Rick's Place, Inc. - Contribute

The only way Rick's Place, Inc. can offer its services free of charge to those in need is through the generous contributions of individuals and corporations.

There are many ways to support a grieving child with your tax deductible contribution:

$1,200 for one year of grief support for a child

$450 for one month of grief support for a family (family of 3)

$150 for one month of grief support for a child

Monthly pledge of grief support for a child

To support Rick's Place, Inc., please send your donation to:

Rick's Place, Inc.
c/o The Bank of Western Massachusetts
Attn: Wealth Management Department
P.O. Box 4950
Springfield, MA 01101-4950

Hands Together is a Haitian charity/mission Rick was involved with. Hands Together builds and operates schools in Cite Soleil and other areas, builds wells and other facilities and helps with agricultural projects. Cite Soleil is the poorest area slum in the western hemisphere and likely one of the most challenged spots on the planet. Cite Soleil is in Port-au-prince, the area at which the earthquake hit, and it is hard to imagine how the slums of Cite Soleil with concrete block and tin shacks could have survived this strong earthquake.

Hands Together can use any support as they rebuild their schools and buildings and this is a great way for you to channel your resources into Haiti if you're looking for a way to do so. Rick personally knew the operators of this charity and all monies are directed to good sources -- the people, children, schools and villages of Haiti.

If you want to learn more about Hands Together and their activities on their web site, and to meet Father Tom Hagan a nd Doug Campbell (both affiliated with Lafayette College) on video, see the Hands Together link and these you tube videos.

http://www.handstogether.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j6XYmLYT4s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL7cZTZ8k1k

Fellow Alumni,

I hope this message finds you well.

As many of you know, on September 11th, 2001, we lost a dear friend of ours, Rick Thorpe. Rick was thirty-four. In his short tenure with us, Rick was able to accomplish so much. His successes as a volunteer, mentor and friend to many needy people have been celebrated in the foundations developed in his name.

You see, while we decided to start our Thorpe March Madness Tournament in his honor, it is no coincidence that others were doing the same thing. Rick was that kind of guy.
The proceeds from our Thorpe March Madness Tournament contribute to the Eric R. Thorpe '89 Memorial Fund for Community Outreach which supports Lafayette Alternate School Breaks. This program is for Lafayette students who would like to go to different parts of the world to help communities in need. Rick was one of the original crew that accompanied Father Tom Hagen to Haiti back in '86.

We also support, through this fund, the Meals at Third Street Program. This program supports the less fortunate in Easton, PA. Rick could often be found down at the Soup Kitchen on weekends serving the needy.

I'm proud to say Rick's spirit also lives on within the Rick Thorpe Memorial Fund which raises scholarship money for students from Rick's high school in Minnechaug, Massachusetts.

Rick also lives in The Rick Thorpe Memorial Golf Tournament held every year at the Country Club of Wilbraham in Massachusetts.

Rick also resides these days at Rick's Place. I love this one. This one might be my favorite because if you knew Rick, this one is all him. Rick's Place provides much needed support and counseling for children (and their families) that have lost a loved one. If Rick were alive today, I think he would be most proud of this organization. Rick understood that children need and deserve our everlasting guidance and affection.

Please take a few more moments to read the following e-mail from Rick's mom and dad. Then I'll ask you for one more favor; place a simple vote for Rick's Place. This is a very worthy cause. If we can win additional monies for his establishment, many children will benefit.

Warmest Regards,
Tom Gillan
Class of '89

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Dear Friends,
Following the loss of our son on September 11, 2001, Rick's many friends in Wilbraham, MA, established Rick's Place, Inc. to honor his memory. Rick's Place, www.ricksplacema.org, is a support program for children and their families who are grieving due to the death of a loved one. This worthwhile and much needed program has since grown to include outreach efforts in western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut.

The Berkshire Bank Foundation is having a contest to give away $5,000 to the non-profit organization in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts receiving the most votes. We and many other supporters of Rick's Place urge your participation in this effort. The rules for casting your vote are simple: use the link below to vote. You do not have to be a resident of the Pioneer Valley or a customer of the bank to be eligible. Note: only one vote per email address is permitted, and the voting closes January 31, 2010. After casting your vote, please consider passing this request on to others who would want to support this mission.

With Sincere Appreciation,
Marilyn & Ray

http://www.berkshirebank.com/about_us/join-the-excitement
Click banner: "Help Us Give Away $20,000" (in far right column)
Go to the bottom of the page and click: "Vote Here"
Insert under: "Name of the Organization" - Rick's Place, Inc.
Insert under: "Address of the Organization" - 35 Post Office Park, Suite 3514, Wilbraham, MA 01095

Rick's Place, Inc.
35 Post Office Park Road
Suite 3514
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Phone: 413-348-3120
Email: