Chris Casavant (left) of Winchendon, Kevin MacLean of Fitchburg and Judy Gentry, a Leominster resident, all received Fellowships from Community Builders to further their individual initiatives to improve the community.

“Bill is an inspirational speaker that opened our eyes to what each one of us can do to make our community stronger,” said Karson Aubuchon of Princeton, chair of Community Builders, which sponsored the half day event at the Four Points Sheraton.  “We saw Bill’s message at work today, with the award of our three Fellowships.

Aubuchon kicked off the meeting by telling the audience that Community Builders was founded in 2004 by United Way of North Central Massachusetts and Mount Wachusett Community College as a way to actively encourage volunteerism. 

The group awards Fellowships, which are monetary awards to individuals with great ideas to improve the community.  It also maintains and promotes volunteer opportunities through its website, www.community-builders.net and hosts training and conferences for nonprofit organizations.

Dan Asquino, president of Mount Wachusett Community College introduced Shore, who founded Share Our Strength in 1984 in response to the Ethiopian famine and subsequently renewed concern about hunger in the United States. His organization has become the nation’s leading anti-hunger, anti-poverty organization that mobilizes industries and individuals to contribute their talents to fight hunger and poverty throughout the world. 

Shore encouraged the participants to act on their values in new and innovative ways.  He said everybody can be an agent of change by using their special talents.  “Doing something that counts.  Something that not only makes a difference, but has a lasting impact,” said the author of The Cathedral Within and The Light of Conscience. 

Following Shore’s presentation, three Fellowships were awarded to area residents.

Chris Casavant of Winchendon received $2300 to address the lack of opportunities for youth and connectedness among neighbors in his town.  He, along with several other fathers, decided to start their own Pop-Warner football team as a tool to address the problem. 

Kids have to choose between Gardner and Oakmont if they wanted to play football, which fosters a division in the community.  Casavant anticipates the new league will encourage youth and parents to volunteer.

Kevin MacLean of Fitchburg works with the Senior Center in Ashburnham to fix any at home projects for seniors that do not require a building permit.  Kevin has put in wheelchair ramps, fixed doors and patched leaks.  He gathers all of the materials needed through donations and has coordinated a group of small business tradesmen to volunteer as the handymen.  MacLean received a $2400 Fellowship for his program, which has been replicated in Gardner and another state by his brother.

Judy Gentry,Leominster, of Warmer Winters has recruited 40 volunteers to knit and crochet blankets, hats, scarves and mittens for various nonprofit agencies in the region.  She is planning to collaborate with the Multi Service Center so she can write grants to expand her program.  In exchange for use of their office and expertise Gentry,s volunteers will knit lap blankets for the Multi Service Center’s Generations Linked program. She also teaches knitting at the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center and Battered Women’s Resources so clients can learn to create their own income by selling their goods at craft fairs.  Gentry will use the $3000 Fellowship to expand her program.

The event was hosted by Community Builders, which is a partnership between United Way of North Central Massachusetts, Mount Wachusett Community College and ASHOKA: Innovators For The Public to inspire volunteerism, and its corporate underwriters which include Bemis Associates and Unitil.