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Read about our Rodman Awards recipients and learn more about their exceptional community service.
Recognizing community leaders, artists, businesses, organizations, schools and those who have made a difference in their communities.
When some communities threw their hands up and cancelled their season, Doug Suess redeveloped the fall season into Flag Football so the kids could participate. It was not easy running kids programs with COVID going on but he not only had a great season, while following all protocols, but then launched a spring season for kids to participate.
Makayla Hickey led the King Philip Leo Club as President leading over 170 club members through a very difficult year, completing an astounding 26 community service projects spanning Norfolk, Wrentham and Plainville. These projects included contributing service hours and donations to local soup kitchens, backpack drives for students and homeless, green space clean-ups, veteran support, community holiday celebrations, and collaboration with organizations such as Rosie’s Place, Special Olympics and Ronald McDonald House.
Marc Craig has led a tireless effort through this pandemic to keep the Council On Aging active and has helped countless seniors to get vaccinated. During the shutdown, he held daily Zoom calls to facilitate bingo games for seniors, called seniors often to see if they needed anything or just wanted to talk, coordinated with local organizations to hold food giveaways, and sourced toiletries when they were difficult to find. He and his amazing staff were able to open the center while utilizing strict guidelines to keep everyone safe, social and cared for.
The King Philip Senior Spirit 2021 Parent Group was formed last fall to support King Philip High School’s Class of 2021 to help create Covid-friendly senior year memories. This effort included multiple deliveries of care packages to each of the 300+ senior’s houses. The group created a day of activities called “Warrior Mayhem ’21”, assembling over 100 volunteers to assist with the effort of running the event, which celebrated seniors with games, prizes and time to be together safely. The group also positively impacted the community by involving students in creating Birthday Bags stocked with party and cake-making supplies, which were donated to local food pantries, to help others also celebrate milestones in their lives.
Anne Marie Anderson has been on the frontline of this pandemic, working as a nurse. She has also participated in so many fundraisers and community service projects throughout the year, despite her exhausting work in the medical field. Her tireless and gifted work inspired a sense of hope for all those she came into contact with.
It was not easy to be on the school committee, especially this past year, but Tina Belanger led by listening, evaluating and carefully proceeded with calm decision-making, just as she has for the other nine years of her service of supporting Foxborough Public Schools. She has been an amazing leader in every way, supporting students, families and the community as a whole.
Led by Mike Webber, Foxboro Cable Access made important civic information accessible to all. FCA made it possible for families to enjoy athletic games in their homes when spectators weren’t allowed. From music performances, to awards ceremonies, to worship services, to over 125 civic meetings, FCA was there to cover it all and keep us informed and connected due to Mike’s technological skills.
Aaron Bush is beloved by his students and is completely devoted to their development as young adults and their overall well being. It’s the highest level of music education that he brings to the students at Foxboro High School, but it really isn’t just about music. It is about the leadership, respect and caring for each other that he has fostered within the music department. He is among the finest in his vocation.
Cami Tedoldi is the Music Director for the Foxborough Schools. She has been tireless in her efforts to provide continuous music education at all the Schools during the awkward Covid-19 restrictions that have affected student instruction. The music has NEVER STOPPED during this long and difficult period. Our entire Town and all our students therein have been the beneficiary of Cami’s creativity and effectiveness in managing the Music Department during this teaching endurance test.
Jack Authelet is a life-long resident and the official town historian of Foxborough, and Commissioner Emeritus of the historical society. He is an amazing example of bridging generations as an invaluable collector and distributor of knowledge about our shared local history. An accomplished published author, he has documented the history of the town in detail and continues to make public appearances supporting the passage of history from one person to another.
Emelie Bonin researches historic houses as part of her work with the Historic Commission for their house plaque program, helping to preserve the unique history of each home in the present tense. To date, she has researched and created over 225 plaques giving homeowners a new lens through which to view the history of their homes.
