With his seventh annual Monte’s March ready to kick off next week as a 43-mile walk against hunger, WRSI’s Chris “Monte” Belmonte has just won the 2016 Volunteer in Philanthropy Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Western Massachusetts.
Belmonte is a Turners Falls resident who agreed to take over the lease of the Shea Theater this year and raise money for restoration of the 300-seat venue.
The award, given at a Holyoke luncheon, recognized the radio host’s work in leading the annual walk to raise money for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
This year’s march, kicking off Monday in Springfield, will again include U.S. Rep James McGovern leaving Northampton Tuesday at 6 a.m., joined by U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy at the Amherst Survival Center and arriving around 1:15 p.m. at Yankee Candle in South Deerfield and winding up in Greenfield, with a 6 p.m. reception at the Seymour Pub, on Bank Row.
Throughout the march, passers-by can make donations into Belmonte’s shopping cart, call 888-323-HOPE (4673) or visit www.foodbankwma.org to make donations to The Food Bank.
Last year’s march raised $150,000 for the food bank, and over the past six years, it has raised a total of $393,000, providing more than 1.1 million meals to people facing food insecurity.
The award also recognizes Belmonte’s contribution to restoring the Shea Theater in Turners Falls, with nearly $150,000 raised to date, and his 10 annual Cancer Connection Campouts on the Hampshire County Courthouse lawn, which last year raised more than $100,000 for the organization.
“It’s humbling and a great honor,” Belmonte said of the award. “I like being the center of attention in a class clown kind of way, not in a valedictorian kind of way.”
He credited the radio station, “The River,” for assisting with the charitable events, and to its listeners for their donations.
In his nomination, Northampton attorney William Newman, who hosts a show on WRSI sister station WHMP, said, “The time and energy (he) expends for the betterment of nonprofits in western Massachusetts goes on and on,” including the Young Shakespeare Players, public television station WGBY and the Food Bank’s Task Force to End Hunger. “He regularly supports, energizes and helps others to support nonprofits throughout Western Massachusetts.”
The award “recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills for major fundraising projects,” according to the association.