Each year, United Way of Hampshire County recognizes individuals, businesses, and organizations who have gone above and beyond in their support of the community and United Way. This June, we celebrated the last official United Way of Hampshire County award recipients. In 2022 we look forward to continuing and expanding this tradition as United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region.

Kay Sheehan Spirit of Community Awards

The Key Sheehan Spirit of the Community Award can be giving to an individual or an organization, we are awarding it to one of each this year.

The Kay Sheehan Spirit of the Community Award going to an organization goes to Craig’s Doors. Craig’s Door is a shelter in Amherst that started in 2011. They provide a home to those who don’t have a home. They provide support. Their decade long service is a testimony to coordination and community spirit. The result has been that Craig’s Doors has maintained a needed 24-hour shelter during a hard time. Their work is meaningful, making the all the difference for those who stay. Craig’s Doors executive director is Kevin Noonan.

The Kay Sheehan Spirit of the Community Award going to an individual goes to Tara Brewster. Tara is a self-proclaimed YES person, in the spirit of Kay Sheehan herself, the original YES woman who was always willing to help. She is vice president for Business Development at Greenfield Savings Bank and serves on the boards of several nonprofits, including: Double Edge Theater, Downtown Northampton Association, the David Ruggles Center, Hampshire Regional YMCA, and MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board.

This Smith College alumna is also the co-founder and former co-owner of Jackson & Connor, the upscale menswear store in Thornes and is most recently the new host of The Western Mass Business Show, the WHMP radio program showcasing business leaders of the Pioneer Valley.

Community Champion Award

The Community Champion Award is presented to a local individual or group that contributes to the mission of our United Way and creates positive, lasting change in Hampshire County.

This year’s Community Partner Award goes to Jack Hornor. It is hard, maybe impossible, to convey the support that Jack has giving to our United Way for decades. As he says, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to lend a hand whenever it helps.” As a result, Jack has served on our Audit committee. Jack and his partner Ron have hosted United Way events at their wonderful home. He has helped immensely with our Tocqueville program. In the past two years, he has provided matching grants, which have been pivotal in increasing individual giving and helping boost UWHC leadership giving by 12% last year.

This is a lot of work, but we are not Jack’s only cause. He worked to get Northampton to recognize same sex domestic partnerships when he first moved here in 1992. That issue failed at the ballot, but helped to energize the cause, and led to Hornor entering political work. Jack was a founding board member of MassEquality--dedicated to a Massachusetts without discrimination and oppression based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression--serving as co-chair of the development committee, chair of the finance committee, member of executive committee, and treasurer.

His volunteer and board work includes chairing the Northampton Community Preservation Committee, chairing the Northampton Housing Partnership, working on the State Hospital Citizens Advisory Committee.

If you ask Jack about his giving, he will tell you he has been lucky and it is a privilege to give back.

Workplace Campaign Award

Recognizes an exemplary United Way Workplace Campaign that embodies the mission of United Way through their participation and leadership in caring for our community.

Our 2021 Workplace Champion Award goes to Whalen Insurance and Peter Whalen.

Whalen Insurance has been a supporter of United Way for four decades. Their consistent long-term dedication is a model of giving back, and an inspiration. During the challenges of COVID, Peter and his company stepped up their giving. While their support has always been appreciated, it was even more important at a time when more has been asked of us.

Their history with United Way includes:

A $25,000 matching grant to marking the company’s 50th anniversary that helped bring in over $35,000
Over $150K since 1997
Peter Whalen served as Chairperson of our Leaders Circle for ten years, and was on two of our strategic planning committees.

Whalen Insurance’s community support extends to multiple agencies, such as Mass Humanities, Hilltown Community Health Center, Tapestry, International Language Institute, Community Action, The Food Bank of Western Mass, Northampton Survival Center, and literally dozens more.

Peter’s work extends beyond United Way, and our community is all the better for it as he has been on the boards of the Northampton Center for the Arts, Academy of Music, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Historic Northampton, and Lathrop Home. Peter currently serves on the board of the Childs Park Foundation, The Northampton Chamber’s Economic Development Council, is a director of the Greenfield/Northampton Cooperative Bank board of directors, and is the Treasurer of the Northampton Community Arts Trust.

All award recipients received an official citation from the State Senate on behalf of Senator Jo Comerford. Thank you Senator!