A Day at Windrush Farm

windrush 1

—Betsy Leclair,
Project Manager

On May 16, 2017, a group of 18 Commonwealth employees (most of whom are part of the Project Management Office) headed off to Windrush Farm for a volunteer day. Windrush is an equestrian center and farm located in North Andover, and is one of the first therapeutic riding centers in the United States. The mission of the organization is to “expand and enrich the personal, emotional and physical abilities of all those we serve by partnering with our horses and the environment.” (more…)

Supporting Veterans and the Run to Home Base Program at Fenway Park

— Whitney Johnson
Compliance Advisor, Surveillance

Who do you run for? That was the question posed this year for the 6th annual Run to Home Base, a run/walk where the money raised goes to support the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program. For me, the answer was simple. I run for my husband, and I run for those he served with in Afghanistan. While he is not personally afflicted by many of the traumas of war that the program aims to treat, there are countless soldiers and their families who are and who rely on the services provided by the Home Base Program.

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Wealth Management Gives Back in 2015!

—Meagan Swanson
Manager, Fixed Income Research

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. — Aesop

As we planned for the 2015 department-wide Giving Back initiative, we once again followed the simplified framework that was created last year to help us achieve our stated goals. This framework includes the following elements:

Identify a local, well-respected organization that supports a value system in line with our own at Commonwealth.
Organize a series of events that would allow people to participate in any manner they could, whether with their time, money, or donated goods.
Cultivate collaboration across the firm and within our department while maintaining a fun, welcoming environment.
Celebrate the success of this initiative and of the impact possible through teamwork.

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A Miracle League of Their Own

— Mary Creagh
Senior Human Resources Generalist

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a morning volunteering with the Miracle League of San Diego. On the drive into Coronado, I have to admit that I was a tad nervous about what to expect. All I knew was that this organization works with mentally and physically disabled children and their families, to allow the child the experience of being on a baseball team. Of course, I thought that this was an awesome program and I wanted to support it by helping out where I could. By the time I left that day to head home, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of positivity, gratitude and hope. The kids (i.e., the players) with their siblings, parents, friends, and cheering sections are amazing, immensely positive, and inspiring people. (more…)

The Big Bake Sale—and the Power of Community

— Lori Yaverbaum
Director, Web Services & Usability

Eight years ago, I signed up to participate in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Light the Night Walk, which is a very cool event set up to raise money for blood cancer research, honoring both survivors and those who have lost their lives to a blood cancer. Having just finished treatment for my own non-Hodgkin’s diagnosis, it meant the world to me that I was able to put together a team (the Eradicators) and give back to the organization that helped to save my life. In order to fundraise, I organized a bake sale in our Waltham office, where the Web Services & Usability team helped me in raising approximately $500. (more…)

Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Promoting Community

— Wilston Johnston
Project Manager, Technology

My build partner for the day, Dorian (left). We did good work together!

Earlier this month, 13 of my colleagues and I spent our Commonwealth VTO (volunteer time off) day working for Habitat for Humanity. Habitat offers two ways to volunteer: either helping in the building of affordable housing (sold at no profit) or working in one of its ReStores. The ReStores are retail outlets that sell new and used building and household materials that are donated by companies and individuals. The profits from these ReStores help to fund the affordable housing builds. (more…)

Rodman Ride for Kids: Combining Forces for At-Risk Youth

—Peter Essele
Portfolio Manager

The Rodman Ride for Kids raises funds for youth-focused social-service agencies that support at-risk children in Massachusetts. The Ride for Kids and its affiliated charities fundraise year-round, culminating with The Ride event, a 25-, 50-, and 100-mile noncompetitive cycling tour each fall. The mission is to have every kid in our community live as we would want our own kids to live. (more…)

Jimmy Fund Walk: Team Blisters for Bucks

—Catharine Zink
Junior Graphic Designer

On September 21, I joined my friend and team captain, Nicole Sweeney, and 8,800 other participants in the Jimmy Fund Walk along the Boston Marathon route to support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s mission to conquer cancer. (more…)

Relay For Life: A Doyle McMahon Family Tradition Since 2007

—Michele Doyle
Senior Developer

The Doyle McMahon clan has been supporting the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life since 2007. As part of the Chippy’s Kids team, we raise money in the South Central Massachusetts Relay each September. Leading the charge has been my daughter Kevyn, who has been active in Relay since she was in second grade and lost both a teacher and a schoolmate to cancer on the same day. (more…)

Providing Food For Families in Our Community

—Adam Pierce
Operations Priority Specialist

This past August, Commonwealth once again collected and delivered non-perishable food to the Sacred Heart Church Food Pantry as part of our annual food drive. Last year, we made the switch from the Greater Boston Food Bank to a smaller church in downtown Waltham that helps support dozens of local families. We felt the food should stay closer to the area in which we work, helping to aid families in our own back yard. (more…)