Leominster Credit Union (LCU) presented a check for $5,000 to Fathering Fathers, Inc., a non-profit mentoring organization, dedicated to raising up healthy, confident, and well-prepared young men. The lion’s share of this donation will go to help jump start a girl’s mentoring program based out of Clinton Middle School and Tahanto Regional, in Clinton and Boylston, Massachusetts respectively.

“We are deeply grateful for the contribution that this gift provides to develop and implement our programs. We are confident the young men and women in our mentoring groups will directly benefit from this donation and their lives will be impacted in a tangible, positive way. Our desire for this program is that the students we mentor will grow up better equipped to navigate the challenging world we live in. That goal is much closer thanks to the generosity of Leominster Credit Union,” stated Nate Rollins, Chairman of the Board of Fathering Fathers.

“We are proud to contribute to the Fathering Fathers organization in order to help the mentors and volunteers involved in the program to better support, educate and provide leadership and resources for the youth in our community. We feel that this is a very important initiative and will make a great difference in the lives of everyone involved,” stated Barbara Mahoney, President and CEO, Leominster Credit Union.

For more details on Fathering Fathers, Inc., how to become a mentor or mentee, or to donate to the program, please visit www.fatheringfathers.com.

On September 15, 2021 three Mount Wachusett Community College Adult Education students were honored by First Literacy with scholarships in a virtual ceremony.

First Literacy Scholarships are awarded in recognition of educational achievements and potential, community service, and perseverance in the face of hardship. This year First Literacy awarded 30 scholarships to deserving individuals from community colleges across the Commonwealth. Students Yves Verneret and Lilian Thimotti were honored among the fourteen continuing scholars, while Bushrah Namirimu was honored as a first-year scholar.

“Adult Education programs are vital to our communities, inspiring and supporting students as they overcome the challenges of work, families, and over the past two years, COVID-19,” noted MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “MWCC is a lifelong learning community, focused on the preparation of our students for lives of fulfillment, leadership, and service in a diverse and global society. These three students are shining examples of that pursuit.”

“These students are amazing,” stated Kimberly Kayser, MWCC Adult Education Transition Coordinator. “We are so proud of all they have achieved and continue to achieve.”

In addition, Namirimu was awarded the Thomas Menino Memorial scholarship which honors Mayor Menino’s commitment to adult literacy education and the potential of all students.

Namirimu immigrated to the United States from Uganda where she was an investigative journalist. Her stories were viewed as anti-government and inciting violence, for which she faced persecution. She fled Uganda in 2018, leaving behind her three-year-old son, and her five siblings. With no friends or relatives in the US, Namirimu found work through a friend in Australia as a live-in nanny and housekeeper. She struggled to find transportation to the Mount from her host’s home because they did not approve of her attending college. After escaping this unhealthy arrangement, she left Massachusetts for a time before returning with her then-boyfriend. The pair married and had a daughter in July 2020. Returning to school in the spring of 2021, she faced the challenges of being a full-time student, mother, wife, and employee.

“Many times, I felt exhausted and stressed,” stated Namirimu in her remarks at the virtual scholarship ceremony. “Nevertheless, I persevered and excelled. Although challenges may force one to put a pause on their dreams or even quit, I never considered it. I grabbed every opportunity that came my way to make sure that I made my life and my future better by working hard for it.”

Yves Verneret came to the United States from Haiti in 2015. Having witnessed the destruction of the 2010 earthquake, she realized she wanted to be a nurse and made the decision to pursue her dream in the U.S. When she arrived in the United States she was met with many challenges. She had to provide for the needs of three children as well as study college-level courses. The forced isolation of the pandemic was hard for all of them, but it caused her to form “many positive changes in my life.”  She recognized her competence and success in meeting the various challenges facing her and learned that she could succeed and not be discouraged. The First Literacy scholarship kept her motivated and persistent in following her career path. She has been accepted into the nursing program at Mount Wachusett Community College and was guaranteed future admission to Fitchburg State University’s online bachelor’s program in nursing. Vernerete is looking forward to passing along help to others just as others have helped her.

LilianThimotti came to the United States with her husband and two children to get away from the violence that disrupted her family in Brazil. Her first year in the U.S. was very hard. She knew no English and could not work, causing her family serious financial and emotional difficulties. To make matters worse, everyone in her family became ill during the pandemic. However, with determination and hard work, she faced these challenges and overcame them. The First Literacy scholarship was a lifesaver, allowing her to buy the books and equipment needed for the nursing courses she was taking. Currently Thimotti is working towards an associate degree in nursing and plans to continue on to earn a degree. She looks forward to becoming a nurse and being able to help relieve pain and suffering in others.

First Literacy reaches approximately 5,000 adult learners and 250 teachers in 150 programs across Massachusetts each year through program grants, free teacher workshops, and student scholarships. Since 1990, the First Literacy Scholarship Program has awarded over 500 scholarships to students in adult basic education or English language programs who are continuing their education. To learn more about First Literacy, visit their website at firstliteracy.org.

EXIT New Options Real Estate Franchisees Denise Wortman and Susan Wright joined real estate professionals from all over the country recently at the Hilton Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, for an intensive training and networking workshop.

EXIT Realty’s Broker Owner Training is one of the most leading-edge programs available in the real estate industry. Many of the industry’s top professionals, including company executives and EXIT Realty’s Co-Chair, Tami Bonnell, gather to teach the essential skills to build a top producing brokerage in any market.

“It was nice gathering in person! The Broker Owner training has not been in person for 18 months due to Covid”.

This program, which is provided at no charge by EXIT Realty and is exclusively attended by the brokerage’s top management including franchisees, brokers of record and administrators, enhances their business acumen and positively affects their approach to life. Attendees are also encouraged to return regularly to “sharpen the saw.” They leave well-equipped to build a successful real estate brokerage for the benefit of the Leominster community.

About EXIT Realty:
EXIT Realty is a company founded and built on human potential. A full service, forward-thinking, real estate franchisor with offices across North America, EXIT has to-date paid out more than a half a billion dollars in single-level residual income to its associates. The Expert Marketing Suite™ including geolocation Smart Sign™ technology gives sellers an edge in a competitive marketplace. A portion of every transaction fee received by EXIT Realty Corp. International is applied to its charitable fund, and to-date, $6 million has been allocated to charity. For more information, please visit www.exitrealty.com y www.joinexitrealty.com.

EXIT New Options Real Estate is located at 12 Main St.  For more information, please call 978-852-7955 or visit www.exitnewoptions.com.

The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials (MA-NAHRO) has awarded Linda E. Byrne who is the Chairman of the Fitchburg Housing Authority its prestigious public housing board member of the year award.  The award acknowledges those public housing board members that have exhibited examples of community leadership, advocacy for public housing and community development, and has communicated to the media and public the importance and accomplishments of public housing.

On Tuesday, October 5^ta, starting at 11:00 am at the Wallace Tower Apartments community room located 55 Wallace Ave., an awards ceremony will be held.  Joining the celebration will be Constance Desbiens, Executive Director of the Dartmouth Housing Authority and President of MA-NAHRO, State Representative Michael Kushmerek, State Senator John J. Cronin former Fitchburg Mayor Lisa A. Wong, and Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale.