October 28, 2005

MGH United Way campaign kicks off with sports stars

The stormy weather did not stop MGH employees and staff from gathering under the Bulfinch tent Oct. 25 for the MGH United Way Campaign kick-off celebration. The sports-themed festivities included an array of ballpark foods — hot dogs, Cracker Jacks and peanuts — as well as visits from New England Patriot Jarvis Green, who posed for pictures with employees and signed autographs, and Wally the Green Monster, the Red Sox mascot.

Nancy E. Corbett, senior administrative director for Radiation Oncology, and Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH, co-chairs of this year's campaign, welcomed the crowd and thanked them for supporting the United Way. Slavin welcomed Peg Sprague, vice president of Community Impact for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay. "The United Way has a vision,"said Sprague. "In 10 years, we want Boston to be the best place to live and to raise children. We're asking you to partner with us to make this vision a reality."

Sprague then introduced Larry Haile, an outreach specialist for the Partners for Youth with Disabilities Mentor Match program — one of the organizations that benefit from the United Way. Haile spoke about how the program has helped children become more independent and gain social skills. Patriot Jarvis Green then took the podium to speak about his own experiences supporting the United Way mission.

Second- and third-shift employees also were able to join in the festivities with a celebration in the Main Corridor that evening. The campaign will run through Nov. 18.

For more information or to make a donation online, visit www.massgeneral.org/unitedway.