April Updates from the Spirit of Springfield

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest!

While we have so much to look forward to, from the warmer weather to the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast in May and the Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic in June, our hearts are with the families in Ukraine and their loved ones living as refugees.

To support one family, the Spirit of Springfield has initiated a fundraiser for Max Stasiuk, the Ukrainian illustrator of the Bright Nights at Forest Park children’s book, “Little Frog and the Bright Lights.” The support has been tremendous.

We are all in this world together. We look forward to coming together in-person on May 14^th at the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, and as part of a global community for Max and his family.

-- Judy Matt

President

Congratulations Chris Kelley!

Congratulations to MGM Springfield President and Chief Operating Officer, Chris Kelley. He was named the 2022 World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast Honorary Chair. Last year’s honoree, District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, made the announcement and presented him with his “official” Spirit of Springfield jacket in a room filled with sponsors, supporters, and volunteers.

“I am incredibly honored to be chosen as this year’s Honorary Chair of the Spirit of Springfield’s World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast! What we need more than ever right now is an event designed to bring families, friends, and neighbors together,” said Chris Kelley. “The annual Pancake Breakfast has done just that since 1986 in what has become a treasured tradition in our community. I am excited to put on an apron, flip some flapjacks, and see everyone on May 14^th!”

In preparation for the event, Chris will be trained in the fine art of bacon frying by Sheriff Nick Cocchi and how to whisk the perfect batch of pancake batter by the culinary team at Mercy Medical Center.

Pancake Breakfast Supplies

Donations for the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast have been piling up! Baystate Health is donating the paper products. Cabot Creamery is shipping 200 pounds of butter. Smithfield Packaged Meats has 1,000 pounds of bacon on its way.

H. P. Hood will be filling a tractor trailer with milk, juice, and cream. Mansfield Paper Company will fulfill the order of paper products, table covers, and pans for the bacon. The Springfield Business Improvement District will be picking up pancake mix and syrup from Performance Food Service. Sheraton Springfield will be brewing hundreds of gallons of coffee that they are donating to the event.

There will be even more people working behind the scenes. Mercy Medical Center will mix the batter, and print the tickets and fliers that will be distributed to area schools by American Medical Response (AMR). The Springfield Business Improvement District will make sure Main Street is maintained throughout the event with an assist from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, who will also cook the bacon that will be reheated by MGM Springfield.

Gleason Johndrow Landscaping will load the batter onto Quality Beverage’s refrigerator truck, distribute product to cooking tents and beverage stations, and keep them supplied throughout the event.

Every donation and every donor are vital to the success of the event, and the Spirit of Springfield is so grateful for each and everyone who plays a role.

Special thanks to two new sponsors, Monson Savings Bank and TD Bank.

Get all the information at spiritofspringfield.org.

Supporting Ukrainian Illustrator

Eight months ago, the Spirit of Springfield started to work on the third children’s book for Bright Nights at Forest Park, “Little Frog and the Bright Lights.” Michele Dufresne from Pioneer Valley Books, who has written the books, introduced us to Ukrainian illustrator Max Stasuik and his amazing illustrations.

Last month, Max’s wife, children and aunt left Ukraine for their safety. Max opened his home to a family who had been living in an area now destroyed by bombing.

To support Max and his family, the Spirit of Springfield is selling the “Little Frog and the Bright Lights” for $10 plus $1 shipping/handling. For every book sold, Max will receive $10.

To date, over $4,000 has been raised through book sales and direct donations online at spiritofspringfield.org/support-max.

GEARING UP FOR GOLF

Golfers are showing their support for the Spirit of Springfield by registering for the Golf Classic. The fun-filled day at Franconia Golf Course will be Friday, June 3rd.

Charlie Arment Trucking has already pledged their support as the Eagle Sponsor and Gleason Johndrow Landscaping has a $25,000 prize for the person who gets a hole-in-one on the designated hole.

Players will have a chance to shoot their golf ball from an air gun. There will be contests for closest to the pin and longest drive, raffles, and more.

Bright Nights 5K Registration

The date has been set to register for the Bright Nights 5K Road Race. It will be Monday, September 12^th. The online registration will open at 12am.

The fun run through the lights will be held Monday, November 28^th at 6:30pm with a rain date of Tuesday, November 29^th. Runners will take their mark under the Seuss Land arch, follow the lights to the Giant Poinsettia Candles, and return through the aquatic gardens to finish just past the Nativity, Menorah, and Kwanzaa displays.

The registration fee is $65. Every participant receives a beautifully designed long-sleeve shirt, a ticket to return to Bright Nights in the comfort of their car, and gets to warm up with a bowl of soup at the post-race supper.

Be sure to mark the date on your calendar.

In this Issue

Congratulations

Chris Kelley!

Pancake Breakfast Supplies

Supporting Ukrainian Illustrator

Gearing Up for Golf

Bright Nights 5K

Registration

Guest Column

Dennis Punch

Smithfield

Packaged Meats

Pancake Breakfast Participation

Guest Column

Denis Punch

Plant Human Resources Manager, Springfield MA

Smithfield Foods

On behalf of Smithfield’s Springfield, MA facility, we’re delighted to donate 1,000 pounds of bacon to Spirit of Springfield’s upcoming World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast event this May. The bacon donations will be cooked by volunteers from the local Sheriff’s department.

Our company’s hard working team members here in Massachusetts and across the country are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly.^®" and are committed to helping our communities thrive.

Since 2008, Smithfield has donated hundreds of millions of servings of protein across the country and across all 50 U.S. states.