Hingham Resident to Receive Community Hero of the Year Award

From Interfaith Social Services:

Hingham resident Ally Donnelly is familiar to most area residents from her work at the TV station NECN. But what most people don’t know is how much she does behind the camera to help South Shore residents who are struggling to provide basic necessities for their families.

A local organization, Interfaith Social Services, has decided to honor her contributions to the region by selecting Ally Donnelly as their Community Hero of the Year. Each year at their Feed the Hungry Gala Interfaith presents the award to an individual who inspires others through selfless service.

“Ally’s passionate investigative reporting and dedication to serving South Shore residents in need made her an obvious choice for the Community Hero of the Year award,” said Interfaith’s executive director Rick Doane. “As a reporter, Ally covers issues and stories about people who are struggling, or who can’t speak for themselves. Outside of her office hours, Ally chairs Interfaith’s Feed the Hungry Gala Committee. She has participated in the Pan-Mass Challenge in honor of children struggling with cancer. She engages local businesses to join her in supporting families in need. Ally organizes clothing and Halloween costume drives for local children, prepares bake sales and participates in Walkathons. She embodies Interfaith’s motto of “neighbors helping neighbors. We are lucky to have someone as dedicated as Ally living here in our community.”

In 2013, South Shore Living profiled Ally as one of the most influential women in the South Shore region. Ally Donnelly has been a part of the NECN team for over 10 years. She has won three local Emmy Awards, two regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, and two Gabriel Awards in her career as a journalist, along with two Associated Press awards and a Freddie Award. During this time, she wrote and produced NECN’s award-winning documentary “The Long Journey Home.” A graduate of Marquette University, Ally began her career as a Public Affairs Officer for Boston Children’s Hospital and later become editor of WHERE Boston Magazine. Ally and her husband Patrick are proudly raising daughters Izzie and Lucy in Hingham, both of whom organize a bake sale each spring to benefit Interfaith Social Services.

Ally will receive the Community Hero of the Year Award at Interfaith’s Feed the Hungry Gala on December 4, 2015 at Granite Links in Quincy. Interfaith’s Gala is one of the premiere social events for Greater Boston and Massachusetts’ South Shore region. The Gala features carnival-style games, door prizes, entertainment and an amazing variety of live and silent auction packages. Chefs from top Boston area restaurants host a Dine Around experience for guests while local wine and spirits distributors showcase their products. Many surprises and fun giveaways are being planned for this year’s event. All proceeds support Interfaith’s programs for local families in need of food, mental health counseling, homelessness prevention, budget counseling and emergency assistance. To purchase tickets, or for more information about the event, visit www.FeedHungryGala.org.

Photo: Ally Donnelly, Hingham resident and investigative reporter for NECN, to be honored with Interfaith Social Services’ Community Hero of the Year award at their Feed the Hungry Gala on December 4th. Credit: Submitted