FriendshipMatters Spring 2010 �

New Name Unveiled: FriendshipWorks

Continued on page 2

Continued on page 3

Twelve years ago, Friendship-Works received a volunteer ap-

plication from Karen, a 40 year-old professional. She wanted to make a meaningful connection with someone. She had never known her grandparents, and her family was spread out all over the coun-try. Karen was soon matched with Blanche, then 83, who was feeling

lonely and in need of a friend. During their first visit together, Blanche asked Karen, “What sign are you?” When Karen responded “Virgo,” (Blanche’s sign), Blanche said, “We’re going to get along just fine.” In the early years of their friendship, they liked to go out for lunch, walk through the

Twelve Years of Friendship

The New FriendshipWorks Logo

Old-fashioned friendship and neighborly assistance has a

brand new name: As of March 1, MATCH-UP Interfaith Volunteers has officially changed its name to FriendshipWorks!

We changed our name to FriendshipWorks because we wanted our name to speak more broadly to our mission and values, namely that nobody—regardless of age or dis-ability—should be alone and that everybody should be able to have a friend, especially when help is needed. We hope the name Friend-shipWorks will convey the power-

a newsletter of

Spring 2010FriendshipMatters

ful truth which underlies all of our services: Friendship works, and it works in so many ways! Coinciding with this name change we are also unveiling a brand new logo, new brochures

and promotional materials, as well as a new website. We are proud of our new identity and our new look, and the feedback we’ve received on them has been very

positive. Our friend Dana writes: “What a clear expression of your raison d’etre --- everyone SHOULD have a friend!” We encourage all of our friends to check out our new website at www.fw4elders.org.

This name change is the product of over two years of planning. In the fall of 2007, we assembled a Name Change Task Force to seriously examine the

idea of changing our name. In retrospect, we realized that the most important function of this task force was to examine who we are as an organization and what we mean to the many people that we

FriendshipWorks

FriendshipMatters Spring 2010 �

From the Desk of Janet Seckel-Cerrotti, Executive Director

park and get manicures together. Karen would visit Blanche two to three times a week, helping her remain independent in her home. Sometimes Blanche would prepare dinner for them, having shopped especially for the occasion. The two would run errands together, going to multiple stores to make sure Blanche got the best deal. Over a decade later, the two are still visiting with each other and their bond has grown from friendship into something more like family. “We can say anything

to each other,” Karen explains. Now, Blanche lives in a nursing home and receives essential daily services. Karen still visits twice a week. While Blanche’s health and mobility have changed, her relationship with Karen remains as strong and loving as ever. Karen even acts as Blanche’s health care proxy. Blanche says her friendship with Karen helped her out of a depression and feelings of loneli-ness: “Karen helped me through the dark spots.” Karen explains

that Blanche, at 95, with her great energy, beautiful skin, and sense of humor, is an inspiration for her. Through the years, Karen and Blanche have shared a wealth of happy memories. Blanche was at Karen’s wedding and the pair have shared birthdays since the beginning of their friendship.They have gone to Crystal Lake in Newton for summer picnics, and have shared barbeque din-ners with Karen’s family at her home. This remarkable twelve-year friendship grew because one neighbor reached out to another in need through FriendshipWorks.

Twelve Years of Friendship continued from page 1

After being with MATCH-UP Interfaith Volunteers for

twenty-six years, it has been an adjustment to answer the phone: “FriendshipWorks!” While every-body else on staff seems to have adapted quickly, more often than not I still find myself beginning to say “MATCH-UP…” before I cor-rect myself. Patterns and identities so en-trenched can be hard to break. And yet, while my tongue may not have completed the transition to the new name, transitioning the rest of our operations has been almost seamless, because Friend-shipWorks describes with absolute clarity what we and our volunteers accomplish every single day. I am delighted and proud to be able to say “FriendshipWorks,”—because it does work—and because we’re proving that it does right here in Boston and Brookline.

