chamber's golf committee, Elissa Langevin and Tom Manzi.