What a Way to Celebrate Clinching the AL East!

Coca-Cola Scholars, Red Sox Scholars and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
Team Up For Service Day in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park

Volunteers from Coca-Cola, the Red Sox Foundation and Save the Harbor / Save the Bay
on the bow of the Provincetown III at Spectacle Island 

On the Saturday morning after the Red Sox clinched the American League Division East championship, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's staff and interns spent the day with 88 Red Sox fans clearing trails and beaches on Spectacle Island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park. 

Our crew of 88 volunteers included a team of college students and alumni from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, a team of Boston Red Sox Scholars, as well as employees from the Coca-Cola plant in Needham and kids and families from the Red Sox "Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities" (RBI) program.

Coca-Cola Scholar Ranjit Korah with artifacts found on the beach

"What a great way to celebrate the Red Sox win and give back to our community," said Carnegie Mellon graduate and Coca-Cola Scholar Ranjit "RJ" Korah, Regional Alumni Coordinator for the Coca-Cola Scholars.

The day began with a quick boat ride to Spectacle Island on one of Bay State Cruise Company's fast catamarans. 

Jennifer Cruickshank, Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Coca-Cola Company Northeast
and Mike Nigro, Coca-Cola's Needham Distribution Center Manager  enjoy the sun on the Provincetown III

Mike Nigro, Distribution Center Manager for Coca- Cola at their Needham plant, put it like this: "At Coca-Cola, we know that when people come together, good things happen.  One of the ways that Coca-Cola gives back to Boston is through our support of Save the Harbor, Save the Bay's sustainability initiatives. We all have a role to play in keeping Spectacle Island and Boston Harbor clean and free of debris.   Our Coca-Cola associates and scholars helped us deliver on our commitment by participating in the clean-up." 

On the island we divided into two teams: One group tackled the trails, removing weeds and invasive species while the other group hit the beach and removed more than 30 bags of trash and lots of debris.

 

A team of Red Sox Scholars and volunteers from the
RBI program hard at work on Spectacle Island

Coca-Cola Scholars and volunteers get ready to hit the beach
to remove trash and debris on Spectacle Island

"The Red Sox Foundation and our Red Sox Scholars and RBI kids and families are committed to giving back to our community."  said Red Sox Foundation Interim Director Gena Borson. "Thanks to Save the Harbor / Save the Bay for giving our team the chance to make a difference on Spectacle Island."

Volunteers from the Red Sox Foundation's "RBI" program
pitched in and helped make the day a success.

After the clean-up volunteers enjoyed a picnic lunch at the visitor's center and then explored the island with Save the Harbor's staff and interns. Even though the tide was high, participants searched the beach for artifacts and beach glass from the last century, when Spectacle was the city dump and not a destination for the region's residents and visitors alike.

Save the Harbor's Bruce Berman (right), shares the Treasures of Spectacle Island at the visitor center.

“It was great to spend time on Boston Harbor with our partners from Coca-Cola and friends from the Boston Red Sox Foundation," said Bruce Berman of Save the Harbor / Save the Bay. "Seeing Boston in the distance gives us all a great sense of perspective about our community. We really appreciate all their hard work and support."

If you would like to join Save the Harbor/Save the Bay on a free Treasures of Spectacle Island Cruise on October 26, 2013, please send an email to info@savetheharbor.org.

About Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay (SH/SB) is a non- profit public interest Boston Harbor environmental advocacy organization whose mission is to restore and protect Boston Harbor, Massachusetts Bay, the Boston Harbor Islands, the Boston Harbor regions public beaches, Boston’s waterfront and the marine environment for everyone to enjoy. For more information about Save the Harbor, please visit www.savetheharbor.org.