Kristen Walsh is a first grade teacher at the Igo School. She faced this school year with such a positive attitude and with her trademark hilarious disposition. She went above and beyond to make students learning from home feel included by planning special projects that brokered relationships with children who otherwise might have felt isolated, sometimes using her lunch break or out of school time to do so. Kristen regularly goes above and beyond for her students, but this year, she really proved that.
In addition to her work with youth, Nicole Vachon Hanlon also works with elderly and disabled residents by accompanying them on walks, doing art projects and generally keeping them smiling. Nicole also has led art therapy workshops with our local veterans. Most of what she does, she does for free or is paid just a little, and the money she does earn goes toward supplies for the next project.
What A.J. Dooley does for the community is continuous – When he and Jack started Clean Up Foxboro Day became an annual event that continues to bring the community together! Covid-19 might have delayed this year’s event, but it hasn’t stopped it. Anyone that knows A.J.–and that’s pretty much everyone in Foxboro–knows that A.J.’s generosity and caring knows no bounds. You won’t hear about it on the news, but if he can help, he does!
Reggie St. Germain is always among the first to offer a helping hand whenever people need it. This past year, he purchased and donated PPE for healthcare workers and helped to distribute his wife’s hand sewn masks. He’s the type of person who buys coffee for those behind him in the Dunkin Donuts line. He’s constantly doing what he can to make those around him have a better day.
Lindsay Deneault helps out consistently around town and always puts her heart and soul into everything she does as a business owner and a community leader. She has been working for many years to connect students to the arts, support youth education and to enhance the overall well-being of her community. She leads with a happy heart and a smile on her face.
The YMCA is constantly looking for ways to serve the youth of Foxboro and surrounding communities. Whether through sports leagues or summer camps, they do a great job of creating opportunities for students to grow into who they are. Their summer camp raises up students to be leaders, growing them through encouragement, giving them responsibilities, and opportunities to lead. Under Ashli Phillips’ and Liz Francis’ leadership, this organization continues to shine!
Bo Canfield has developed into a confident person, someone who is not afraid to be who he is. Bo has been involved in theater his whole life. Bo has helped in many productions, workshops and programs over the years. He motivates others to want to get on stage and boosts their confidence. He has been a leader in the Foxborough High School music program, has taught private lessons and offered his time to help mentor younger musicians. As an athlete, Bo has helped to recruit underclassmen to get involved in lesser populated sports like tennis and swim. As a spokesperson for the Gay Straight Alliance, Bo has worked with kids in the middle school to help them find their voices in our complicated world. Bo is an outstanding role model for many sectors of our youth population and he has made a positive difference for many.
For over 20 years, Donna Martin has planned and accompanied bus loads of Senior Citizens on monthly day trips around New England. She is a dedicated volunteer! She provides social opportunities for local seniors to enjoy luncheons and performances that might not otherwise be accessible to our senior community members.
Kristin Papianou started a Facebook page “Pandemic Potluck” and created a community of individuals who loved to cook and share recipes when the pandemic started. It was a place to share and connect. She then provided volunteer opportunities through the site and during the holidays hosted the first cookie swap which was well attended and brought individuals together who had been sharing throughout the pandemic.
Carolyn Cahill and Sarah Caracciolo are community leaders who provide a constant source of community outreach and advice on their Facebook page, Foxborough Working Mothers. This year, Sarah has launched an effort to reconstruct the skate park at the Booth Recreational area and has organized fundraisers and launched a Go Fund Me to support this effort. All of these events are to save and improve an area that kids love and many feel are so important to their childhood.
As Foxboro’s Town Planner, Paige Duncan has shown a deep commitment to the Foxboro Community. She skillfully and eloquently does her work with a deep appreciation for both Foxboro’s history and the future growth of the town. Paige is not one to say no to projects and works tirelessly to help make dreams grow into reality. She is currently in the process of gathering stakeholders to be a part of a conversation to make Foxboro a Cultural District, once again weaving the ideas and visions of stakeholders into plan and process. She always values feedback and input, is a forward thinker and works around the clock for the good of this town.
