Category Archives: Volunteers

Binit Shah
YOUTH VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 2015

The Medfield Foundation proudly recognizes Binit Shah as its 2015 Youth Volunteer of the Year for his initiation of the Tech Club at the Medfield Memorial Library.

Other organizations where Binit volunteers:
• Medfield.TV
• MFi Youth Leader program
• Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

For the past four years, Binit has volunteered at the library, first on its Teen Advisory Board to plan and implement programs for teens, and then a year ago Binit initiated the library’s Tech Club, where he teaches the basics of programming, in what has become one of the library’s most popular programs. Binit’s Tech Club inspires about fifteen students from 2nd – 8th grade with his effective, engaging teaching.

“I have been very impressed with the level of knowledge, patience, and maturity that Binit exhibits. He patiently maintains authority and control over fifteen adolescents, and yet provides differentiated instruction for different levels of learners,” said one parent. Binit handles internet failures and “glitches” with aplomb, smoothly switching to alternate teaching modalities. He also shows a high level of preparation before and after class, utilizing both his own YouTube videos and Kahn Academy, to provide recaps and to assign review material for at-home practice and class preparation.

Another parent, herself a teacher, said “Binit is a natural when it comes to teaching. He can really articulate the concepts and provides examples after presenting them. He is always well prepared and offers practice homework packets, videos, websites and other materials.” The materials that he provides in the club are well thought out, and often self created. He also adapts his class to the unique skill levels of each child and makes it easy for them to feel comfortable with and capable of programming. Binit’s teaching method is exciting and he manages a range of ages well.

Binit is a strong role model – friendly and casual, but at the same time mature, professional, and savvy. He models good character, helpful demeanor, and confidence. He also models for the Tech Club kids the use of his intelligence, to provide for their growth, while simultaneously helping them and inspiring them to improve their skills.

At Medfield.TV Binit does camera work, editing projects, field productions, and independent productions. He takes photos for the Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Since 2008 the Medfield Foundation has celebrated volunteers suggested by their fellow Medfield residents with the MFi’s Volunteer Awards, and annually named:

• a Youth Volunteer of the Year
• a Volunteer of the Year, and
• awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year all the volunteers will be feted at a reception at 3:00 PM on March 22 at The Center.

This year there was one volunteer recognition nomination, that while made timely, was not received until after the deadline and selections.  To correct for that, the Medfield Foundation has decided that it will include the couple who were together jointly nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award in that errant nomination.

Therefore this year the MFi will jointly honor Mike and Caroline Standley, along with the previously announced Jeanne Bastanier Sullivan, together as the three honorees this year for the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Awards for volunteer services in and to the Town of Medfield.

Mike and Caroline Standley

Primarily for over 60 years of active citizenship to protect the town’s historic sites and open spaces, as well as serving on the following boards:  Library Board, Planning Board, Historical Commission, Historical Society, Historic District Commission, Master Plan Implementation Committee, Medfield State Hospital Reuse Committee, Medfield State Hospital Preservation Committee, Town Hall Renovation Committee, Conservation Commission, Open Space Planning Committee, Long Range Planning Committee, Committee to Evaluate Senior Tax Work Off Program, and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Nominate YOUR extraordinary volunteer
by January 31!

Now is your chance to recognize an extraordinary Medfield volunteer who has dedicated countless time and energy to our community. Give him or her for the recognition they deserve.

Nominate your volunteer for one of the Medfield Foundation volunteer awards. Then join the fun at the recognition reception at 3:00 PM on March 22, when you can personally fete your nominee before fellow residents (and the whole world, since Medfield.TV puts the reception on-line).

2014 VOLUNTEER NOMINEES

Photo by Coleen Sullivan

There are three categories: 

• Youth Volunteer of the Year
• Adult Volunteer of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement

It is easy to submit a nomination. Just follow these three steps:

1. Click here — this will lead you to Medfield Foundation Website and the official nomination form.
2. Download the nomination form from the Website.
3. Complete the nomination form and e-mail it to mfivolunteeraward@gmail.com by January 31.

Don’t have access to a computer? Please don’t let that stop you! Just contact the award team at the e-mail address for guidance.

