Jane Garofalo – Youth Volunteer of the Year Award — Medfield Food Cupboard

For the past two years, Medfield High School junior Jane Garofalo has been volunteering weekly at the Medfield Food Cupboard, and as part of her work, she created a “Blue Bag-it Program” to increase summer donations, according to Beth Eby, Medfield Food Cupboard president, who endorsed Jane’s nomination for the Youth Volunteer of the Year award.

“Jane became aware of the severe decrease in donations over the summer months, and came up with a fantastic and yet simple program idea, and implemented it at Shaw’s,” said Eby.

“Through the program, shoppers are presented with a special blue bag, and a list of the items that the Medfield Food Cupboard needs for that month,” Eby explained. “To get the program off the ground, Jane applied for a New ‘N Towne grant to fund the purchase of blue bags and produce flyers, and recruited student volunteers to staff a weekend table at Shaw’s to promote the initiative during the summer months. Jane’s efforts were appreciated by customers because the blue bag provided them with an easy way to separate their own personal items from Medfield Food Cupboard needs.”

Eby pointed out that on the first day of the campaign, and each time thereafter, the food donation bin was overflowing with colorful blue bags in a matter of hours.

Since its introduction, Eby says the Blue Bag-it Program has gained traction and garnered media attention, and Garofalo has received approval to make it a permanent Medfield Shaw’s initiative that has the potential to be replicated at other stores.

“From a young age, Jane has demonstrated a sincere compassion for children who are less fortunate, and without food or money to satisfy basic needs,” said her mother, Patti Garofalo.  “I believe this empathy for others inspired her to look for a way to make things better for members of her own community struggling with these same issues.”

Bill Massaro – Volunteer of the Year Award — Medfield State Hospital environmental clean-up and re-use

Bill Massaro has been in Medfield for 36 years and was also nominated by Richard DeSorgher for the 2012 Volunteer of the Year award for his work on environmental issues related to the Medfield State Hospital site and its potential re-use.

“Bill’s work on the hospital is all-consuming,” said DeSorgher, who estimated that Massaro dedicates an average of 30 hours each week on hospital issues, including visiting the site, conducting research and attending meetings.

In his nomination of Massaro, DeSorgher noted, “Bill’s work is of utmost importance to those of us in Medfield today, and those who might potentially live on the property. His concern about the clean-up of the hazardous waste on the hospital site and on the bottom of the Charles River, is both a health and town-wide issue. Bill’s daily following and oversight of State Hospital issues has turned him into a safety watchdog for the town.”

DeSorgher pointed out that Massaro’s extensive management experience at Raytheon Corporation, especially in the area of proposals and contracts, coupled with his MBA from New York University, has given him the expertise to quickly analyze underlying scientific and policy considerations, and reply in detail to all proposals presented by the Division of Capital Asset Management, which is  responsible for major public building construction and real estate services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

“Never have I seen anyone so talented at detail, and so dedicated to objectivity, as Bill has been on the hospital issue,” said DeSorgher.

John Harney – Lifetime Achievement Award — Medfield civic and community leadership

John Harney is a 47-year resident of Medfield, and was nominated for the Lifetime Achievement award by Medfield resident and retired Medfield High School teacher Richard DeSorgher, who described Harney as “a shining example of the role of a citizen in society. Democracy is not a spectator sport, and without the John Harneys of this world, our government could not exist.”

Harney’s role as a Medfield civic leader began in 1978 as an elected member of the School Committee. From there, Harney served as a Medfield Selectman, joined a number of committees and boards involved with the Medfield State Hospital site, was a 14-year member of the town’s Economic Development Committee, and involved in Collective Bargaining Teams and the Solid Waste Committee.

DeSorgher noted that as selectman, Harney led the drive to save the Dwight-Derby House, and he also fought for the preservation of open space in Medfield.

“John led the drive at Town Meeting to purchase several parcels of land here in Medfield, including the Wheelock property, the Plain Street/Community Gardens land, and the Cronin/Wight Street property. He also fought hard to obtain the Route 27/Plain Street open space that was defeated at Town Meeting,” said DeSorgher.