Friendship makes life delight-ful and troubles bearable. From my own personal experience, many of my happiest and most content moments are when I am sitting around the dining room table talking with friends, sharing our lives: our ideas, our sorrows, and our joys. It is a simple thing, but not one that everyone is lucky enough to experience. Here at FriendshipWorks, we believe that everyone should have this blessing in their life. That’s why we’re dedicated to bringing people together, creating connections, and helping people help their neighbors. We know that nobody should ever have to go through life alone—without a friend—regardless of their age or other circumstances. If you feel alone and want a friend, Friend-shipWorks is here to help!Many of you reading this news-

letter have been with us for years and years, and others of you may just be getting started with us. Each of you have contributed to MATCH-UP’s—now FriendshipWorks’—legacy, wheth-er it be as a volunteer, as a care re-cipient, as a donor, or as a friend. I hope that you will continue to work with us, to show the world what we already know: that friendship works in ways innumerable.We are never so happy as when we are with friends. Thank you for working together with us to put this simple truth into practice for so many in our community.

Sincerely,

Janet Seckel-CerrottiExecutive Director

FriendshipMatters Spring 2010 �

What’s New With Our Name Change:

We have a new website! Check it out at: www.fw4elders.org and leave a comment at: www.fw4elders.org/feedback.

All of our staff e-mail addresses now end in @fw4elders.org. Please update your email contacts!

We are an official cause on Facebook! Just search for FriendshipWorks, become a fan, and join the cause.

Join us on Twitter for importantFriendshipWorks updates: www.twitter.com/FriendshipWorks.

help. It’s difficult to reflect so many meanings and ideas in something as short as a name, but we believe that we were successful in choos-ing FriendshipWorks. Friendship-Works reminds us that people of every background, age and faith tradition share a basic human im-pulse to reach out to others in need, and that here in Boston, there are thousands of passionate individuals who are committed to serving oth-ers in their communities. We believe our new name will allow us to better advance our mis-sion of decreasing social isolation and enable us to grow as an orga-nization. It speaks more to interde-pendence and the timeless virtue of neighbors helping neighbors. We hope our new name inspires every-one to become a friend to someone in the community who is in need, whether it be by volunteering with us or on their own. We hope that when you think of FriendshipWorks, you will see as many of the ideals behind our name as we do. We hope you will see, for example: Two men, one in his twenties and the other in his eighties, hunkered over a chess-board; An older woman in brightly colored clothing, inspired by her companion to take a walk to the waterfront, sit on a bench with the warm sun on her back, and sip a cold glass of lemonade; Someone who lives in a nursing home and comes out of their room, dressed and with a bit of make-up on, but only on the day her friend, a Col-lie-Beagle mix, comes to visit and delights her and the other residents by catching cookies in the air. We

hope that you see volunteers who came in because they wanted to help, and ended up with a new best friend, a new family member. We hope that when you hear the name FriendshipWorks, when you think of us, and when you talk about us, you see yourselves, and the impact that every caring neighbor can make by reaching out to someone who is alone. Though our name has changed, we want to be clear that our mis-sion has not. We continue to cherish our volunteers, who are the heart and soul of our organization, and without whom we could not continue in our mission. And we

remain believers in the power of diverse groups of people – repre-senting different faiths, cultures, ages, and backgrounds – working together for the benefit of those in need. We are committed to reduc-ing social isolation, enhancing the quality of life, and preserv-ing the dignity of elders and adults with disabilities in Greater Boston, and we meet this com-mitment with renewed energy. We look forward to your contin-ued dedication to our work as we move ahead under the banner of FriendshipWorks.