About the Coca-Cola Scholars
Since 1989, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has helped dreams come true for more than 5,000 outstanding students. In high school, these students began their journey of academic excellence, positive leadership and dedication to service. They are continuing throughout their careers to serve others and realize their full potential to change the world and create an enduring legacy. For more information about the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, please visit www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org

About the Red Sox Scholars
The Red Sox Scholars is an award-winning program run by the Red Sox Foundation, the official team charity of the Boston Red Sox. The program was launched in 2003 and with the selection of the new class of Boston Public School students in 2012, the Red Sox Scholars Program now provides mentoring, enrichment activities and college scholarships to 220 Boston Public School students. Funded by the Red Sox Foundation, the Scholars’ college scholarships of up to $10,000 per student are redeemable upon enrollment in an accredited college and on the condition on continued good citizenship. Our Red Sox Scholars come from diverse backgrounds and have demonstrated perseverance in the face of many challenges. For more information about the Red Sox Foundation or the Red Sox Scholars, please visit www.redsoxfoundation.org

About the Red Sox Foundation's Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities Program
Baseball is at the center of all we do and it’s the same for Red Sox Foundation’s youth programming.  The Rookie League introduces children under the age of 12 to the basics of the game, while the Red Sox Foundation’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program uses the sport to promote healthy choices and valuable life-skills including non-violent conflict resolution, resistance to drugs and alcohol, and educational achievement among at-risk teens, aged 13-18.  These programs serve thousands of boys and girls in the Boston community. For more information about the RBI program or the Red Sox Foundation, please visit www.redsoxfoundation.org
. 

One Community. One Blue. One Beach!

Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Annual Service Day

with Save the Harbor / Save the Bay

On September 18, 2013, eighty employees from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts joined Save the Harbor/Save the Bay for a beach cleanup in South Boston.

 
The 80 members of Blue Cross Blue Shield’s “Blue Crew” were part of the company’s 3rd annual company-wide service day, which included 3,000 employees and 16,000 service hours across the entire state.

The “Blue Crew” partnered with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and spent a full day removing trash, trimming bushes and overgrown brush, and weeding pathways and sidewalks that line the beach and adjacent parks and ball fields.  In total, the “Blue Crew” beautified 12+ acres of public parks, including 2 miles of sandy swimming beaches and 3 miles of urban parkways and removed more than 7 tons of trash and landscape debris.

Andrew Dreyfus, President & CEO Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Jeff Bellows, VP of of Corportate Citizenship were on hand – and hands on -  at the event.

“We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay to protect the public’s $4.5 billion investment in the Boston Harbor Cleanup.  Our employees share the mission to restore our public beaches and our harbor”, said Dreyfus. "Inspired by the vision and goals of our community partners, Service Day gives our associates the opportunity to strengthen cities, towns, and neighborhoods across Massachusetts and continues our more than 75 year legacy of community commitment - which has been a hallmark of Blue Cross since our founding."

Save the Harbor’s President Patty Foley, who learned to swim at L Street Beach, was impressed by what the “Blue Crew” accomplished and is proud to have earned their support.  “We value our partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield and their commitment to our community.  They are passionate about our mission to restore our harbor and beaches while creating the next generation of harbor stewards. BCBS is a truly a leader in corporate citizenship in our city and beyond.”

Jay Stack participated in last year’s service day with Save the Harbor and I stepped up and volunteered to be Site Coordinator for BC/BS Service Day 2013.  “I grew up in this town and had many fun on these beaches. It is really rewarding to give a little back.”

Bandi “Weed Killer” Braimn tackled weeds and invasive species with gusto. “What a productive day on Carson Beach”, said Bandi as he trimmed the overgrown brush among the sea grass.  “My granddaughter lives here so we bring her to these beaches.  This is a great opportunity to give back and teach her the importance of community service.”

Thanks to everyone who took part in this great event. All of us at Save the Harbor really appreciate your hard work and commitment to our mission and our community.

For information about Save the Harbor/Save the Bay visit our website at www.savetheharbor.org follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/savetheharbor  or visit our Boston Harbor blog “Sea, Sand & Sky” at http://www.blog.savetheharbor.org

For more information about the Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Massachusetts Day of Service, visit http://www.bluecrossma.com/service-day/