Laura Canfield has worked tirelessly for over 20 years to create opportunities for young performers. Her theater company LRC Stage Productions has given hundreds of kids the chance to perform on stage and have their moment in the spotlight. From the Ahern Middle School in Foxboro, to the Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center and at Foxborough High School, Laura has consistently directed incredible shows for all youth performers of all ages. She teaches kids not only how to be an amazing performer, but an amazing person and truly changes lives. Her work in Grease and Spelling Bee this past year really helped to get the theater community up and running again after a hard year and brought joy to so many performers and their families.
Deb Wendell never hesitates to jump in with dedication and energy when projects are needed or suggested by the Historical Commission. Most recently she has revamped and refreshed the archival displays at Memorial Hall including much improved signage. Deb also produced the design and graphics for the new Jack Authelet initiative to honor and display the accomplishments of the “Women of Foxborough”, an expanding exhibit at Memorial Hall. Her creativity, enthusiasm and incredible effort allowed this work to be completed in a matter of months instead of years as had been originally anticipated. Through her time at Cable Access, Deb saw to it that countless, donated 8mm films were digitized and made available for public viewing through archive.org. Due to Deb’s resourcefulness and skills, archive.org now also contains a listing of the Historical Commission’s archive database and news indexes from 1796 to 1955. She clearly has built tangible bridges from the town’s history to the present. She is our Golden Gate!
As one of the owners of a local law firm, Lori Drayton has assisted victims of violent crimes and domestic violence and juveniles while also donating a great deal of her time to pro bono work. Attorney Drayton also runs the Norfolk County Lawyer for the Day Program where she assists with free representation of Landlords and Tenants in housing court. Lori is the secretary of the Igo school Parent Teacher Organization and a classroom parent for her son’s grade 1 class. She is also the classroom mom for her daughter Ella’s class at the Sage School and representative for Sage on the Massachusetts Private Independent Network of Schools. In December, after a family in the first grade class lost everything in a fire, she stopped all operations of her law firm to organize a drive to obtain essentials for the family which resulted in hundreds of contributions. Lori spends so much of her time, both professionally and personally supporting her community!
Greg Spier is a builder who gives back to his industry and the planet by using innovative building techniques that are environmentally friendly. Greg gives back to his local community by contributing to the Foxboro YMCA and the Spier Aquatic Center. Greg is also a benefactor of the SPLASH program which has resulted in teaching hundreds of local school children how to be safe around water, learn to swim, and begin enjoying swimming as lifelong recreation.
Lisa Rapoza is a Foxboro resident who has had her fair share of heartaches but is always planning or has something in the wings to help someone in town. Whether it’s a benefit, party, raffle, or an all out gala–Lisa is the one planning it! A ride to the airport- Lisa will drive you. A meal for a meal train- she will cover more than her share. A new diagnosis that will set you and your family back- she already has a fundraiser planned! Lisa is the epitome of love for others but especially her community.
Jackie McCann is a beam of energy, spirit, and positivity in our community. Jackie is a 6th grade teacher at the Ahern Middle School. If you need to find her classroom, just look for the current and former students lined up to say hi to her or check in with her. After school, you can find Jackie assisting with activities at the Ahern, such as Student Council. When she’s done with her duties at the Ahern, she is often hustling to play rehearsal for the next musical that she is assisting with. When she’s finished up with work and theatre, Jackie isn’t home relaxing on the couch. Instead, on nights and weekends, you can find her cheering on Foxboro youth at sports events where her students are so excited to see her. She has a way of making people feel special with just her presence.
Paige Gilmartin is a magnetic human being. She always has a smile and happy remark for anyone she sees. Since she was a child, Paige has worked to draw others into the creative and wonderful world of theatre. She has been in countless shows and has brought so many along with her. When Paige is around, you can’t help but smile. When the high school was without a show this year, Paige worked hard to make sure that the show would happen. It was a huge success and Paige was a large reason why. She works tirelessly to ensure that theater arts will continue at the high school, even after she graduates.
Christie created Cheer Factor in Foxboro which provides tumbling and cheer instruction to children from age 4-18. Christie has created opportunities for thousands of students to learn in a gym that creates confidence and character in tandem with strong cheer skills in a warm and encouraging environment. She hosts healthy lifestyle seminars for young women and has hired coaches at all levels that support these girls as they push themselves which manifests in life skills that extend well beyond cheering. Christie is a mentor to so many young athletes during crucial developmental years.
