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Citizens Bank pledges one million meals to 11 nonprofits
Citizens Bank and the Citizens Bank Foundation this week announced they are working with 11 of their community partners to provide more than one million meals to people who are in need throughout Massachusetts this year. To observe Hunger Action Month, RBS Citizens Financial Group (RBSCFG) also announced its goal of providing 4.5 million meals to local food organizations across the bank’s footprint by year end. As part of Citizens Helping Citizens Fight Hunger, the bank’s program to help eradicate hunger in local communities served by Citizens Bank and Charter One, RBSCFG has provided more than three million meals to date. Through a series of 11 grants from the Citizens Bank Foundation that total $525,000, the partners – the Greater Boston Food Bank, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Women’s Lunch Place, Community Servings, Worcester County Food Bank, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Project Bread, Boston Medical Center, Bay Cove Human Services, Family Pantry of Cape Cod and Food for Free – are providing emergency food and nutritious meals to children and families throughout Massachusetts. The Greater Boston Food Bank supplies food to MetroWest pantries, and Citizens Bank has branches in MetroWest.
Bellingham to host Halloween Harvest Fest
Whole Foods Market hosts the 3rd annual Halloween Harvest Fest on Oct. 5 from 1 to 4 p.m. at 255 Hartford Ave., Bellingham. The event features funnel cakes, chowder, clam cakes, hot apple cider, a pumpkin patch, face painting, raffles, a bounce house, a Halloween costume contest and more. Attendees can also try their hand at the Strongman Bell Strike or ride a camel. Vendors from the Charles River Plaza and throughout New England will be on hand along with farmers selling their freshly harvested produce. Attendees can visit booths and chat with plaza store representatives, local farmers and vendors throughout New England.
Joey O’Donnell Film Premiere takes place Nov. 10
The 29th annual Joey O’Donnell Film Premiere, a fundraiser for The Joey Fund/Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, takes place Nov. 10. The event begins with an evening of regional cuisine from Alta Strada, Porcini’s, Not Your Average Joe’s, Cactus Club, Off the Vine, Fig’s, Cheesecake Factory, The Kowloon and Zaftig from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Natick Mall, 1245 Worcester St. (Rte. 9 west), Natick. Guests enter through the mall’s main entrance between Sel de la Terre and Nordstrom. Immediately after the food event is a film screening at the AMC Framingham, 22 Flutie Pass, Framingham. Tickets starts at $125. For more information, visit mass-ri.cff.org/filmpremiere2013. The local Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is in Natick.
New Hope to hold ribbon-cutting ceremony in Milford
New Hope Inc., a nonprofit domestic and sexual violence agency, holds a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new office in Milford at 291 Main St. on Oct. 8 from 5 and 7 p.m. The event is being held in tandem with the Milford Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours meeting. Based in Attleboro, New Hope serves 54 cities and towns throughout central and southeastern Massachusetts, and has offices in Attleboro, Milford, Taunton and Worcester. For more information, visit new-hope.org.
‘Marathon Daffodils’ project coming to Ashland
The “Marathon Daffodils” project is coming to Ashland on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20. Local residents, businesses and organizations are invited to participate by planting daffodil bulbs along the Boston Marathon route that passes through Ashland’s stretch of Rte 135. The blooms next April will be an affirmation of the spirit of “Boston Strong” and a symbol of hope. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate and help plant 10,000 bulbs. Contact Diane Roberts, president of the Ashland Garden Club, at dianetroberts@comcast.net for details.
Babson student competes in Female Entrepreneur Challenge
Emily Lagasse, an MBA candidate at Babson College in Wellesley, is a finalist in the 2013 Female Entrepreneur Challenge, a competition that aims to propel female entrepreneurs in the Boston area. Lagasse’s business is Fedwell, a dog food company. The competition takes place this week at the Dedham Hilton in Dedham as part of the 7th annual Women’s Business Leaders Conference. The eight-week business plan competition provides an opportunity for finalists to pitch their businesses for a chance to win $10,000 along with a host of other prizes.