It may come as a surprise to some, but there are people in need right here in Westford. And, for the past 10 years, the Westford Charitable Foundation has been helping those in need, giving more than $175,000 back to the community.
Long-time Westford residents Lori and Herb Cogliano created the Westford Charitable Foundation in 2002 to help those residents who may have nowhere else to turn. The group’s mission has always been to raise and award funds to enrich Westford through support of a variety of charitable, educational, cultural, and environmental initiatives.
“We’re grateful that we’ve been able to help so many people,” Lori Cogliano said. “We help those who have no other resources, and in the process, have a positive impact on the community.”
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Cogliano has dozens of stories of families and organizations the Westford Charitable Foundation has helped over the past 10 years. The WCF helped a young woman who had been paralyzed in a car accident make her house handicapped accessible. A young girl who had been declared legally blind was able to purchase special glasses from an out-of-state doctor not covered by her family’s insurance. The WCF has provided safety rails and dental cleanings for elderly Westford residents for years. In addition, the organization has helped victims of cancer, domestic violence, fire, and other tragedies.
Recently, board members of the local chapter of the Saint Vincent DePaul Society alerted Cogliano to three Westford families who were in desperate need of help. The chapter – affiliated with St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish – helps thousands of people every year and is grateful for the Westford Charitable Foundation.
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The Westford Food Pantry has been a recipient of the foundation’s generosity for many years. Cogliano has seen the need increase dramatically in the last three years. “We’ve gone from providing 30 food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas to 50 baskets, to 80 baskets last year.”
The Westford Charitable Foundation has given funds to more than two dozen organizations and programs throughout town, including the J.V. Fletcher Library, the Westford Education Foundation, the Westford Parent Connection (in support of Project Interface), the Ronan McElligott Memorial Playground, Westford Academy Last Night, the Nashoba Valley Special Olympics, and the Cameron Senior Center.
“The majority of the funds we raise come from the Westford Road Race, which is held annually on the first Sunday in May,” Cogliano said. “This year the race – our 13th – is on Sunday, May 6, 2012. As in years past, the event will include a one-mile Family Fun Run and 5K and 10K races.”
The 5K and 10K races are sanctioned and certified by USA Track & Field New England, and attract hundreds of runners from all over New England. Participants can register in advance or the day of the event. All races start at the Abbot School and finish on the Westford Common, where runners may enjoy refreshments, music by a DJ, and a raffle. T-shirts will be given to the first 600 pre-registered runners, and all children in the Family Fun Run will be given special treats and ribbons. The deadline for being a Westford Road Race sponsor is March 31.
“The Westford Road Race is a lot of fun, and I’ve enjoyed meeting and working with so many people throughout town,” Cogliano said. “The race has allowed us to provide an enjoyable and entertaining community event that brings families together. In addition, we’ve been able to raise significant funds for some of the worthiest causes in Westford.”
One of the most interesting recipients, perhaps, is Westford Police Officer Corey Peladeau, who heads up the Westford Police K-9 and Drug Dog Program. “It came to my attention that Officer Peladeau was spending his own money to house and train two police dogs,” Cogliano said. “The foundation was able to provide him the resources to build adequate kennels for the dogs and appropriate cages for their transportation. He then gave a demonstration of the dogs’ extraordinary abilities. “One dog – who is trained as a ‘sniffer’ – was able to find marijuana regardless of where Officer Peladeau placed it on the premises. In addition, the drugs were in a sealed container. The dog was also able to repeatedly find a set of keys in the woods, in the dark. The other dog – a German Shepherd trained to search and retrieve – was able to attack and take down Officer Peladeau’s friend, who had volunteered to participate in and wear a protective suit for the demonstration. These dogs are highly trained and valuable partners on the Westford Police force.”
A few years ago, the Westford Charitable Foundation took over the production of the Westford Directory, which is updated every other year. The funds raised from the directory are used in the same way the road race funds are used. In addition, individual donations are gratefully accepted at any time throughout the year and are tax deductible. For more information about the Westford Charitable Foundation and the many people, programs, and organizations it supports, please contact Lori Cogliano at lcogliano@lycos.com or go to http://www.westford.com/roadrace/. To make a tax-deductible donation, click on http://www.active.com/donate/twcf.