New Name Unveiled continued from page 1

FriendshipMatters Spring 2010 �

FriendshipWorks Energizes Board with New Members

FriendshipWorks Participates in State Report on Healthy Aging

News Briefs

FriendshipWorks was pleased to sup-port the research of The Massachusetts Health Policy Fo-rum in 2009. Re-searchers worked with 28 experts and practitioners of Healthy Aging, including FriendshipWorks Executive Director Janet Seckel-Cerrotti and Director of Programs Lois Lord Waller, and saw our work in action. The goal of the research was to report on “the health and functional challenges of growing older,” and suggest methods that help people stay healthier, including what indi-viduals, society, and organizations can do to create an environment that supports everyone to live healthier lives. The research was presented at a conference in December, which two of our staff members attended. FriendshipWorks is proud to prevent social isolation and improve well being through socialization and concrete support, and promote the idea of neighbors helping neighbors in our community to help us all lead healthy lives. To view the report, visit:http://masshealthpolicyforum.brandeis.edu

Aaron Weinberger has been a FriendshipWorks volunteer for over three years, visiting with an elderly couple every weekend, and is a special-ist in human resources. As part of the FriendshipWorks Board, Aaron hopes to con-

tinue to improve our programs and capitalize on “development opportunities”. He wants to “bring in donations, increasing the number of donations and the size of the donations”.

Cathy Fabrizi was voted in as FriendshipWorks’ new Board President in October. She has been a Board member for over six years, and was a member of the Program Committee before that. Cathy is a Nurse Case Manager for Boston

University Geriatric Services at Boston Medical Center. As Board President, she hopes to lead FriendshipWorks in another 25 years of mean-ingful and essential service to isolated elders and adults with disabilities.

Hawk Furman has been a dedicated FriendshipWorks PetPals volunteer for the past six years, visiting el-ders with his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rocky at the Coolidge House in Brookline every week. He is a business

entrepreneur with extensive branding experi-ence. As a member of the FriendshipWorks Board, Hawk hopes to work on brand recogni-tion and get “more funding and more volun-teers to help end social isolation”.

maejacqAnnouncing FriendshipWorks’ 2010

SPRING RAFFLE!

Sox Tickets, a 2-month HealthWorks gym member-ship, Huntington Theatre Tickets, a case of wine, and more!

Buy or sell tickets!Email jgallagher@fw4elders.org

FriendshipMatters Spring 2010 �

Special Thanks to the Branding Committee

We Need Your Help: Volunteer as a Researcher

FriendshipWorks is pleased to invite all of our Board, staff, supporters, volunteers, and program recipients to a free celebration of FriendshipWorks! Join us for a wine and cheese reception on the evening of May 5th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Sherrill House, 135 South Huntington Av-enue, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130. Light hors d’oeuvres and dessert will be served. We will present our David Libby Award to Outstanding Volunteer Sister Madeline Gallagh-er, as well as presenting a special surprise award. The eve-ning will also highlight our PetPals program and La Ca-dena de Amistad (The Chain of Friendship), our bilingual chapter at Sherrill House. On-street parking is available, and Sherrill House is easily accessible by the Green Line E train or the #39 bus. Please RSVP to friendshipworks@fw4elders.org or to Jacqueline at 617-482-1510 x 26.

FriendshipWorks’ name change would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of the Branding Committee, led by Colleen Fitzpatrick. Committee members examined all aspects of the name change, identified a work plan, and implemented many of the initial steps to make the change. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you!

If you would like to join one of our committees, call Jacqueline at 617-482-1510 x 26 for more information.

Special Announcements

FriendshipWorks is conducting program evaluations for our Friendly Visiting and Medical Escort programs. Program evaluations help us to assess the effectiveness of our programs and secure valuable grants. We need your help to conduct surveys of

program participants. We are looking for volunteers who can commit their time on a flexible basis over a period of 2-3 months. Some volunteers will be conducting telephone surveys, and other volunteers will be conducting interviews at the homes of recipients. FriendshipWorks will provide training for all researchers and will provide ongoing support and assistance. This is a great opportunity to develop research and interviewing skills and learn about our programs. If you are interested in volunteering or publicizing our opportunity, please contact Lois Waller, Director of Programs at 617-482-1510 x 24 or lwaller@fw4elders.org.