DeSorgher noted, “Whether in my classroom, the newspapers, in the community, or at public meetings,  John Harney can be seen making democracy work. John speaks out on issues, popular or not, because he believes his cause is right and just. The result of John’s volunteer and civic service is a better town of Medfield for all of our almost 13,000 residents.”

The Medfield Foundation, Inc. has announced the names of three Medfield volunteers who will receive the Lifetime Achievement, Volunteer of the Year and Youth Volunteer of the Year awards at its March 18 community reception at The Center at Medfield, as well as the names of 19 Medfield volunteers who will also be recognized at the event sponsored by Rockland Trust.

John Harney will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement award for more than 30 years of civic and community work in Medfield; Bill Massaro will be honored with the Volunteer of the Year award for his work on environmental and re-use issues at the Medfield State Hospital site; and Medfield High School junior Jane Garofalo will be honored with the Youth Volunteer of the Year award for her work with the Medfield Food Cupboard and its “Blue Bag-it Program.”

The Medfield Foundation received 22 award nominations this year that were evaluated by six judges. Nominations were evaluated based what the volunteer has done; the community need he/she addressed; the impact the volunteer’s efforts have made; how well they inspired others to get involved or support their cause; and any special challenges or circumstances they had to overcome. Each nominator was also asked to provide the name of at least one reference.

This year’s judges were Medfield Foundation board members Leanne LaBelle and Abby Marble, resident and business leader Juli Sinnett, Medfield parent and leadership consultant Ellen Bankert, MetroWest Health Foundation President and CEO Marty Cohen, and Medfield Foundation 2009 Volunteer of the Year award recipient Gary Wheeler.

“It was incredibly inspiring to be a part of the process, and to see how much our volunteers are doing right here in Medfield to support the community,” said Sinnett. “It was difficult choosing the final award recipients, but knowing that everyone who was nominated would receive meaningful, public recognition made it a little easier.”

Stephen Phillips, president of the Medfield Foundation, which is entirely run by volunteers, is especially appreciative of the work that went into the volunteer recognition program this year.

“Working closely with Pete Peterson, who founded the volunteer award program four years ago, we had a subcommittee of volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the past year to create a new nomination and evaluation process to build on the success he established, as well as plan the March 18 event,” said Phillips. “Our team has enjoyed seeing the foundation volunteer recognition efforts grow and evolve, and most importantly, continue to inspire others to get involved in helping to make Medfield such a wonderful community.”

The Medfield Foundation volunteer award reception, sponsored by Rockland Trust, is open to the public, and nominees’ friends, members and colleagues are especially encouraged to attend. The event will be held at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 18 at The Center at Medfield on Ice House Rd.  An official RSVP is not necessary, but for refreshment planning purposes, it would be helpful if anyone planning to attend could send an e-mail to mfivolunteeraward@gmail.com.

Other nominees receiving volunteer recognition

Lifetime Achievement

Richard DeSorgher, for his work with the Medfield Historical Society and community at large

CB Doub, for her work with the Medfield Historical Society

Cynthia Greene, for her work with the Medfield Energy Committee

Bob Luttman, for his work with Medfield Public Library

Pinky Meader, for her work with the Medfield Garden Club

Jack Petersen, for his work with Medfield TV

 Volunteer of the Year

 Steve Catanese, for his work with Medfield Green

Paul Dewey, for his work with Destination Imagination

Christian Donner, for his work on the Bay Colony Rail Trail project

Frank Iafolla, for his work with Toys for Tots

David LaFreniere, for his work with Trustees of the Reservations and at Noon Hill

Rick McKinney, for his work with the Boy Scouts

Laurie Nealon and Kathleen Cahill, for their work with the Medfield Angel Network

Katharine Steeger, for her work with the Girl Scouts

Youth Volunteer of the Year

 Evan Berry, for his work at the Medfield Public Library

Emily Grossman, for her work with the Thunder Hill/Canine Encounters 4H

Dan Pucci, for his work in the Medfield High School Math Lab

Chelsea Robertson, for her work creating “The Party Package” for underprivileged children

Kevin Wang, for his Community Teens/”Buck in a Backpack” project to benefit teens in China