AG Coakley Honored In Celebration Of Health Care Leaders

Print Story | Email Story
BOSTON – Attorney General Martha Coakley was honored last night with the 2009 Leadership Award in recognition of her efforts in health care at “For the People: A Celebration of Health Care Leaders,” an annual event sponsored by Health Care for All (HCFA). The event was held at The Westin Copley Place in Boston.

“Although we’ve made a great deal of progress since implementing the landmark health reform law in 2006, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure access of affordable, high quality health care to everyone in the Commonwealth,” said Attorney General Martha Coakley. “It’s important that consumers are aware of their health care options and are protected from the practices of unscrupulous insurers.”

HCFA is a health care consumer advocacy organization dedicated to making quality, affordable health care accessible to everyone, particularly the uninsured, low-income elders, children, people with disabilities and immigrants. “For the People: A Celebration of Health Care Leaders” is held annually to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the health reform movement. In addition to Attorney General Coakley, Secretary of Health and Human Services JudyAnn Bigby, M.D. and Senate President Therese Murray were recognized as 2009 honorees.

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office is committed to protecting the consumers of the Commonwealth, particularly with regard to health care and the implementation of the new law in Massachusetts. Upon taking office, Attorney General Coakley established a new Health Care Division to oversee and regulate the practices of hospitals and health care providers throughout Massachusetts. Earlier this year, Attorney General Coakley’s Health Care Division entered into a settlement with Aetna Health, Inc., for committing unfair or deceptive acts when it sold insurance policies that violated Massachusetts’ mandated benefit laws.

The annual “For the People: A Celebration of Health Care Leaders” event was held at The Westin Copley Place located at 10 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Mass., from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Over 500 guests, government officials, health care executives, business leaders, and consumers attended last night’s event.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Holds Awards Banquet

Community submission
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Friday honored outstanding contributors to the Berkshire County sports scene at its third annual Awards Dinner at the Polish Falcon Club.
 
The foundation supports youth sports throughout the county each year.
 
In 2025-26, those donations totaled more than $30,000 to groups ranging from youth football and cheerleading programs, Pittsfield Little League, Northern Berkshire Softball and the Pittsfield Boys and Girls Club Recreation Therapy Program, to name a few.
 
Funds raised by the foundation also go to support its annual Vera Barborotta Memorial Sportsman Scholarship, which this year went to Lee High School graduate Joey Abderhalden and Taconic grad Madeline Harrington.
 
Two other recently graduated high school standout athletes were recognized as winners of the Al Bianchi Memorial Athletes of the Year: Madison McCarthy and Cooper Calvert, both of Wahconah Regional High School.
 
Pittsfield High School girls basketball coach Kristy Conyers and Hoosac Valley boys basketball coach Matt Larabee received the foundation's Coach of the Year Awards.
 
John Castonguay received the Bianchi-Barbarotta Foundation Living Legend Award. A.J. Ziter took home the Connie Bianchi Memorial Award of Merit. And Mark Moulton rounded out the honorees with the foundation's Volunteer of the Year Award.
 
View Full Story

More Regional Stories