The Children’s Study HomeFebruary 2013 - Issue Six

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Volunteer Testimonials

Giving AcrossGenerations

GivingThanks

The Gift ofLearning

CELEBRATE

GIVING

This year’s Secret Santa program provided gifts for 285 children and youth served by The Children’s Study Home! We had an overwhelming response from volunteers. For some, it was their first experience giving;

others have made a tradition out of shopping for our youth.

“Our Company participates in the Secret Santa program so that no Children’s Study Home child goes without a present on Christmas morning. It’s a great feeling to know you made a child smile. Many of us have children of our own that help with the shopping so they can also realize the spirit and gratification of helping those less fortunate. We are pleased to take part in such a well-organized event that benefits many.”

Darla IavicoliOperations ManagerWolf & Company, P.C.

“It has become a tradition for me and my two sisters to sponsor 3 sisters in the program and go shopping for them together. On Christmas morning, we think of the sisters on our list and hope they are smiling and know just how special they are and realize the best gift ever is to have a sister!!!”

-Tammy, Debbie, and Suzie

“In July, 1995, my daughter, Mikayla Lynne Govoni, died after her 3 year battle with Wilms Tumor (cancer). She brought so much joy to our lives in her 4 short years, that I knew I wanted to do something in her honor at Christmas (and other times of year). I could not imagine my children not having gifts at Christmas time and thought what a great way to honor her. So every Christmas, we purchase gifts for a little girl around the age of 4 in her honor.”

- Lynne Govoni

“I began participating in the Secret Santa program when my children were young. They enjoyed shopping for our Secret Santa child. I have continued to participate in the program now that my children are grown because it’s such a worthwhile cause.”

- Laurie Cirillo

There is something remarkable about the joy that comes from giving to others. Join us as we celebrate giving.

CELEBRATE GIVING

For more information and to see more testimonials, visit www.StudyHome.org

CELEBRATE GIVINGAll Year Long!

Our programs are currently in need of the following gently used items. Your donations ensure that the youth and children we serve have more than just a place to stay; they have a place they can call home.

If you would like to make a donation, please contact Teresa Spaziani at:413.739.5626 ext.287 or tspaziani@studyhome.org

Wish List* DVD Player

* VCR

* Computers for Homework

* Large Flat-Screen Wi-Fi TV for

community-building across the state

* Snow Blower

* Lawn Mower

* Weed Whacker

* Walkie Talkies

Teresa & Mike from The Children’s Study Home with Cindy & Kevin Joslyn at the

Secret Santa Thank You Reception

Giving Across Generations

The holiday season for me is filled with memories of decorating the Christmas tree, occasionally

lighting the menorah, listening to Christmas music and decorating the outside of the house with Christ-mas lights – those darn Christmas lights, once one goes out they all go out! But when I think of Christ-mas I can’t help but think of Santa. Having a fam-ily of religious roots in Judaism as well as multiple Christian denominations, Santa is something we all shared.

I think of jumping on my parent’s bed on Christ-mas morning, anxiously waiting to see what Santa brought me and my sister. Santa always made wish-es come true for both of us. In conversations with my parents now, I hear stories of the extremes they would go through to ensure our belief in the magic of Santa.

This year’s Secret Santa program at The Children’s Study Home gave everyone in my family including my parents, grandparents, and aunt the opportunity to keep the magic alive for the children and families who benefit from this amazing program. For each child or youth who benefited, the magic may have been a little different. For some, it was the excitement of knowing that Santa brought them exactly what they wanted, while for others it was that incredible feeling of knowing that a complete stranger could care so much! Being Santa is a unique job and one that I know everyone in my family looks forward to having for years to come!

-Kevin Joslyn

Every day people make new connections and forge new relationships that can last a lifetime. During the summer of 2012, Kevin Joslyn worked at The Children’s Study Home, following several years of active volunteer work. For the Secret Santa 2012 program, Kevin came back to participate, but didn’t come alone! He recruited several family members to join in the event. After the holidays his mother, Cindy Joslyn, brought even more bags of donated gifts for the children and families we serve to use throughout the year! We are so grateful for the relationship we have established with the Joslyn Family!

