Natick Report

More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.

Natick’s Robert Dunn recognized with Myra Kraft Community MVP Award for volunteer efforts

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Natick’s Robert Dunn was among 26 honorees of the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award for outstanding volunteerism, and was presented with a $10,000 donation for Care Dimensions, the hospice program to which he devotes so much time. The awards ceremony was held at Gillette Stadium earlier this month.

According to Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation, Dunn earned his recognition for the many hours he spends visiting patients each week in a veterans-to-veterans program.

“I served as a petty officer second class in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972. I decided I wanted to devote my hospice volunteering time to other veterans,” Dunn said in a statement. “Whatever service you were in, it’s like a brotherhood. When I first meet a patient, I say I’m a Navy vet and visit vets wherever they live. I ask them about their family first, then their service. I focus the discussion on what they like so I can learn how to support them.”

Dunn’s wife spent her final days in hospice care before passing away in 1998 at the age of 52. Dunn determined then to dedicate his free time to the hospice program, having seen the important of support for grieving people.

Care Dimensions services 100 communities across the state.

The Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation received more than 250 applications this year from nonprofit organizations looking to recognize their volunteers.

kraft award dunn

 

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Tour de Natick was a fun Father’s Day ride, not an intense race

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As over 250 cyclists readied themselves for the Natick Rotary Club-organized Tour de Natick at the starting point between the post office and the Common Street Spiritual Center, a police officer shouted out a friendly directive: “Remember, this is a ride, not a race.”

The goal: have fun and keep the action on the 6-mile Tour de Natick course as unlike the Tour de France as possible—no crazy speeds, no glaring at the upstart about to pass you, no hyper-competitive peloton groupings. The annual Father’s Day tradition (except for two bye years due to that pesky pandemic) went off without a hitch, and raised nearly $10,000 to fund college scholarships for Natick students through race entrance fees and the event’s  20+ generous sponsors.

Tour de Natick

 

Tour de Natick

Rotary Club president Mark Canegallo said, “We’re super thankful to our sponsors. Middlesex Savings Bank has been with us every single year for 19 years. TJX stepped up as a new corporate sponsor for us, and Bernardi Auto is a major sponsor as well. Coach & Carriage Auto Body has always been a sponsor.” In addition, Wegman’s donated the food for the post-race bar-b-que.

 

Natick Rotary Club, Tour de Natick

In addition to the scholarship program, the Club gives a dictionary to each of Natick’s approximately 300 third graders. Over the past 15 years over 8,000 dictionaries, each one personalized with the receiving student’s name, have been donated.

Save your bottles and cans for Natick Boy Scout Troop 1775

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Bring your empty and refundable bottles and cans to to the Natick VFW, 113 W. Central Street, Natick, on Saturday, June 11, 9am-noon to benefit Natick Boy Scouts of America Troop 1775. The troop is holding the drive to help them fund community service work such as local trails maintenance, as well as camping trips and Eagle Scout projects.

Natick Scouts, can drive

 

Interested in joining the Boy Scouts?

Boy Scouting is for boys who are 11, or are at least 10 years old and have completed the fifth grade or have earned the Cub Scout Arrow of Light Award, through 17 years old.

If you would like to join Troop 1775 please attend a troop meeting.

Meetings are held every Monday when Natick public schools are in session from 7pm-8:30pm, at the Lilja School Gym, 41 Bacon Street, Natick. For more information, contact membership@naticktroop1775.org

Annual Family Promise Walk to End Homelessness will be May 13-15

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Join Family Promise Metrowest during The Walk to End Homelessness, the non-profit organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. All funds raised go toward transforming the lives of families with children facing homelessness across the Metrowest region. Choose your own walk route between May 13 and May 15 and raise awareness and funds for families facing homelessness.

family promise metrowest

The 13th annual walk will feature independent walks throughout surrounding towns with participants’ friends, families, or organizations. Walkers choose their own route and raise awareness and funds for families in need. Walk 10 minutes or 10 miles, it’s up to you!

Register here.

Unable to participate in a walk? Donations are gratefully accepted.

Save the date: Natick Passion Plunge to support Special Olympics, Feb. 12th

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The annual Natick Passion Plunge hosted by AMVETS Post 79 will take place on Sat., Feb. 12, at Post 79’s 79 Superior Dr., Natick location. The ice-cold plunge into Lake Cochituate may freeze your body, but helping to raise funds for Special Olympics Massachusetts will warm your soul.

AMVETS v

Grab your brrrravest friends and family, create a plunge team, and start fundraising. The Passion Plunge is about more than just a good time. By fundraising $100 or more, you are empowering over 14,000 Special Olympics athletes in Massachusetts to train and compete in the sports they love, sponsoring lifelong friendships and competitive spirits, and celebrating inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities on and off the playing field.

Need some incentive? Raise $100 and get a long-sleeved t-shirt. Raise even more and the prizes get even better.

There will also be a raffle, and tickets can be purchased the day of the event at registration. Winners will be announced after the Passion Plunge.

EVENT: Passion Plunge
DATE: Sat., Feb. 12
TIME: Registration/check-in begins at 10am,  the Plunge begins at noon.
LOCATION: AMVETS Post 79, 79 Superior Dr., Natick, MA
QUESTIONS: Contact Wayne Anthony, State 1st Vice Commander, at 774-270-3253 or Tim Eaton, State 2nd Vice Commander, at 857-498-0612