Coach Mike runs Kids in Sports in Walpole and welcomes every child who walks through the doors. He will meet a child once and know their name forever and knows just how to adapt his enthusiastic coaching style to the needs of each child to help them to learn sports and how to be a good teammate by focusing on their strengths so that they feel motivated and accomplished. During the pandemic, Coach Mike also recorded virtual sports activity videos and shared them on social media so kids could stay active. He is the ultimate encourager!
Paige Taylor works at the YMCA as part of the Inclusion Initiative and assists children with special needs so they can attend classes with their peers. She is a champion of self-confidence and fearlessness and embodies everything that we want our kids to become. She does this work simply because she enjoys making a difference in the lives of the kids. Her genuine kindness and enthusiasm is truly a blessing to all those lucky enough to work with her.
Philip is the Facilities Director at The Doolittle Home, but his contributions extend way beyond facility upkeep. Philip lifts the spirits of the folks living there by stopping to tell a joke or listening to a story that he might have heard many times with a smile. His relaxed manner and cheerfulness can make one forget that he is an employee because he feels like a favorite family member who drives the residents to their choir practice or to the council on aging for activities. He often works in shorts and t-shirt even in the dead of winter because the residents are most comfortable with the heat set to 85. He has worked in senior living facilities since he was a teen and genuinely cares for each resident.
Earle has been the resident “farmer” for the community farm stand since 1997, and at age 90, he still tills the field, plants the veggies, fertilizes, waters, weeds and harvests, then prepares all this produce for sale as well as for donation to Thanksgiving baskets. Earle has also been involved with the community artistically by accompanying with his guitar the Foxborough Serenading Seniors since 1998. He is an active member of his church, and is quick-witted and fun to be with no matter what the activity.
Shantae founded the nonprofit Be Inclusive, Inc. which is dedicated to lifting the voices of underrepresented populations in our community. Besides bringing people together for celebrations such as Diwali or Junteenth, she provides educational forums like the Multicultural Book Initiative which increases the visibility of books that lift the voices of marginalized communities within the Walpole Public Schools. Shantae is a tireless leader and her considerable energy has enabled the formation of a civic organization that supports healthy connections, diversity of thought and feeling, racial identity development and ongoing anti-racist learning through education, community events, programming, and resources.
Jeff Kinney has been an incredible leader and champion of the Plainville local community, investing in creating a beautiful bookstore and community space for our area. He is revitalizing the downtown area and bringing art, culture and fellowship to the town. An Unlikely Story Bookstore and Café is a community gathering place where you can meet amazing authors, enjoy breakfast or lunch, or relax with a new book and a beer. We are so lucky to have his creativity, energy & generosity both as a local author and as a business owner.
Erin is the President of the Foxboro Special Education Parent Advisory Council. She has put on workshops, meetings, and advocacy events for parents and has taken this state required program to the next level locally. Foxborough has over 500 children with individual education plans (IEPs)and/or 504 Accommodations. Under Erin’s capable leadership, she has ensured that the town has an educational environment where children with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities where all children are encouraged to reach their full potential.
Foxboro Fire Chief Kelleher is a cutting-edge thinker and innovative leader. Some of his recent projects include The Southeast Massachusetts Regional Emergency 911 District building acquisition, the creation of a public health position pre-COVID, and most recently his active voice of concern for our area with two community hospitals going out of service. He was recently awarded The Massachusetts Municipal Association Innovation award for studying PFAS exposure to firefighters. He’s not only a leader in Foxborough, but in his industry as a whole.
Ryan has worked at Foxboro School of Music for many years as a guitar, bass, ukulele, and drum instructor. Ryan is not only an incredibly talented and accomplished musician, but he is also a great teacher of music. His rapport with young students is unmatched and he brings joy to his students with his upbeat personality and passion. Ryan has also been a teacher for many years at the Bi-County Collaborative school in Franklin, where he works with children with behavioral and mental health issues. He has used those skills to successfully teach music in the studio to children with learning disabilities and those on the Autism spectrum, making music education accessible for all who want to participate.