Inspiration from last year

To help you think of a Medfield volunteer you might want to nominate, below is the list of Medfield residents suggested for recognition last year, and what they were doing:

Youth Volunteer of the Year

Andrea Nevins was the 2014 Youth Volunteer of the Year for her work initiating the Miss Amazing Massachusetts event, and for volunteering with the Medfield High School Student Council, Project 351 Alumni Leadership Council, Boston Cares Teen Advisory Council, Best Buddies, Special Olympics, and as a Adaptive skiing volunteer instructor.

Wesley, Corey, & Aaron Dron for being great and caring neighbors to a couple needing assistance.

Siddharth Arun for starting and running the Chess Club at the Library, and also for volunteering at Norwood Hospital, and teaching chess in other places.

Dina Roche for running food drives to benefit the Medfield Food Cupboard at the Montrose School for the past five years.

Volunteer of the Year

John Thompson was the 2014 Volunteer of the Year for his work with the Medfield State Hospital Mediation Committee, and also for the State Hospital Environmental Review Committee, Medfield Archeology Advisory Committee, Medfield Conservation Commission, Friends of the Dwight Derby House, and Vine Lake Preservation Trust.

Sonja Johanson for her work with the Victory Garden at the Wheelock School, and also the Wheelock School Site Council, the  Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and the  Massachusetts Master Gardener Association.

Kim Price for her work with the Medfield Coalition for Public Education, and also for the Medfield Kids PMC, and Dale St. School CSA.

Lifetime Achievement

Andy Thompson received the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with Little League, Soccer, Lacrosse, Ice Hockey, Boy Scouts, Medfield Park & Recreation Commission, operating the football scoreboard for 47 years, Medfield Physical Fitness Association for 48 years, The Center, the American Legion, and MPRC activities on Medfield Day.

MEDFIELD FOUNDATION VOLUNTEER AWARDS NOMINATIONS FOR 2015 ARE OPEN

Do you know someone in Medfield who volunteers countless time and energy to a worthy community cause or initiative? If so, now is your chance to recognize that person as part of the Medfield Foundation volunteer awards.

Anyone interested in submitting a nomination for one of the 2015 Medfield Foundation volunteer awards can download the form at www.MedfieldFoundation.org. Completed forms should be e-mailed to MFiVolunteerAward@gmail.com no later than January 31.

The MFi’s 2015 volunteer recognition reception is scheduled for 3 -5 PM on Sunday, March 22.

• John Thompson was the 2014 Volunteer of the Year for his work with the Medfield State Hospital Mediation Committee, and also for the State Hospital Environmental Review Committee, Medfield Archeology Advisory Committee, Medfield Conservation Commission, Friends of the Dwight Derby House, and Vine Lake Preservation Trust.
• Andrea Nevins was the 2014 Youth Volunteer of the Year for her work initiating the Miss Amazing Massachusetts event, and for volunteering with the Medfield High School Student Council, Project 351 Alumni Leadership Council, Boston Cares Teen Advisory Council, Best Buddies, Special Olympics, and as a Adaptive skiing volunteer instructor.
• Andy Thompson received the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with Little League, Soccer, Lacrosse, Ice Hockey, Boy Scouts, Medfield Park & Recreation Commission, operating the football scoreboard for 47 years, Medfield Physical Fitness Association for 48 years, The Center, the American Legion, and MPRC activities on Medfield Day

Ten Medfield volunteers received recognition at last spring’s reception.

The Medfield Foundation, Inc. is a volunteer-run private nonprofit, tax deductible 501(c)(3) corporation created in 2001 to raises private monies for public purposes in the Town of Medfield. The MFi allows donors to designate their donations for particular purposes. The MFi also allows motivated groups to raise monies for Medfield purposes under the rubric of the Medfield Foundation. To date, the MFi has raised over $1,500,000.00 for the Town of Medfield and celebrated over one hundred volunteers.

EXTRAORDINARY VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZED

2014 MFi volunteers of the year, Andrea Nevins, John Thompson, and Barbara Gips for her father John Thompson.  Photo by Colleen Sullivan.

The Medfield Foundation (MFi) annually fetes at its Volunteer Awards those individuals, suggested by fellow residents, whose extraordinary efforts and activities have made a special marked difference in the quality of life in Medfield.  At a reception on March 22  the town will celebrate all the nominated individuals, and the MFi names its Volunteer of the Year, Youth Volunteer of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for 2015.

The Volunteers Awards are based entirely on nominations submitted by the public, and solely on the information submitted.  Give recognition to your special volunteer on the form at www.medfieldfoundation.org.

The Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation generously sponsors the MFi Volunteer Awards.