Children visiting the Outpatient Department at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield, Massachusetts on Friday received a special treat … colorfully decorated pumpkins courtesy of the talented students at the DiGrigoli Hair Salon in West Springfield. Each child picked their favorite themed pumpkin to take home with them. The students enjoyed handing them out as much as the children enjoyed receiving them.
The Springfield Department of Health and Human Services hosted the grand opening of the Adolescent Health Center located at 11 Wilbraham Road in Springfield, Mass. Bernadette White and Lee Freniere from the Shriners Hospital’s Public Relations department attended the open house for the new center, which will provide much needed dental and health care to Springfield’s homeless adolescents aged 12 to 21.
The organizers of the Forever in Our Hearts benefit, held on September 17th at the Elks Club in West Springfield, Massachusetts presented Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield with a check for $21,200. Left to right: Bernadette White, Director of Public Relations, Shriners Hospital; Forever in Our Hearts Benefit Fund Committee Members – Jackie Guiel, Co-Chair and sister of Honoree Mark Lines; Tom Quinn, Founder; Donna Pisano- Asst. Treasurer; Mike O’Brien husband of Honoree Jane O’Brien; Dan Goyette; Karen Cartier, Co-Founder, Treasurer & Business Manager; and Mark Niederpruem, Administrator, Shriners Hospital.
Over 425 people attended the family fun event to support the hospital and to memorialize this year’s honorees; Coach Cliff Kibbe and Jane O’Brien of Agawam, and Mark Lines and Richie Fiorini of West Springfield. “It all started this past March as an idea supported by the will and determination of a very special group of people who came together to honor those they have lost and to help support a local charity. We are very proud of the community support we received and are overwhelmed at the success of our inaugural event to benefit our own Shriners Hospital for Children,” stated, Thomas W. Quinn, Event Chairperson of Forever in Our Hearts.
A big thank you to the 120 local businesses who supported the event with sponsorships and raffle prizes; the volunteers from the West Springfield Dante Club who managed the kitchen and prepared the food; the Savoys, Co2, and John Morgan who provided non-stop music and entertainment; Bertera Chrysler Jeep Dodge the presenting sponsor; and to the many people who came together to remember loved ones and support the work of Shriners Hospitals for Children.
To see photos from this year’s event go to www.foreverinourheartsbenefit.com. If you would like to support or participate in next year’s event, please visit the website often during 2012.
For 31 years, a team of physicians and clinicians from the Shriners Hospitals for Children - Springfield, Massachusetts travel to the Island of Cyprus in the mediterranean for an annual outreach clinic where they evaluate 400 children for orthopaedic conditions. Click on the link below to read an article from Cyprus Mail – Cyprus’ Leading Daily Newspaper.
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/us-doctors-offer-orthopaedic-care-hundreds-local-children/20111020
For fourteen years, the Columbus Day Italian Open (CDIO) golf tournament has benefited Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield, Mass. Philip Shuman, tournament chairman and president of the Springfield Falcons Charities Inc., originally designed the tournament to have an Italian theme. 
He wanted participants to enjoy a beautiful Fall day of golf with friends and a Springfield Falcons AHL hockey club player and be able to indulge in authentic Italian cuisine. He placed a single tent at a location on the course where 6 holes converged. Volunteers served golfers meatballs, sausages, pasta with sauce, Italian bread, imported Italian cold cuts and cheese, prosciutto stuffed jalapenos, Italian cookies and more. Then, in 2006, the event turned international, but not in the way you may be thinking……
The CDIO has transformed into an Epicurean Event! Eighteen tents now adorn Crestview Country Club’s greens and tees offering hospitality from various countries such as Poland, Canada, Ireland, Portugal, America, Germany and Italy. All day, golfers enjoy a wide variety of food such as: oysters on the half shell, clams and mussels, macaroni pie, Italian wedding soup, pulled pork, baby back ribs, French meat pies, pierogies, kielbasa, Irish soda bread, chouriço, and an international beverage station. Golfing is secondary at this tournament.
Part of the tournament proceeds also benefit the Springfield Shriners Sliders sled hockey team. Shriners patient and sled hockey team member, Troy Cronin, took it upon himself to write a speech about his Shriners Hospital experience and shared it with the golfers.
On September 17th, over 500 people participated in the hospital’s walkathon and barbecue. To view a gallery of pictures, click on the walkathon icon on the right side of the page.