Wine and Cheese ReceptionWednesday, May 5th

5:30 PM - 7:30 PMSherrill House

135 South Huntington AvenueJamaica Plain, MA 02130

You’re Invited to Celebrate FriendshipWorks!

FriendshipMatters Spring 2010 �

Thanks You for Gifts in Memory...

from Bonnie Gilman In memory of our mother and grandmother, Sylvia Slocumfrom Ellie & Barry Feldman In memory of Dick Bartonfrom Donna Townsend In memory of Sue Edwardsfrom Daniel Barnett & Gail Currey In memory of Sterne Barnettfrom Ellen Kirchheimer In memory of Jelly Beanfrom Melissa Elliott In memory of Jim Hayesfrom Catherine Fabrizi In memory of her uncle, Dominick Abruscifrom Linda & Steve Cappers In memory of Helen Staatsfrom Ruth Palombo In memory of her motherfrom Kathy Enrich & Mark Dowd In memory of Helen Mitchellfrom Ingrid Christiansen In memory of Sue Edwardsfrom Kay Thomas In memory of Josephine Blackfrom Jessica T. Denton In memory of Odessa Smithfrom Ellie & Barry Feldman In memory of David Bupp’s father

Thank You for Gifts in Honor of...

Sr. Madeline Gallagher.....from Robert & Myrna GutermanHer friendship with BJ Comerford ......................................................................................from Diane L. KueblerHer friendship with Josephine Black....................................................................................from Enid WilsonEdward Walsh’s 60th birthday ..............................................................................................from Kathleen WalshRuth Grabel.......................from Marva SerotkinBeto Duec......................... from Janet Seckel-Cerrotti Beto Duec..........................from Vicki ShinodaBeto Duec..........................from Phill GoldbergBeto Duec..........................from Betsy TeutschBeto Duec..........................from Alisha Hess-Haber Beto Duec..........................from Mitchell MarcusBeto Duec..........................from Rich Kramer Beto Duec..........................from Robert DudnickBeto Duec..........................from Richard Berman Beto Duec..........................from Sandra MoskowitzBeto Duec..........................from Sickidz.com Beto Duec..........................from Solomon MosesBeto Duec..........................from Richard Mandel Beto Duec..........................from Peter SeckelBeto Duec..........................from Elizabeth Aronson Beto Duec..........................from Donald JosephBeto Duec..........................from Amy BlumBeto Duec..........................from Hannah Drucker Beto Duec..........................from Barbara Pearson

Beto Duec..........................from Rachel FalkoveBeto Duec..........................from Naomi Klayman Beto Duec..........................from Marlene RossBeto Duec..........................from Jay PressBeto Duec..........................from George Stern Beto Duec..........................from David MosenkisBeto Duec..........................from Mikael Elsila Beto Duec..........................from Wrigley AssociatesBeto Duec..........................from Marisha E. KrupkinBeto Duec..........................from Hillary KesslerBeto Duec..........................from Gail GreenspanBeto Duec..........................from the Plotnick FamilyBeto Duec..........................from Howard SpodekBeto Duec .........................from Judith & Morris RodensteinBeto Duec..........................from Amy & Marc GrossmanLuke, first grandchild of Dr. & Mrs. Myron Spector ........................................................from Ellie & Barry FeldmanHelen Savage.....................from Margaret S. RobertsAmy & Greg Hemingway....from Reita DonaldsonThe birthday of Phyllis M Henderson ..................................................................................from Aureldon E. HendersonRuth Grabel........................from Alf & Sarah GracombeEllen Kirchheimer.............from Heather ClarkBeto Duec...........................from Alan GulcoJanet Seckel-Cerrotti and Dennis Cerrotti ............................................................................from Shirley PartollBeto Duec...........................from Michael Gross

FriendshipMatters Spring 2010 �

So Many Ways to Give: Special Fundraisers

FriendshipWorks’Wish List

We are always happy to accept in-kind gifts!

