Award recognizes Red Sox’ commitment to offering a welcoming and accessible environment for those with a disability and allowing access for legitimate Service Dog teams.

NEADS World Class Service Dogs announced that the Boston Red Sox will receive the inaugural Gold Vest Award on October 18, 2019 at NEADS’ Get Dressed. Give. Back. fundraising event. The award will be presented by Roseann Sdoia, author of Perfect Strangers. NEADS introduced the Gold Vest Award to recognize an organization that goes above and beyond to offer a welcoming and accessible environment for those with a disability and allows seamless access for legitimate, working Service Dog teams.

Accepting the award on behalf of the Boston Red Sox are Stephanie Maneikis, Senior Director of Fan Services & Entertainment, and Sheri Rosenberg, Manager of Alumni and Player Relations. Says Maneikis, “The Red Sox are committed to making Fenway Park as accessible as possible for fans of all abilities. We realize that many of our fans benefit from the assistance of a Service Dog and were excited to launch the ‘Service Dog of the Game’ program this year. Our first honoree was Rescue, NEADS Service Dog extraordinaire to our dear friend Jessica Kensky, and we could not be more honored to receive the inaugural Gold Vest award.”

Says Cathy Zemaitis, NEADS Director of Development, “The Red Sox have demonstrated their commitment to accessibility and their understanding of Service Dog access requirements in many ways, from the experiences our clients and Puppy Raisers have when they take Service Dogs and Service Dogs in Training to Fenway Park to their support of the Boston Marathon survivor community to the introduction of the Service Dog of the Game program this season. This award is testament to that commitment.”

The Gold Vest Award is part of the recently launched Red Vest Accessible program, presented by NEADS to recognize places that are welcoming and accessible to people with disabilities and are committed to public access rights for legitimate Service Dog teams.

About NEADS Inc.

NEADS Inc. has raised, trained and matched more than 1,800 World Class Service Dogs since 1976. Our Service Dogs are matched with children and adults, including veterans, who are deaf or have a physical disability, as well as children with autism and other developmental disabilities. NEADS Dogs are also partnered with professionals in the classroom, ministry, hospital, and courthouse settings. For more information about NEADS, please visit our website at www.neads.org y www.neads.org/GDGB2019.

About the Red Vest and Gold Vest Awards

NEADS is adamant about the quality of training of its dogs and client/dog teams, and advocates for making it easier for our teams to get out in the world. The Red Vest and Gold Vest designations were created to recognize those businesses who offer a welcoming and accessible environment for those with a disability and allowing access for legitimate Service Dog teams. Learn more here: https://redvest.neads.org.

FITCHBURG, Ma., September 10, 2019 – Workers Credit Union is pleased to announce its new scholarship program funded in part by retired employee, Herbert White. Herb, who devoted 41 years of his banking career to Workers, donated the funds to the credit union, which will match his donation.

“Years ago, Workers invested in my education by helping with my Bachelors and my Masters in Business Administration from Fitchburg State University. It was important for me to pay it forward and support further investments in education” said Herb. 

The Herbert White Scholarship Fund will launch in early 2020, with applications available for the children of Workers Credit Union and Workers Insurance Group employees. Each year, several students will be selected to receive gifts and the remaining funds will be endowed to ensure scholarships are available for years to come. 

Herb White sits with WCU Pres Doug Petersen

“Investing in not only our employees, but their children as well, is an important element of the Workers Way. We truly believe that education is the cornerstone of a bright future so we were delighted when Herb approached us to propose setting up this scholarship” said Douglas Petersen, President & CEO of Workers Credit Union. The credit union decided to match Mr. White’s donation in order to increase the number of scholarships awarded each year.  

Herb began his employment with Workers Credit Union in 1976 working in personal lending. Through the years, he held various positions at the credit union before retiring as an Assistant Vice President, Business Development Officer in 2017 after 41 years of service.  Herb White currently resides in Fitchburg, MA and volunteers often with the Salvation Army.  

Workers Credit Union, headquartered in Fitchburg, MA, is a member-owned financial institution with full banking services to meet a lifetime of financial needs including the $3 million GiveBack program. With 15 branches in Athol, Chelmsford, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, Orange, Townsend and Westford, Workers is proud to offer traditional banking channels as well as the latest technologies to more than 104,000 members.