As a gesture of thanks to the hard work of front-line workers around the city and beyond, members of the Class of 2020 delivered t-shirts at six locations on Wednesday, May 20. The 1,000 shirts, with “Worcester State Cares” on the front and “WSU Alumni Thank Those on the Front Line” on the back, were funded through a gift from Gregg ’86 and Pam ’87 Rosen.
Seniors Brenda Thomas, Stephen Lenane, Olivia Petrucci, Manny Reyes, Cody Riedle, and Pavlina Ziso, accompanied by University Advancement staff, visited hospitals, nursing and rehabilitation centers, elder care facilities, and City Hall, where Thomas spoke at the city’s daily COVID-19 briefing, spreading words of appreciation to all the city’s front-line workers.
The first stop was at Summit ElderCare on Grafton Street, a Fallon Health day health center that manages individual care seniors. Worcester State Foundation Board member Mary Ritter assisted with the selection of this location in her role as Fallon Health’s senior vice president of strategy and business development.
Seniors then dropped by two of the area’s nursing centers: Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, overseen by Executive Director Shawn L. Neville ’04, and Holden Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center, managed by Administrator Tara D’Andrea ’97.
Thomas and Lenane were invited by Amy Peterson ’03, communications specialist in the office of City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr., to take part in the city of Worcester’s daily briefing and meet Augustus, Mayor Joseph Petty, and Medical Director Dr. Hirsh. Thomas sent words of appreciation on behalf of the Class of 2020 and alumni to all the city’s front-line workers.
“We know there are Worcester State alumni and so many others working within the community to help fight COVID-19. This is our way of saying thank you, to each and every one of you, for all you have sacrificed to keep the residents of Worcester safe. On behalf of Worcester State alumni, and the Class of 2020, thank you,” said Thomas in the presentation.
Students also recognized the front-line workers at the city’s hospitals: St. Vincent’s Hospital, where President Maloney is a member of the Governing Board; and UMass Memorial Medical Center-University Campus, where Foundation Board member Kate McEvoy ’95 serves as the vice president of corporate relations. Seniors at these locations had the opportunity to meet Carolyn Jackson, CEO of St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dr. Eric Dickson, CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care, and Dr. Michael Gustafson, president of UMass Memorial Medical Center-University Campus.
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