Fran Appleby Jill ApplebyApplied Software Technologies & eRPortal Software Group Ed & Sarkis Garibian Doug Ansuini Chuck Epaul Bill Leslie Sally Murdock Steve Swanda Beata Szpak Cindy Bartels & Hampden BankEva BellucciThe Benjamin Phelps 1st Grade Classes of Mrs. Liberti Mrs. Labbe Ms. O’Connor Mrs. KeefeThe Bethany ChurchMeg Beturne Aaron Bonner Lil Bousquet David & Nancy Burt Tricia Canavan & United Personnel Services, Inc.James Falzone-Cardinal & the Mass/CT Cribbage ClubKaren Carreira & Berkshire Music AcademyAmy Caruso Jocelyn Cash & Mercy HospitalJanemari ChateauvertChicopee Savings Bank Accounting Department Maria Aigner Kelley Bassett Ines Capinha Halina Chutkowski Lisa Crowley Diane DeGray Sue Desmarias Hank Downey John Downs Becky Elias Arley Ewald Ann Feeney Mary Grogan Cid Inacio Lisa Jenkins Sandra Joslyn Diane Kenyon Darlene Libiszweski Ludlow Branch Beth Maroney Niceia Matos Sarah Medeiros Debra Morton Michele Niec Russ Omer Jackie Queiroga Lynette Reyes Debra Ruetz Guida Sajdak Pat Sawyer Eugene Serafin

Teri Szlosek Natasha Vieu-Fleury Rebecca Weston Mike Williams West Springfield BranchLaurie Cirillo Seth CrockerSMSgt. M. Cross & the Dean Tech. High School Air Force Jr. ROTC Sal D’Amato Leslie DeMaria Thelma Devine Laurie DiCarlo Teralyn Dison Tom Duke Mary Eriquezzo Michael Eriquezzo Pamela FernandesFitzGerald & Mastroianni Advertising, Inc. Roberta Fitzpatrick Sandra Flower Karen Fritz Mark Germain The Govoni FamilyLucie Grondin & 94.7 WMASJane & Paul Hetzel Kerri Hoar Harry Hollum Patricia Humiston Nancy Janes Cindy & Ron Joslyn Charles & Patricia Joslyn Kevin Joslyn Matt & Linda Kendrick Cathy Kennedy Brian & Maureen Kivel Mike KonarskiTammy Laselle & Debbie & Suzie Joanne Leblond Carey Leckie Julia Lesser Nancy & Frank Liberti Brent Litchy & UTCALongmeadow High School Key ClubJennifer Loranger & Health New EnglandCindy Lucas Theresa Lynch Susan Lynn & Baystate Reproductive Center James Machnik Erika Mack Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Magee Beth Manitsas Carol Martin Linda & Gary Martinelli Sue & Chris Mastroianni Mary McCoullough The Mehlich FamilyCynthia Melcher Anne Milette Eileen Murray & Springfield Symphony OrchestraPatricia & Jeff Nelson Carmen Ocasio Millie O’Connor

Marianne PedullaEileen PolizziGordon & Josephine Quinn Toni Raczkowski Jason Randall Janet Robinson Cathy Rossi Karen Schermerhorn Maria Scibelli Michele Sullivan Teddy Bear Pools & SpasBeverly Tokarz Ellen Tougias Mary Tranghese Bonnie Twining Anne-marie Veino Michelle Veratti Kathleen Wapner Baystate Wesson 3 Deb Bercovici Sheila Chaban Kim Davidson Cathy Dirienzo Erin Ferraro Karen Foster Krys Freitag Eileen Grunwald Ryan Hall Sarah Irish Missi Jackson Julia Kayzakian Mary Kelly Kim Hoy Kennedy Lynn Murphy Deb Nichols Tisha Sakaske Leemarie Sanchez Damaris Semprit Jeanine Staples Rita Truoiolo Amanda WagnerWestern New England First Year SeminarWestern New England Peer AdvisorsBeverly Wilander & TD BankMary Wilson Kibbe Deborah Wilton Wolf & Company, PC Jana Bacon Marty Caine David Flebotte Charlie Frago Ryan Gorman Lauren Hanasky Karen Hoar Darla Iavicoli Dan Morrill Mark O’Connell Sean O’Connell Victoria Tokarev Kandy Tranghese Lisa Wills

Giving Thanks2012 Secret Santa Program Volunteers

Thank you to all of our Secret Santa volunteers for your care and generosity! You have made this holiday season one to remember for

285 children and youth served by The Children’s Study Home!

