Northern Berkshire United Way Honors Community Leaders
James Mahon and Paula Consolini were this year's recipients of the Spirit of Caring Awards. See more photos here.
They were honored at Northern Berkshire United Way's seventh annual Spirit of Caring Awards, held at the Norad Mill on Thursday.
Wild Oats Market general manager Netse Lytle, last year's award recipient, said their "combined resume makes the rest of us feel like we've been napping since 1992."
In her day job as director of the Center of Learning at in Action in at Williams College, Consolini leads a team of students "doing things that are incredibly useful to the rest of us," said Lytle, and "she's also served on more boards and committees than I can name without risking carpal tunnel."
Her husband, a political science professor at the college, is also active in St. John's Episcopal Church and has served on the boards of Williamstown Community Chest, Lever Inc. and the Northern Berkshire Chorale, and was president of the Berkshire Food Project for two decades.
"He has taught at Williams College since 1990 and still finds time to lead, sing, translate, govern, share, fund, raise and rotate presidencies like he's got a secret cabinet of identical twins," said Lytle. "Honestly, Jim, by trying to collect them all, is this some kind of board member Pokemon situation? ...
"When you look at what they've done, not just as individuals, but as partners, you realize this is what the spirit of community really looks like. It looks like action, not just words. It looks like service, not just titles."
The couple, married 40 years, lean in, he said, when they see challenges, and take on the weight.
"When times are tough, what gets us keeps us going is the work that all of you are doing, is standing with you shoulder to shoulder to help lift community," said Consolini. "And the work is kind of more challenging, but we feel like we can do it together."
Mahon said he wanted to direct the spotlight upward because there were not only previous award recipients in the room but 10 or 15 future ones, and another 150 who deserve it.
"Let's think about that for a moment, because I don't know if you guys been reading the news at all, but kindness and generosity seem to be out of fashion these days," he said. "So we'd like to thank you for being unfashionable."
NBUW Executive Director Patti Messina opened the event, saying "when people come together, they create a sense of community, build connections and weather life's challenges.
"It involves acts of kindness, voluntary work and gestures of goodwill by residents and local businesses, this spirit is rooted in the fundamental values like compassion, empathy and a shared commitment to making the community a better place for everyone."
The gathering also honored Richard Wiesenflue, who retired in March as CEO of Berkshire Family and Individual Resources after leading the organization for 25 years. He was presented the Al Nelson Spirit of Caring Award, named for the former NBUW executive director.
Peter Mirante, who has served on the boards of both BFAIR and NBUW, presented the award, and recalled his long involvement with NBUW.
"Al Nelson was just a was just a great human being, and we became friends," he said. "Just knowing that I'm giving award that's named after Alan Nelson is an honor, and then knowing that I'm going to present the award to another good friend of mine is a double honor."
Wiesenflue had built BFAIR to a "huge power" in North County and within Berkshire County and "always made sure that the clients received the best possible care that they could," said Mirante, and told a story of some of those clients he'd met at an ice cream social. "One by one, they went around the room, and they all started telling their story. And it was just so powerful, how much they understood how important BFAIR was to making sure that they had a they had a great life."
He said he couldn't understand why Wiesenflue wasn't more excited about retirement, "until I realized that there's way more to life than just going through the process. This guy actually went through life making life better for all the people that he helped, not only the clients, but the employees of BFAIR."
Wiesenflue said he wasn't worthy of the remarks and that he tried to "decline [the award] many times."
"The spirit of caring is that organization. It's the staff, it's the board members. It definitely merits all of the accolades as well," he said. "I think about our community partners, our business partners, and how so many have been there for BFAIR over the years, making it possible so that deserves a lot of credit to all the all the partners in the community."
Messina choked up a little, calling Wiesenflue a good friend and mentor.
State Rep. John Barrett III offered greetings from the House of Representatives and presented citations to the award recipients, which included this year's Spirit of the Future honoree Tanya Nichols, manager of the Bounti-Fare in Adams.
"She has a knack for showing up whenever there's a need in the community," read presenter Stacy Parsons of Nichols' nomination. "That people know that if when there's a need to raise funds for a local school group, or when a tragedy strikes, as the manager of Bounti-Fare Restaurant, Tanya is the person people call when they need to plan an event with compassion and care."
Nichols wears multiple hats, said Parsons, a past award recipient, and runs a farm stand to help local businesses, has served on the McCann Technical School advisory committee, and helped schools and food pantries with supplies during the pandemic.
"I particularly enjoyed that there seems to be a very personal bit of knowledge, because the person who wrote this said, 'You have no problem getting knee deep in muck trying to save an animal,' which makes me feel like there's a story there that maybe you'd like to share later," said Parsons. "But that you what came through with this statement that was shared is that anytime anyone needs anything, 'Tanya is there.'"
Nichols said she was "humbled to join the impressive list of prior recipients."
"I feel very lucky to live in this remarkable community, and giving back has always been something that was emphasized, not only by my parents, but by my grandparents as well," she said. "My mother was always baking for some event or some cause, and served on school council and booster clubs in various boards and committees. My father was also active in the community, and as a local business owner, he has always made his restaurant an available venue to support countless fundraisers.
"Following in their footsteps only seemed like the natural thing to do. "
Board President Kelly McCarthy recognized two workplace campaigns — Adams Community Bank and Specialty Minerals.
"Funds raised during the workplace campaign for us in Northern Berkshire County directly support our 20 member agencies," she said. "The long-term impact for workplace campaigns creates a culture of giving volunteering, and that benefits the community all year long."
Tags: NBUW, recognition event,