Bill’s devotion to researching history and presenting his findings through newspaper articles and through his blog has uncovered many forgotten stories. As a retired state reference archivist, he has researched various topics and how they relate to the local area including the history of Saint Mary’s Parish and the Chicago Fire of 1871 which subsequently prompted better fire protection in Foxboro. He was a frequent speaker at Foxboro Historical Society meetings for two decades. Always one to show up for his community, he has also been a drug hotline operator, religious educator, hospital pastoral visit provider, and was a director of volunteer services for the Department of Corrections.
Julie is the first person to raise her hand and help and puts endless energy into giving back to the community, school, and her friends. She volunteers on a number of Burrell school committees and is dedicated to fundraising for the BIT and PTO. She is a local second grade Girl Scout group leader, active moms club member, and an all around great friend. She is always the first to offer her help to someone in need- whether it be a good friend or someone she just met. She is someone you can count on, and goes above and beyond in her generosity. Julie is there when our kids and Foxboro community need her and she was nominated by multiple people for this award.
Hardik and his family own the Red Fox Motel in Foxboro on Route One and always strive to give back where they can. Since buying the motel in 2007, the Patels have provided free lodging to anyone in need of emergency housing by giving people a place to stay, providing their generator during power outages and have shoveled for local elderly. He is always offering to help folks in town with his daily acts of kindness and generosity. While most business owners are solely focused on their bottom line, Hardik is focused on looking out for his neighbors in need. He is truly a giving and selfless business owner and individual.
The teachers and staff on the Special Education team at the Burrell Elementary School work tirelessly to ensure that all of the preschoolers in the program are well prepared for K-12 school. In particular, Stephanie Whitehouse goes above and beyond the responsibilities of a teacher. She is personally invested in the progress of each child in her classroom. She is tuned into the clinical needs and developmental challenges of each and every student and helps them reach their goals. Stephanie never backs down from a challenge or says ‘That’s not my job”. She is an invaluable asset to the Foxborough school community. Her selfless devotion to the special needs kids in our community is unmatched.
Kendra has been working at the Mansfield Stop and Shop since September of 2002 as a Bagger. Even with life challenges, she always has a smile on her face and is very communicative with customers about what she is doing. She brings a smile to the faces of nearly all of the customers who go through her checkout lane without fail. The store manager has relayed that she is a great employee, and well-liked by her peers who work alongside her 2 days per week. Kendra is always willing to help out other store associates, always smiling and stays positive no matter what.
Karin has been a Foxboro resident since 2010 and is originally from Walpole. While raising two daughters with her husband Jonathan, Karin has found many ways to make a positive impact on the community and the schools, in particular the Ahern and the Igo. She has been involved with the PAC, PTO, Girl Scouts, the B-I-T, youth basketball, field hockey, shows at MRPAC, meals on wheels and volunteering at Whitney Place. She is always raising her hand to volunteer her time to any community or organization that needs it. She is extremely neighborly and always willing to help a friend, or even a stranger for that matter. Some words that describe her are: outgoing, friendly, smart, enthusiastic, caring, funny, proactive, organized, dependable, trustworthy, dedicated and resourceful. It is not just what she does; it’s how she does it.
Over the past several years Lisa has been in the forefront of Foxboro sports for her work with the Lady Warrior FHS basketball championship team. No doubt that is impressive as is her many years running the youth basketball program, refing and coaching youth athletes. She is well respected by players, fellow coaches and the community as a whole. What is truly inspirational and speaks to giving back to the community and her friends is her off the court efforts. Lisa took over from her mother Lorraine Garland who chaired the Foxboro Discretionary Fund. With the mission of helping the needy families in Foxboro by operating a food pantry, offering heating assistance, rent assistance, toy drives and generally helping when asked, Lisa has been the driving force behind this 50- year program for the past 25 years. The stories are many, but the public bragging is absent, and that is how Lisa carries herself while helping the community.
