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BLUE HILLS REGIONAL’S ADOPT-A-SHOP HAS SMASH SUCCESS
WITH COMEDY NIGHT FUNDRAISER
By Judy Bass
Back L-R: State Rep
Bruce Ayers, BHR Foundation President Ed Tamulionis,
AAS Volunteers
Sarah Titus, Diane Williams, Gary Titus, State Rep. Walter F. Timilty.
Front L-R: AAS
VolunteersMarybeth Nearen, Linda Federico Sartori
Ask Blue Hills Regional Technical School alumnus Gary Titus of Canton how
the recent Comedy Night fundraiser for his brainchild, Adopt-a-Shop, went
and he will gleefully quip, “It was a good piece of change [raised] for a
great night of fun.”
Launched in 2003 and still going strong in its sixth school year,
Adopt-a-Shop was conceived by Titus, who graduated from Blue Hills in
1975, as a way for any individual or company to make tax-deductible
contributions of money or materials to the school’s technical or academic
programs.
This year, Adopt-A-Shop also gave two $750 scholarships to deserving Blue
Hills Regional seniors.
To date, its success has been extremely impressive, particularly because
it is run exclusively by a handful of dedicated volunteers who generously
donate their time and expertise. Titus, a well-known local DJ, estimates
that Adopt-A-Shop has raised over $100,000 in cash and $500,000 in
materials thus far, with the Comedy Night held at the Randolph Elks Club
responsible for $3500 more.
State Rep Bruce
Ayers, Marybeth Nearen, Gary Titus, Sarah Titus, State Rep. Walter F.
Timilty
A surprise highlight of the
occasion was the presentation of honorary proclamations to Titus for
founding Adopt-A-Shop from the Massachusetts House of Representatives and
Senate, courtesy of State Reps. Bruce Ayers, Walter Timilty [both Ayers
and Timilty were at the Comedy Night], and Joseph Driscoll, and State
Sen. Brian Joyce.
Titus gratefully thanked the many Blue Hills Regional staff and
administrators who attended the event, and he gives Adopt-A-Shop
volunteer Marybeth Nearen of Randolph a big share of the credit for the
evening’s triumph. “She did a fantastic job from start to finish,” he
said admiringly.
In fact, the Comedy Night was such a hit that another one is already on
tap for next year.
Nearen, who came up with the idea for a fundraising comedy night back in
July 2008, wedged making the preparations for it into her already crammed
schedule. She is vice chairman of the Randolph School Committee, a board
member of the Blue Hills Foundation, and a wife and mother of two girls
with ties to Blue Hills Regional – daughter Melissa graduated from the
school in 2007 and is now at the Wentworth Institute of Technology, and
another Nearen daughter, Kathleen, is a junior studying HVAC&R.
Nearen’s first priority was to create an unforgettable evening of pure
hilarity and fun. “Everybody loves to laugh,” she explained, “so what
better way to raise money than by [giving people] comedy and a dinner?”
She secured the services of four comedians – Robbie Printz, Artie
Januario, Tyler Boeh, and Mike Smith - through a company called Laugh
Riot, then Nearen approached local establishments asking them to donate
food from pasta to dessert for the dinner. Four eateries in Randolph (A
Taste of Italy, Bertucci’s, Not Your Average Joe’s, and Randolph Famous
Pizza), plus one in Stoughton (Olive Garden) gladly supplied a feast when
Nearen told them about Adopt-A-Shop and the worthiness of the cause they
would be supporting. “They didn’t even hesitate, they all said okay,
we’ll help out. They were very generous in doing so with the economy the
way it is,” Nearen acknowledged.
Her next goal was obtaining some great raffle prizes. She produced
fabulous ones like an edible bouquet of chocolate-covered strawberries
from Edible Arrangements in Brockton (it was Mother’s Day weekend) and
candy bouquets from Candy Bouquets in Randolph, as well as auto detailing
from Ace Auto Body in Braintree and a $45 gift certificate from the
Outback Restaurant in Randolph, along with gift certificates to some of
the Blue Hills Regional technical programs that provide services to the
public – Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Automotive Technology and Automotive
Collision Repair and Refinishing..
But the most symbolic items were the ones made by Blue Hills Regional
students themselves, namely two bookcases, a nightstand and a toolbox.
“They were gorgeous,” Nearen enthused. “People could see what the technical
part of the school is all about [by viewing these well-crafted objects].”
Titus’s wife, Sarah, a guidance counselor at Blue Hills Regional, is now
on the Adopt-A-Shop bandwagon, too. “I’m very proud to have Sarah as the
sixth volunteer,” Titus said. “She’s been a real cheerleader for
Adopt-A-Shop ever since I came up with the idea.”
Mrs. Titus is glad to pitch in. “Seeing that a technical program needs
updated equipment or knowing that an academic program wants to expand and
being able to help provide those resources for teachers is very
rewarding.”
Everyone involved is optimistic about Adopt-A-Shop’s future. “It’s all
about education and students and giving them the tools to succeed,” said
Nearen. “I have high goals for Adopt-A-Shop,” added Titus. “It’s good to
see it evolve, and I hope it continues through the years.”
For more information about Adopt-A-Shop, visit www.adopt-a-shop.com or
call Gary Titus at 781-828-0106.
Adopt-A-Shop is a volunteer fundraising organization of the Blue Hills
Foundation.
