Longtime financial advisors join forces in Shelburne Falls
SHELBURNE FALLS — Matthew Sheridan, managing director and founder of Salmon Falls Wealth Advisors, has announced that Michael Johnson has joined the firm as associate director and senior wealth advisor.
“Mike is a tremendous addition to our firm,” Sheridan said in a statement. “Together, we bring more than 50 years of combined experience and a shared commitment to helping individuals, families and nonprofits throughout Franklin County achieve their financial goals.”
Sheridan and Johnson first worked together at the former A.G. Edwards & Sons office. Both have extensive experience managing investment and insurance programs at local financial institutions and share a client-first philosophy.
Salmon Falls Wealth Advisors, in partnership with LPL Financial, provides independent financial guidance and personalized strategies for retirement planning, investment management, and estate and tax planning.
The firm is located at 50 State St. For more information, contact Johnson at 413-387-9341 or Sheridan at 413-522-2032, or visit salmonfallswealth.com.
MassHire holding Employer Spotlight at library
GREENFIELD — The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center will host an Employer Spotlight on Monday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Greenfield Public Library, featuring open positions in the city of Greenfield.
Examples of open jobs include fleet maintenance supervisor, water distribution laborer and engineering technician.
With questions, call 413-774-4361.
WillPower Foundation joins MCS to ensure long-term sustainability
SPRINGFIELD — The WillPower Foundation, serving families with different abilities in western Massachusetts, is entering a formal partnership with Multicultural Community Services. Starting this month, the WillPower Foundation will transition to become the WillPower Fund at MCS in an effort to secure long-term sustainability.
Since 2008, the WillPower Foundation has awarded nearly $500,000 in grants to families and individuals with different abilities across Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties. Founded by Maria and Craig Burke in honor of their son, William Michael Burke, who lives with a rare brain malformation called schizencephaly, the foundation was created to fill gaps left by insurance and other systems, funding items such as mobility aids, therapeutic programs and sensory equipment.
“I am incredibly proud to have helped bring this partnership together and honored that the WillPower Foundation has chosen MCS to carry on such a meaningful legacy,” Karen Fletcher, MCS executive director, said in a statement. “WillPower’s mission — empowering families and celebrating the power of different abilities — aligns beautifully with our own. This collaboration represents one of my proudest moments as executive director, and I’m deeply grateful to the WillPower Board for trusting us with this special mission.”
MCS, a provider since 1979, supports more than 3,500 individuals with developmental disabilities across western and central Massachusetts. With a full-time staff of more than 700 employees, MCS brings the infrastructure and expertise needed to manage the WillPower Fund’s grantmaking process and offer operational support at scale.
Beginning this month the WillPower Foundation will no longer operate as an independent nonprofit. Instead, it is becoming a donor-advised fund hosted by MCS. The grant application process will now be managed by MCS staff and hosted on its website. A newly formed Friends of WillPower fundraising group, led by a team of committed volunteers, will continue to host community events and raise money.
Families can still apply for up to $750 per year for needs not covered by insurance, including through multiple grant cycles annually.