In late December of 2012, The Children’s Study Home’s Mill Pond School may not have been in session, but the build-

ing was anything but quiet. While students and faculty were enjoying their holiday vacation, a new student lounge was emerging through a generous sponsorship by Westfield Bank. In a little over a week, an underutilized room became a rich, warm environment for students to unwind.

Lauri Lavell, Vice President of Commercial Services at West-field Bank, coordinated the sponsorship of the lounge and was the primary point person working in tandem with The Chil-dren’s Study Home. Kevin O’Connor, Vice President of Retail Banking and Marketing approved the funding for the project, while Steve Lavell, Facilities Manager replaced the room’s win-dow screens and cove base. Dave Fortier of Fortier Painting provided painters for the lounge and Sherwin Williams do-nated the paint. Tom Gomes of T&S Professional Cleaning stripped and waxed the floor. Mark Proshan of the Lexing-ton Group provided furniture at a discount and delivered the items free of charge.

Since the room’s completion, there have already been positive results and terrific experiences. When the Mill Pond basketball team won their game, they used the student lounge to relax and celebrate. One teacher reported that the room gave her a motivational tool that has already proven extremely valuable. “We were blown away by the generosity and thoughtfulness we received from Westfield Bank. This was a joyous experi-ence and one that has resonated powerfully throughout school community,” said Eliza Crescentini, Executive Director. Thank you to all who came together to make this possible.

The Gift of Learning - Westfield Bank Sponsors Mill Pond School’s New Student Lounge

From Left: Teacher Jennifer Pawlowski, Student Shirley, Lauri Lavell of Westfield Bank, Student Diego and Principal Ed Tharion in the new Student Lounge

Don’t miss your chance to win 2014 Superbowl Tickets!The Children’s Study Home’s 25th Anniversary Golf Tournament

Thursday, May 2, 2013 at Crestview Country Club

Be a part of our best tournament yet with opportunities to win priceless Hole-in-One prizes!Whether or not you’re a golfer, support the educational opportunities of our youth by joining

us for dinner after the tournament!

Pre-register or learn about sponsorship opportunities by contacting Teresa Spaziani at tspaziani@studyhome.org or at 413-739-5626, ext. 287

“We were very pleased to have the opportunity to help the Mill Pond School create a lounge for their students to enjoy. The local businesses that partnered with us were not only willing to assist during the busy holiday season, their generosity and enthusiasm made the project enjoyable. To see the transformation of the room was very rewarding.”

-Lauri Lavell, Westfield Bank

2012 Spectacle of TreesThank You!

A big THANK YOU goes out to all of the donors that bid on The Children’s Study Home’s Priceless Charlie Brown Christmas Tree! The event raised $1715, which will go to the YAIL (Young Adult Independent Living) Program in Falmouth.

And THANK YOU to the following groups for making this possible: ✳Color Me Mine for sponsoring our tree ✳James Brooks and the Falmouth High School Wood Shop for creating the Charlie Brown cutouts ✳Shepley Wood Products for donating the wood used to make the cutouts ✳The Falmouth High School Art Department for painting the characters

YAIL’s “Priceless” Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

Thanks and Congratulations to Anne Mason from Dennis, MA, winner of The Children’s Study Home Christmas Tree, and to Matthew Cole of Cape Associates, Inc.,

winner of the wreath auctioned at the Spectacle of Trees event.

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The Children’s Study Home44 Sherman StreetSpringfield, MA 01109

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NONPROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE PAIDSPRINGFIELD, MAPERMIT NO. 178

Board of DirectorsOfficers

Seth Crocker, PresidentMark Germain, Vice PresidentMark O’Connell, TreasurerJane Hetzel, Clerk

Directors

Meg BeturneAaron BonnerJuan CampbellAmy CarusoKamari CollinsDale DesmaraisPam FernandesShannon FilippelliBill GagnonDenis Gagnon

Ed GaribianPaul LemiuexSusan LynnGary Martinelli, Esq.Gordon QuinnJason RandallCathy Rossi, Esq.Mike TalbotKandra TrangheseKimberly Williams

A Spectacle of Giving!