
Leah Kenney, president and founder of The Shot Shop Medical Rejuvenation Med Spa, presented Gina Mazza, representing The Harmony House, with a check for donations raised through The Shot Shop’s annual SHOTbox for Charity initiative. This Black Friday tradition featured limited-edition boxes filled with staff favorites and special treatments, with all proceeds benefiting local charities.
This year, The Shot Shop supported three organizations: $2,080, Allianza DV Services (Holyoke); $2,080, Breakthrough T1D; $5,000, The Harmony House (Springfield), which provides shelter and compassionate care for terminally ill individuals with limited or no resources.
The SHOTbox for Charity is an annual tradition for The Shot Shop. On Black Friday, guests lined up as early as 3:30 a.m. to purchase these $50 boxes.
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MassMutual Center’s annual event, Breakfast with Santa, sold out and successfully raised more than $5,500 for the Springfield Boys & Girls Club.
The event, hosted in the MassMutual Center’s Convention Center, treated families to a breakfast with Santa Claus. Oak View Group Hospitality, which oversees the concessions and catering at MassMutual Center, donated all the food for the occasion.
Guests also received free admission to the 24th Annual Festival of Trees.
Sunshine Laundry donated linens for the tables for the event.
MassMutual Center presented the check to the Springfield Boys & Girls Club on Jan. 3 at the club.
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Monson Savings Bank recently hosted an internal, employee-led winter clothing drive in its seven offices. The clothing drive benefited local students at Educare Springfield.
Employees collected new or gently worn winter clothing for Educare Springfield students. Several large boxes were filled with essential winter items, including children’s sized jackets, hats, gloves, boots and other warm clothing.
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American International College announces that it has reached the enrollment threshold for Hispanic-Serving Institution designation. Official recognition of HSI status, granted by the U.S. Department of Education to not-for-profit, degree-granting institutions with at least 25% of their full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment identifying as Hispanic, is expected within the next two years.
Since its establishment in 1885, AIC has provided access to higher education for underserved populations. This mission was bolstered by the 2022 launch of AIC Reimagined, a five-year strategic plan that prioritized achieving HSI designation. As of Fall 2024, Hispanic/Latino students represent more than 27% of AIC’s undergraduate enrollment.
HSI status will provide access to federal and foundation grants, expanding resources to benefit the entire student body.
In 2015, the college was first recognized as an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution.
According to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, there were a total of 600 Hispanic-Serving Institutions across the nation and Puerto Rico in the 2022-23 academic year. Of these, 180 were private, nonprofit, four-year institutions. In Western Massachusetts, no traditional, private, four-year institution held this designation.
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MiraVista Behavioral Health Center, 1233 Main St., Holyoke, announces the return of Top Talent Tuesdays, a weekly event to recruit nursing professionals. Every Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., nurses are invited to visit MiraVista, meet with its leadership team, and explore opportunities that exist at the Holyoke-based inpatient mental health and outpatient substance use treatment facility.
Top Talent Tuesdays will run through the winter. Pre-registration is encouraged and attendees are asked to bring a copy of their resume.
For more information or to register, visit www.miravistabhc.care/careers or contact Alicia at amorel@miravistabhc.care.





