Tri-CAP PRESS RELEASE

Contact person:            Loretta C. Kemp, Deputy Director

Phone:                          781.322.4125

E-mail:                          LKemp@tri-cap.org

Organization:                Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. (Tri-CAP)

Address:                       110 Pleasant Street

                                    Malden , MA 02148

      LKemp@tri-cap.org

                                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     Philip Bronder-Giroux(l), Exec. Dir. Jack Supino (c); Wm. Haddad (r), Board VP   

                                             Emcee Sen. Pat Jehlen & Joe Dalton

                                           State Representative Paul Donato

Pat Kelley Awardee

       Tri-CAP Board Sees Changes and a Surprise Announcement

Malden , MA . The Board of Directors of Tri-City Community Action Program, Inc. thanks its honorees and supporters for making the 29^th Annual Awards Dinner a most enjoyable and meaningful event.  At the Annual Board Meeting, the following Board officers were re-elected: Charlie Harak , Esq., President; William Haddad, Vice President; Isabelle Martin-Allen, Treasurer; Curt Withers , Clerk. Board members Antonio Amaya of La Comunidad and Hernan Restrepo of Voices in Action (VIA) were also re-elected.  Matthew Dugan of Melrose became the new Keyspan representative.  “Two of our most loyal and active Board members are retiring from the Board , Catherine Jean Cronin of Woburn and Alice Orok of Malden,” stated Charlie Harak .  “They will truly be missed.  We thank them both for their years of dedicated service and wish them all the best.” 

A surprise announcement was made by Joe Dalton on behalf of Congressman Ed Markey. Tri-CAP is slated to receive a one-time federal appropriation of $200,000 to strengthen its infrastructure to better serve the needs of low-income residents in the tri-city area.  “We are most gratified by this most recent indicator of Ed Markey’s ongoing support of Tri-CAP’s mission and work,” stated Philip Bronder-Giroux , Tri-CAP Executive Director.

The Harry “Buddy” Coholan Award, named in honor of the long-time Everett businessman and civic leader who believed business owners should be good citizens and responsible, active community members, went to John “Jack” Supino of Supino Brothers Oil.  “I know Buddy is up there looking down and smiling on us.  I just want to tell him that although he got me started on this road, I’ve worked hard and deserve this award,” quipped Mr. Supino.  “This award really means a lot to me.  I spent seven months in the hospital and to come out and learn I was being given this award was something special.  I thank you all,” Mr. Supino concluded.  Several member of Jack’s family, including wife, Lauraine, were in attendance.

Due to a critical legislative session, State Rep. Paul Donato, the 2006 recipient of the highest award given by Tri-CAP’s Board of Directors, the Patricia A. Kelley Award, was unable to attend.  Fortunately, State Senator Patricia Jehlen was able to serve as a most gracious Mistress of Ceremonies.  “I really enjoy events like this, because they give me a chance to meet and talk with people,” said a smiling Sen. Jehlen. 

Other award recipients included Community Service Award recipients – Jeff Hansell, former Executive Director, Malden Access Television and Catherine Jean Cronin of Woburn , elder advocate and  retiring Tri-CAP Board .  

The evening’s Keynote Speaker, Nadine Cohen, Esq., Staff Counsel, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law of the Boston Bar Association, got rave reviews.  “I really enjoyed listening to Nadine, and I went up and told her so,” enthused one Tri-CAP staff member, echoing the sentiments of the 60 people attending the dinner. Ms. Cohen did an outstanding job painting the history of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and correlating this event to current issues here in Massachusetts such as the controversial redistricting of legislative districts that resulted in diluting the vote of minority communities.  Ms. Cohen, as well as Tri-CAP Advocacy and Community Services Program Director, Anne Sterman , was very involved in the redistricting case.  This, along with an extensive history of successful litigation involving voting rights and other such key issues, lent additional authority and interest to what Ms. Cohen had to say.

Executive Director, Philip Bronder-Giroux , and Malden-Everett Family Network Coordinator, Gloria Coney , paid tribute to three Tri-CAP staff members who passed away this year: Kathy Atherton, Head Start preschool teacher; Marie Stathopoulous, Coordinator of the Fuel Assistance Program; and former Mobile Homeless Outreach Team staff member, Howard Copans.  Ms. Coney movingly read the poem, “Don’t Weep for Me.”  Tri-CAP honors these staff who gave so much of themselves to the people they served, to other staff, and to the mission of Tri-CAP.  Thank you, Kathy, Marie, and Howie.  You are gone but not forgotten.  

To make a contribution to help the less fortunate receive a “hand-up,” or for more information, you can contact Betty or Loretta at 781.322.4125, Monday-Friday, 9A-5P.

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