Laptops Paper shredder Digital camera Small microwave Fax machine Printed materials

We also gratefully accept auction or raffle items.

Here at FriendshipWorks, we alway encourage our supporters to give in ways that reflect their personalities and wishes. Your gifts enable us to give care and support to elders and adults with disabilities all over Boston and Brook-line. We’d like to highlight some very special initiatives from supporters like you. And as always, please give us a call if you would like to turn your special idea for giving to FriendshipWorks into reality!

The Loved Ones Memorial FundCharlotte Simpson, a longtime sup-porter, envisioned and established The Loved Ones Memorial Fund and made its first gift in honor and memory of her mother, Adda B. Stephens. This Board-designated fund is earmarked for activities which will augment Friendship-Works’ growth. Please consider making a donation of $2,000 or more to the Loved Ones Memorial Fund in honor of your loved one. Donors receive a special inscrip-tion on The Loved Ones Memorial Fund plaque for their loved one. To learn more, contact Janet Seckel-Cerrotti, Executive Director, at 617-482-1510, jseckel-cerrotti@fw4elders.org

Campaign Polar Bear You’ve probably heard of the Polar Bear Plunge, where people take an icy dip into the ocean during the winter. This year, a Friendship-Works’ supporter decided to turn his plunge into a fundraiser for us! Beto Duec and his wife Nina Israel, supporters from Pennsylvania, en-gaged friends, family, and cowork-ers, and raised over $1,750. Their work shows that you don’t even have to live in the state to make a big difference. A little idea can go

a long way, and we are so thankful for their initiative. You can turn your favorite event into a fund-raiser! If you have a fundraising idea, please contact us if you’d like help: 617-482-1510 or friendshipworks@fw4elders.org.

Birthday Wishes Did you know that that Facebook can help with fundraising? Friend-shipWorks is an official “Cause” on Facebook. Supporter Anika Tourse joined our Cause, and used one of its features to create a “Birthday Wish,” which asks her Facebook friends to make a donation to FriendshipWorks for her birthday! Friends can make secure donations right there online through Face-book. It’s simple to show your sup-port through Facebook. If you have a Facebook account, just log in, and search for “FriendshipWorks”. Be-come a fan, and join our Cause! If you’re not on Facebook, tried-and-true fundraisers are still great. Host a tea or luncheon as a fundraiser. And of course, we’re still happy to receive your check via postal mail!

A Little Planning Goes a Long WayConsider planned giving such as bequests to FriendshipWorks in

a will or living trust; naming FriendshipWorks as the benefi-ciary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy; or a tax-free charitable gift to FriendshipWorks from an IRA. An individual or family can choose to make a gift based on their needs and wishes. Check with your tax advisor or financial planner on ways to take advantage of this opportunity. If FriendshipWorks can help you plan, please contact Janet Seckel-Cerrotti, Executive Director, at 617-482-1510, jseckel-cerrotti@fw4elders.org

FriendshipMatters Spring 2010 �

Non-ProfitUS Postage

PAIDBoston, MA

Permit #59690

Inside this Issue

Match-Up ChangesIts Name.....................1

12 Years of Friendship.....1

From the ED’s Desk........2

News Briefs.................4

Special Announcements...5

In Honor\In Memory........6

Many Ways Of Giving......7

Match-Up Is Now FriendshipWorks!

Read the headline news about our name change, and check out our new website at www.fw4elders.org

105 Chauncy Street, Suite 801Boston, MA 02111Phone: (617) 482-1510Fax: (617) 482-1461Email: friendshipworks@fw4elders.orgWebsite: www.fw4elders.org

Formerly Match-Up Interfaith Volunteers

You’re Invited toCelebrate FriendshipWorks!

Join us for a wine and cheese reception

May 5th 5:30 - 7:30

See page 5 for details