Bill retired as Foxboro’s town manager at the end of March. Bill has served as one of the most respected municipal leaders in the state for the last 40 years. Bill also served on the board for the Southeast Massachusetts Regional 911 District and the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association. His accomplishments for the town and the region over the course of an impressive career are too many to list tonight, but Foxboro is indebted to him for his service, continuity and dedication to developing and governing our community with pride and professionalism.
If there were a Foxboro Mayor, surely Diana, or Dynomite, as I like to call her, would be in the running for it. Diana has spent her years in Foxboro helping wherever and whenever she could. Whether it was an opportunity to serve on the Burrell PTO or to chair the B-I-T auction, or to help organize her family’s float for Founder’s Day, she is always ready to help. She most recently organized a teacher appreciation day when our teachers needed some extra support and acknowledgement. Diana loves her community fiercely and exemplifies someone who deserves a standing ovation.
Rachel has been a member of the board of directors at the MRPAC for the past four years. She serves in this role as she believes whole heartedly in its mission to expose families – all families – to local theater. She also is the founder and Executive Director of Confikids nonprofit organization which serves families in four counties in southeastern MA in hopes to build children’s confidence through enrichment activities. She has lived in Foxboro for over 20 years with her husband, Greg, and her three children. She believes her ultimate achievement is being a mom to three thriving, confident and kind children; Sadie, age 17, Jamie, age 15 and Lucy age 12.
Jeanne Bonneau exemplifies the characteristics of Marilyn Rodman through her lifelong commitment to music and arts education. Jeanne has been a resident of Foxboro for 55 years and taught in the Plainville Public Schools as a music educator for 20 years. As a founding member of Foxboro Music Association, Jeanne showed her commitment to building a legacy of music advocates. Upon retirement, Jeanne began using her talents in the Foxboro Senior Center where she created a group called the Serenading Seniors. I saw first hand how Jeanne leads this group with energy, warmth and professionalism. Most would think that was enough. But not for Jeanne. Jeanne has a deep respect for generational learning – for connecting the young with the old through music. Jeanne’s Serenading Seniors travel to local elementary schools to perform and engage youth in other areas to work alongside the Serenading Seniors. She has engaged the Foxboro High School American Sign Language Class to sign alongside the group. Jeanne doesn’t stop. She doesn’t stop spreading the one common thread we all as humans have in common – a love of music.
Paul Reynolds Beck was raised in Dedham; moved to Foxboro in 1975 with wife Barbara Anne Burg and daughter Molly, with son Joel arriving in 1976. Paul graduated from Emerson College with a major in Television Production, a minor in Speech.
Paul’s career in broadcast television began as a volunteer for the Boston Catholic Television Center which provided him a marvelous learning experience with hundreds of local sports programs televised for Boston College, Harvard University, MIT and many others.
Paul joined The Foxboro Company in 1974, but left in 1981 to manage Emerson College’s facilities in Boston. He retired from Emerson in 2013 after 32 years of service.
In the last 20 years, Paul has been heavily involved in Foxboro Cable Access (FCA) as a volunteer crew member and production specialist, and currently serves as its President. During the pandemic, FCA increased the number of televised weekly government meetings and expanded live-streaming to local churches for religious services.
Furthermore, Paul created a television production facility at the Foxboro High School Auditorium for broadcasting musical and theatrical performances.
Paul Beck is a highly respected and treasured member of the community. He is a joy to have around, may it be as a colleague, a volunteer or a mentor to so many.
The Rodman Awards is supported in part by a grant from the Foxborough, Attleboro, Mansfield and Sharon Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council.
The Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center is a home to so many arts and culture organizations who rely on our stage to present works with and for the communities they serve. Our patrons have a home where they can gather with a friend, socialize and enjoy performances together. Art is an integral part of community and without it, we aren’t as strong, we aren’t as creative and we aren’t as unified.
Be a part of the reason community is so strong. Join us in elevating those who have made our community stronger with a sponsorship. Options start at $250.00
Contact Catherine Miller, Executive Director at [email protected] for sponsorship details.
