For Immediate Release - June 15, 2012

This Father’s Day, the Department of Children and Families Honors Commonwealth’s Foster and Adoptive Families

FRAMINGHAM — This Father’s Day, the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC) and the Massachusetts Alliance For Families (MAFF) are acknowledging and thanking a diverse group of families from cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth for the compassion, care and support they provide to foster and adopted children.

“These families represent the amazing commitment that foster and adoptive parents exhibit every day throughout the Commonwealth,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby. “These caring individuals open their homes and their hearts to make a difference in the lives of children. We thank you and salute you for your strength and your support.”

Recently, DCF joined MSPCC and MAFF at the 27th Annual Foster and Adoptive Parent Recognition Awards Brunch in Framingham to recognize 52 foster and adoptive families for their dedication to children in need of safe and loving homes.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to show our extreme gratitude to foster and adoptive families in Massachusetts,” said Department of Children and Families Commissioner Angelo McClain. “Thousands and thousands of children’s lives have been changed for the better due to the loving care and commitment of both foster and adoptive parents, without whom our work would not be possible.”

DCF has honored 46 families with Foster Parent All-Star Awards; and an additional four families have been honored as Adoptive Parent All-Stars. Two additional couples, Nancy and Michael Borghese, of Marlboro, and Diane and Tim Henry, of Worthington, have been named the recipients of the 2012 Goldie Rogers Award, an award named in honor of foster parent and child advocate Goldie Rogers who, in 1989, tragically perished in a fire while attempting to rescue foster children from her burning home.

“For those times when children cannot remain at home, foster families step in to keep them safe, to nurture them and to give them a place to call home,” said Marylou Sudders, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. “Foster families, including kinship foster placements, continue to be the best and most cost effective alternative for children who cannot be safe and healthy in their own homes. Now more than ever, we must redouble all efforts to keep this system strong.”

“This is about celebrating the loving and nurturing foster families in Massachusetts who provide quality care for children not able to live with their biological families,” said Cheryl Tellier-Haddad, President of the Massachusetts Alliance for Families. “Our hope is that everyone will join together to find the resources and supports to continue providing for these children's basic needs. We are committed to recruiting quality families during this time of need and are grateful for the thousands of families stepping up to the plate to care for the Commonwealth's children. Their selfless volunteerism is admirable and greatly appreciated.”

The following honorees were recognized (hometowns included):

Western Massachusetts

Foster Parent All-Stars

  • Michelle and Steve Bednarski, Turners Falls
  • Martha and Wayne Blair, Leeds
  • Helene and Thomas Gates, Granville
  • Mary Etta and Edmund Grabowski, Westfield
  • Yulaina Valle and Samuel Rosa, Holyoke
  • Eleanor Haywood, Springfield
  • Maria Ortiz and Juan Rivera, Springfield
  • Olga Perez, Springfield
  • Michele and Steven Mansfield, Ware
  • Daniel Spinks, Chicopee
  • Christine and David Carr, West Boylston
  • Faith and Mark Stein, Barre
  • Kathleen Guertin, Whitinsville
  • Carol and Dennis Shank, Lunenburg
  • Laurie Discawicz and Ed LaForest, Beckett

Adoptive Parent Special Awards

  • Luke Ortyl, Springfield

Northern Massachusetts

Foster Parent All-Stars

  • Dawn Hammell, Tyngsboro
  • Deborah and William Sweet, Holliston
  • Josephine and Carmelina Cobbett, Haverhill
  • Pamela and Frederick Newcombe, Rowley
  • Marcie Butler, Methuen
  • Karen and Michael Manna, Woburn
  • Pamela Anderson, Everett
  • Deborah McDonald, Chelsea
  • Paula and John Sanderson, Wakefield
  • Sue and Rich Mulley, South Hamilton
  • Bethany Adams and Julie Kunzer, Lynn
  • Donna and Roger Bruley, Swampscott

Adoptive Parent Special Awards

  • Elizabeth Blood, Salem

Southern Massachusetts

Foster Parent All-Stars

  • Judy Duffy, Newton
  • Margaret and Anthony Devitt, Hull
  • Lisa McNeill and Eduard Senteio, Yarmouthport
  • Rose and Joseph Chermesino, Hanson
  • Rosemarie Walsh and Brett Hawes, East Freetown
  • Rebecca and Kevin Turbesi, East Freetown
  • Yaritza and Edsel Escobar, New Bedford
  • Elizabeth and Philip Rezendes, Dartmouth
  • Kim and Charles Wilson, Hanson
  • Patricia Lennon, Mansfield
  • Vitalina and Jose Arroyo, Fall River

Adoptive Parent Special Awards

  • Kimberly and John Gagne, Swansea

Boston, Massachusetts

Foster Parent All-Stars

  • Abigail Laboy and Casimiro Gutierrez, Dorchester
  • Olympia Martinez, Boston
  • Maria Martin-Smith and Philip Smith, Roxbury
  • Althea Deleveaux, Everett
  • Mandy Wilkins and Earnest Lee Ward, Dorchester
  • Anna and Robert DeDonato, East Boston
  • Linda and Dominic Prochilo, East Boston
  • Annie and Dexter Dixon, Roxbury

Adoptive Parent Special Awards

  • Laura Fenn, East Boston

Beyond National Foster Care Month, the need remains for caring families to open their homes and hearts to our children in foster care. To learn more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent, please call 1-800-KIDS-508 or visit www.mass.gov/dcf.

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