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NEWMAN ASSOCIATES DONATES TOOLS WORTH $12,000 TO BLUE HILLS REGIONAL
L to R Ken Rocke BHR Superintendent Director, Hank Newman of Newman Associates, Rich Tamulionis of Newman Associates, Butch Tamulionis Executive Director of Adopt-a-Shop, Gary Titus BHR Adopt-a-Shop, and Jack Hayes BHR Class of 1978 of Newman Associates (Photo by Judy Bass) By Judy Bass Newman Associates, a Canton-based company that distributes pipe support systems to the mechanical and electrical trades, has donated $12,000 worth of equipment to Blue Hills Regional Technical School for its vocational programs such as Auto Repair, Electrical, Metal Fabrication, HVAC & R, (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration), and Construction Technology. Among the donated materials were wallboard saws, ratchet sets, step ladders, rubber mallets, socket sets, tubing cutters, hammers, and wrench sets, plus many more items. The gift was made through the school’s Adopt-a-Shop campaign. Launched a year ago, the ongoing project has attracted nearly $200,000 in tax-deductible cash and material donations to Blue Hills Regional from individuals, local businesses and national corporations such as the Ford Motor Company. Representatives of Newman Associates including Sales Manager Rich Tamulionis, President Hank Newman, and Jack Hayes, who works in outside sales for the company and graduated from Blue Hills Regional in 1978, came to the school recently to deliver the materials. On hand to welcome them were Blue Hills Superintendent-Director Kenneth M. Rocke, Vocational Coordinator Richard Brennen, Electrical Dept. Head Joe Nardone, Metal Fabrication Dept. Head Brian Gearty, Auto Repair Dept. Head Jim Aldoupolis, HVAC & R Dept. Head John Dorney, and Construction Technology Dept. Head Mike Harkin. Adopt-a-Shop Founder Gary Titus, who is the Canton representative to the Blue Hills District School Committee, and Adopt-a-Shop Executive Director Ed “Butch” Tamulionis rounded out the group. Both men graduated from the school in 1975. “We felt that Adopt-a-Shop was a great idea that we would love to support,” said Rich Tamulionis. He also cited the fact that students from Blue Hills Regional will eventually be employed in the industries that Newman Associates sells supplies to, so it’s logical for the company to help the school now. “This gift by Newman Associates of Canton is another great example of how much importance people put on vocational education,” said Titus. “Their gift is returned to them ten-fold. A Blue Hills graduate may someday become a future employee, as well as a business owner and customer. This was a very exciting presentation arranged by Butch [Tamulionis], who is doing a great job as executive director. The Adopt-a-Shop team has a full schedule of fundraising events once again this year, and will hopefully surpass last year’s numbers. Thanks to everyone on our team." Contact: Judy Bass Communications Specialist 781-828-5800, ext. 333 (office) jbass@bluehills.org (office)
Click Here For Newman Associates Website AAS Fall Fundraiser A BIG Success
Bob Lee draws the winner of the $1000.00 as Butch Tamulionis (L) and Gary Titus (R) look on
On
behalf of The Adopt-a-Shop team, I would like to extend our
sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the past year a
success. The Fall Fundraiser held on December 2nd
at
The Lantana in Randolph raised $8000.00. Thanks to The Lantana
for their extreme generosity. Thanks to all who attended, bought
raffle tickets, helped out, or made donations to help make the
night a big success. We would like to give a special thanks to
all of the shops, departments, and individuals that made
donations to the silent auction. Your hard work and support is
appreciated. Thanks as well to everyone who helped out during
the three months prior to the event selling and collecting
raffle tickets.
Whenever we have asked people to help, they have helped. Alumni,
staff, students, parents, and friends of Blue Hills have reached out
with donations totaling nearly $180,000.00 in equipment and
cash. When they were told that they were helping to buy tools,
equipment, and supplies for today's students their response was
always positive. As we go into 2005 our goal is to continue
to spread the word about Adopt-a-Shop. We hope to take things a
step higher by targeting national suppliers, and trade
organizations. They have helped greatly on a local level. You
can help by e-mailing us with suggestions on who you would like
to see us contact. The best tool we have in Adopt-a-Shop is
networking. Please continue to help us spread the word.
Thank you for a great year.
Sincerely,
Edmund Butch Tamulionis
Executive Director Adopt-A-Shop
Blue Hills Regional School
Special Thanks To The Lantana Click here to see more pictures Adopt-a-Shop is a fundraising project of The Blue Hills Foundation EIN 04-3022592, 501(c) (3). The Blue Hills Foundation is completely volunteer, so 100% or your tax deductible donations go to the students and programs of The Blue Hills Regional School. Pre Engineering Program Debuts at Blue Hills Pre engineering is a rigorous, college preparatory program designed for academically talented, technically oriented students who plan to matriculate to competitive technical colleges or institutes upon graduation. The focus of the technical component will be in pre engineering technology. The program helps students understand the field of engineering and engineering technology and its career possibilities. Students will develop engineering problem solving skills that are typically found in post secondary education programs and engineering careers. They will explore various engineering systems and manufacturing processes. They will also learn how engineers address concerns about the social and political consequences of technological change. Take a look at Pre Engineering's wish list. Thank you Matt Diggin and Good Brothers Ford
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