Study Home Observes 145 Years of Service
The Republican | June 26, 2010
The Children's Study Home, marking its 145th year, held its annual meeting on June 23 in Springfield's Barney Carriage House in Forest Park.
Treasurer Mark O'Connell presented the board of director's Rachel Capen Merriam Award to Lauri Lavell and Bruce Eger, of Westfield Bank, and the organization's executive director Steve McCafferty presented the Merriam Volunteer Award to Jocelyn Walker, of Belchertown.
Outgoing board president Gary Martinelli, who was presented with a painting for his service, gave his report and welcomed incoming president Juan Campbell.
The Springfield-based organization today provides a variety of services to at-risk children and families. It was founded in April 1865 as the Springfield Home for Friendless Women and Children.
Started by religious leaders to provide a temporary home and give employment to "destitute women and children," the Home is credited with being "one of the first social service agencies in Massachusetts." Today, the Home provides services for people in the Greater Springfield area, as well as children referred from Central Massachusetts and Greater Boston. Its Cape START program is based in Falmouth and Hyannis and serves adolescents in that area. More information is available online at www.studyhome.org.