Good morning and welcome to Bobby’s World. As a 53-year Franklin County resident, I have seen many changes. Through it all, one thing that has stayed consistent for all those years is the generosity of so many people who live here.
This summer, for example, the annual Healing and Wheeling Bike Ride raised over $53,000. Elsewhere, the Relay for Life annually raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research. Each May, the Greenfield Kiwanis Club’s annual auction raises thousands of dollars for local youth. The YMCA in Greenfield runs an annual golf tournament benefit to help send kids to camp. The Franklin County Rotary Club hosts three significant fundraisers each year including a golf tournament in August, which benefits organizations including local Little League teams. Notably, the Rotary Club is the longest-running sponsor of Greenfield Minor League Baseball, which has been in existence for over 45 years and counting.
Many other organizations, including the local ELKS Lodges in Greenfield and Montague, The Greenfield Family Moose Center, Bernardston and Northfield Kiwanis, South Deerfield Polish Club and the Shelburne Falls Eagles, give back thousands of dollars each year to nonprofit agencies for veterans, children, sports teams, schools and local seniors.
Generosity is a wonderful aspect of our community.
And it’s not just community organizations that are making a difference. The other day, I was telling a friend that the Greenfield Recorder’s Citizen of the Year Award could be given to 500 Franklin County residents each year because there are so many wonderful people who give so much of themselves to help others. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Franklin County Technical High School’s head football and head wrestling coach, Joe Gamache. We talked about many things, but I want to mention an award that Joe was nominated for recently by one of his former players, Tim Fritz, who graduated in the spring.
FloSports, a broadcast company, recognized Joe for his outstanding job as a coach, his involvement in the community and as a mentor for young people. Out of thousands of nominations, Joe was one of five people nationwide to compete for this award, which includes a $25,000 cash prize. Unfortunately, the online voting ended yesterday and Joe wasn’t the majority winner, but here in Franklin County, Joe has been a winner for many years. If you see him on the streets or at a local sporting event, make sure to congratulate him on being recognized as one of the best coaches in the country — he deserves it.
Speaking of community and helping others, tomorrow afternoon from noon to 4 p.m. at the Schuetzen Verein in Gill, there will be a special fundraiser for Todd Fox, who lost his life at the age of 48 earlier this month leaving behind his wife and two teenage boys. Tickets are available at the door and there will be food, raffles and music by me, Bobby C.
So when you hear about an organization that’s putting on a fundraiser, please get out and support it because they are helping important nonprofit organizations to continue running. And when you hear people say, “Wow, Franklin County — one of the poorest counties in the state of Massachusetts — gives that much back to needy people and organizations?”
You should let them know that it isn’t a surprise at all because Franklin County cares.
As a local personality for radio stations WHAI 98.3, Bear Country 95.3, WHMP 99.3 and Bobby C’s DJ Service for the past 36 years, Bobby C. Campbell has been connected to the community for a very long time. If you have an event that needs promotion or an idea for a future column, e-mail him at bobbyleslie25@gmail.com.