NoteWorthy – 3/19/17

NoteWorthy is your weekly news roundup of happenings, movers and shakers, and community events in the Merrimack Valley.

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AROUND THE VALLEY

Greater Lowell Community Foundation Awards Grantees

Several nonprofit grantees of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s Discretionary Grant Program have received funds critical to their missions this week, including the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Lowell Housing Authority and the Zack’s Team Foundation.

Funds received will be used by these organizations to support, respectively, the MVFB’s Mobile Pantry Program, which is designed to help maintain the good health of homebound elderly and disabled Greater Lowell residents; Lowell Housing Authority’s Science on Wheels: Traveling STEM Workshops, which provide youth with structured, hands-on activities exploring STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields; and by the Zack’s Team Foundation to build a sober house specifically designed for young men in early recovery.

Through its most recent Discretionary Grant Program, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation supported 17 nonprofit organizations with $131,500. Last year, the Community Foundation awarded $1.2 million to nonprofits and students in total grant distributions.

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Element Care Holds “Khmer Women Leading the Way” Event

As part of Lowell Women’s Week celebrations, Element Care, in collaboration with the Lowell Community Health Center, sponsored “Khmer Women Leading the Way.” The event, the first of its kind, attracted an audience of 50 community leaders who gathered to hear about the journeys of successful Khmer women.

The event’s keynote speaker was Bora Chiemruom, executive director of the Commonwealth’s Asian American Commission, who was born in Cambodia and grew up in Lowell. Other speakers included Lada Lau, a career and co-op advisor at UMass Lowell, and Nicole Klays, a Mill City entrepreneur.

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Tupelo Hosts Party At New Derry Venue

Tupelo Music Hall owner Scott Hayward held an invitation-only “sneak peek” party at his new Derry, New Hampshire location on Friday, with several hundred friends, family, long-time Tupelo supporters and media attending. The new venue has a capacity of nearly 700, almost triple the size of the original venue in Londonderry.

Upcoming performers include Blue Oyster Cult, Peter Frampton, Melissa Etheridge, Robben Ford and many others. Parking capacity at the new venue exceeds 200 spaces, and new bar and food services are expected to greatly enhance the experience for concert goers. The new venue will also be available for private events according to Hayward.

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union Donates Care Packages to Lowell’s Homeless

Just in time for Winter Storm Stella, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union’s Member Service Center and other employees donated 48 care packages to Living Waters, a nonprofit organization that helps the homeless in the Greater Lowell area. Each bag was filled with hand warmers, gloves, hats, water, snacks and other necessities, including toothpaste, toothbrushes and deodorant.

“It’s so nice to see individual departments come together to help those in need in our community,” said Mark S. Cochran, president and CEO of Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union. “As an organization, social responsibility is integral to our overall mission, and it really shows just how caring our employees are when they take initiative in this way.”

Living Waters provides meals, therapeutic recreation and other services to provide support to those struggling with homelessness or loneliness. The donated items allow the Jeanne D’Arc employees to extend their support to the mission, as well as the individual clients, of Living Waters.

 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

March 23

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Lowell will hold its 2017 Thomas G Kelakos Community Spirit Award Dinner at 6:30 p.m. at Lenzi’s. In addition to dinner and cocktails, attendees will see Tim Grover of Megan’s House given the eponymous award. Dracut, Mass. LowellKiwanis.org|

March 25

Foster Kids of the Merrimack Valley will hold their 4th Annual Bocce Tournament at the Methuen Sons of Italy Lodge at 11 a.m. The event will kick off with lunch and all proceeds will benefit the organization’s work in supporting foster children in the Greater Haverhill and Lawrence areas. Methuen, Mass. | FosterKidsMV.org

March 27

Cobblestones of Lowell will be the Merrimack Valley host for this year’s Massachusetts Restaurant Day for No Kid Hungry. Chefs from other area restaurants, such as Evviva Cucina and NoLo Bistro & Bar, will help create an evening of dinner and drinks you won’t soon forget — all for a good cause! Lowell, Mass. | CobblestonesOfLowell.com

April 1

Team up with friends, family and loved ones for this year’s Walk MS: Newburyport. The walk, sponsored by the National MS Society, will raise funds for MS research and support programs and services. Check-in begins at Newburyport High School at 9 a.m. Newburyport, Mass. | NationalMSSociety.org

The Winner’s Circle Running Club‘s 36th Annual April Fool’s 4 Mile Road Race will kick off at the Winner’s Circle Sports Bar and Restaurant at 10 a.m. Proftheir from the race will benefit breast cancer research and the Red Cross. Salisbury, Mass. | RunTheCircle.org

Enjoy a lovely evening at the Castleton Banquet and Conference Center at Windham Community Bands’ 19th Annual Dinner and Dance, which will take place from 6 to 11 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the nonprofit, which serves musicians all over the Merrimack Valley. Windham, N.H. | WindhamCommunityBands.org

April 2

Home Health Foundation will hold their Spring has Sprung: 4th Annual Fundraiser Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Atkinson Country Club. Alongside the brunch, attendees will enjoy a raffle and festive floral designs created by Steve Janavicus of Flowers by Steve. Atkinson, N.H. | HomeHealthFoundation.org

April 4

L’Arche Boston North will be hosting their ninth Taste of Spring Restaurant Tasting Fundraiser at the Renaissance Golf Club from 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy offerings from some of the Merrimack Valley’s best restaurant establishments while participating in auctions and raffles. Haverhill, Mass. | LArcheBostonNorth.org

April 7

The Exchange Club of Lawrence is running its annual amateur boxing event at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Andover. All proceeds go to a scholarship fund for children in Lawrence. Andover, Mass.

April 8

Emmaus Inc. will hold its 3rd annual Stepping Out with the Valley Stars starting at 6.p.m. at Blue Ocean Music Hall. Participate in an evening of dinner, dancing, auctions and fun to benefit the organization’s fight against homelessness. Salisbury, Mass. | EmmausInc.eJoinMe.org

April 14

WOW – Winning Opportunities for Women presents its 21st Anniversary Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Blue Ocean Music Hall. Enjoy a day of inspiration, growth, networking and camaraderie amongst Greater Haverhill’s strongest women. Salisbury, Mass. | HaverhillChamber.com

Know something NoteWorthy we should include? Email Joseph Girard-Meli at jgirardmeli@512mediainc.com with your news tips.