appy holidays! The Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts is proud to close 2010 having awarded nearly $300,000 to over 20 organizations. The charity looks to continue helping children and families in the New Year and beyond! LOCAL HEROES The fourth annual Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Local Hero Awards were celebrated with a reception at the Connecticut Governor's Residence in Hartford on Tuesday, October 26. The program honors 10 outstanding teachers, who are selected with the help of the Connecticut Association of Schools and the Massachusetts Department of Education. Each recipient was joined by their school principal and district superintendent, and was presented with a commemorative plaque as well as a $500 grant for their school. The 2010 Local Hero Award winners are as follows: 1. Anne Grosky – special education teacher at Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School, Orange, MA 2. Joanne Jukins – second grade teacher at Macdonough Elementary School, Middletown, CT 3. Bruce Miller – school counselor at Northwestern Regional Middle School, Winsted, CT 4. Thomas Moore – special education teacher at Lincoln Middle School, Meriden, CT 5. Pamela Nowak – English teacher at East Lyme High School, East Lyme, CT 6. Floris Wilma Ortiz – English language learner teacher at Amherst Regional Middle School, Amherst, MA 7. Michael Pearce – reading specialist at Highland Park Elementary School, Manchester, CT 8. Joshua Rice – history teacher at Springfield Central High School, Springfield, MA 9. Kathy Seales – special education teacher at Harbor Elementary School, New London, CT 10. Jill Wnuk – social studies teacher at East Hartford Middle School, East Hartford, CT RMHC SCHOLARSHIPS RMHC of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts will award a total of $50,000 to local high school seniors this academic year through its Scholarship Program. The RMHC/HACER Scholarship is offered to students with Hispanic heritage, and the RMHC Scholars Scholarship is open to any student, regardless of race or ethnicity. The deadline for applications is January 28, 2011. To learn more, visit www.rmhc-ctma.org/scholarships. LATEST NEWS RMHC of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts has been busy granting money throughout the region! RMHC Board member Shirley Taradash (right) presents a check for $10,000 to the Susan B. Anthony Project in Torrington, which funded children's furniture, equipment and toys for their shelter. RMHC President Laura Phillips Ward (right) presents a check for $14,166 to the Hospital For Special Care in New Britain, which created a "Garden of Hope" area in the pediatric wing to help young patients with their social, cognitive and emotional skill development. RMHC Board member Dan Ashburn (right) presents a check for $10,000 to the Homework House in Holyoke, which funded equipment and supplies for the free tutoring program. RMHC Board member Shirley Taradash (second from right) views one of two new pediatric cribs at Waterbury Hospital, which was funded by a $15,600 grant from the charity. RECENT GRANT RECIPIENTS RMHC of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts is proud to support local non-profits that benefit children, and recently granted over $87,000 to eight deserving organizations. Mount Marie Child Care Center, Holyoke – $2,280 to purchase youth furniture and equipment for the early childhood program, serving disadvantaged families Providence Behavioral Health Hospital, Holyoke –$10,000 to fund computer systems and expressive art supplies that will help children with acute mental and behavioral issues Jefferson Elementary School, New Britain – $19,339 for instruments and equipment to support music and artistic education programming Thames Valley Council for Community Action, New London – $10,000 to purchase equipment that promotes gross motor and developmental skills for a childcare center serving low-income families Epoch Arts, East Hampton – $7,980 for new stage risers and lights for a theater group serving at-risk youth Square One, Springfield – $13,514 to purchse furnishings, materials and supplies for the new infant room of the children's center serving the city's most impoverished neighborhoods St. Michael's Academy, Springfield – $7,065 for new science lab equipment to replace outdated and worn supplies The Network Against Domestic Abuse, Enfield –$17,074 to purchase games, toys and furnishings for a shelter serving victims of domestic violence Our next deadline for grant applications is March 1. HOUSE UPDATES Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts is proud to support the local Ronald McDonald Houses in New Haven, Conn., and Springfield, Mass., through grants, quarterly donations and continuous collaboration. The Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut just wrapped another amazing year of "Trees of Hope" with great thanks to all who donated their time and talent to provide a wonderful display of holiday cheer. The support of all who walked through the halls and donated to RMH's families is greatly appreciated. In 2011, both new and returning families will call RMH their "home away from home." Don't miss the next great event to support these families – the "Dancing Under the Stars" event on March 11 at the Omni New Haven Hotel Ballroom. Just like the TV show, dancers will compete in ballroom dancing and voters will select their favorites! To learn more, visit www.rmh-ct.org or the RMH_Connecticut Facebook page. The Ronald McDonald House of Springfield, Mass., will celebrate its 20th anniversary on January 13, 2011! This is an exciting milestone that represents 9,400 families served. Special events will be held all year long to commemorate the occasion, so be sure to check the House's website for dates and times – www.ronmcdhouse.com. Don't miss this year's annual Gala on Saturday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m., which will be a "Roarin' Twenties" theme with a murder mystery and dinner! The House looks forward to seeing you there, and would like to thank all the wonderful sponsors, donors and volunteers for their very special gifts of time, talent and treasure, helping to make it truly a "House That Love Built!" To learn more, visit www.ronmcdhouse.com or the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield, Mass., Inc. Facebook page.