Malden Nonprofit Honors 22 At Annual Spirit Awards

MALDEN, MA — A local nonprofit recently brought together participants, staff and community partners for its annual awards ceremony celebrating accomplishments across its programs.

Triangle, Inc. hosted its annual Spirit Awards on Friday, Sept. 18, at Town Line Luxury Lanes in Malden, drawing one of the largest turnouts in the event's history. The ceremony recognizes participants, residents, staff, and community partners from across Triangle's locations, houses, and programs.

Malden Mayor Gary Christenson and Triangle CEO Rachel Kaprielian welcomed attendees and presented awards to this year's 22 honorees. Family members, community partners, corporate partners, and members of Triangle's Board of Directors were also in attendance. After the ceremony, attendees enjoyed lunch, bowling, and games.

Program participants and resident honorees included Robert and Elizabeth from Broadway Day Services, Aryeh from Randolph Day Services, Michael from the Prism Program, Patrick from Pleasant Street Day Services, Jeam-Pier and Alyssa from Salem Day Services, Auguyen from Workforce Development, and Wayne and Stephanie from Residential Services.

Triangle also honored staff members Jonathan, Jennifer, Carolyn, Diana, Liz, Noah, Winifred, Taiwo, Esosa, and Alison. CGI Business Solutions and Janice Scaparotti were recognized as community partners.

The Spirit Awards are held annually as an opportunity for members of the Triangle community from across its programs and residential homes to come together. Triangle held last year's ceremony at Town Line Luxury Lanes and continued the awards virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic after its 2020 in-person gathering was canceled.

Triangle was founded in 1971 by community and business leaders from Everett, Malden, and Medford who sought to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The organization initially focused on employment before expanding its services to include residential programs, independent living, community inclusion, safety, and leadership programs.

Today, Triangle is headquartered at 450 Broadway in Malden and operates several programs for people with disabilities, including community-based day and supported employment services, residential services, and its Prism Program, which meets the specific needs of autistic young adults who age out of the public school system. Triangle also operates programs focused on abuse prevention, safety, and youth leadership.

Triangle reported serving 2,693 people with disabilities across its programs during the 2025 fiscal year, including 229 day-services participants, 46 people living in 11 residential homes and 82 autistic young adults through Prism. The nonprofit also served 569 students through at least one school-based service and reported creating 287 job opportunities, including 103 placements into competitive employment.

Kaprielian became Triangle's CEO in September 2024 after previously serving as vice president of the nonprofit's Board of Directors. Her previous roles include serving six terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, as Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles, as state Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, and as a regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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