SHREWSBURY, Massachusetts – Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services (SYFS) is pleased to announce that the Irving J. Donahue Family will receive the 2011 Harry S. Cutting Award.  This award, which will be presented at the February 26th Annual Gala, honors those who embody the spirit of giving, community service and support for the Shrewsbury community.  SYFS established the award in 1990 to honor one of the agency’s founders and a noted philanthropist in Shrewsbury, Harry S. Cutting.  Last year’s winner was long-time faculty member of Shrewsbury High School, Amy O’Leary.  According to SYFS Executive Director, Jeff Chin, “SYFS is very excited to join our community in honoring the Donahue Family at our upcoming 7th Annual Gala in February. The impact the Donahues have had on our town cannot be overstated. Their generosity, selfless nature, and unwavering willingness to help make this community better have been demonstrated for decades. What really distinguishes the Donahues is their ability to inspire others to enhance our community both in big ways and within more subtle and inconspicuous endeavors. Shrewsbury is truly blessed to have such a wonderful family personify the very spirit of the Harry S. Cutting Award: inspiration through generosity and support for others.”

This year’s Gala theme is “an Evening of Inspiration” and one would be inspired by the Donahue Family collectively. However, each member of the Donahue family which includes the late Irving James (Jim), his widow Barbara (Babs) and their daughters Susan Falzoi and Judith Donahue would univocally inspire the community on their own merits.  The Donahue family has served on many local boards and committees.  Jim, a Shrewsbury native and product of Shrewsbury public schools,  graduated from WPI, was commissioned at the US Naval Academy and served in the United States Navy in WW II   He then went on to graduate from Harvard Business School.  In addition to building three successful businesses, one headquartered here in Shrewsbury, Jim also served on the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee and held many leadership positions on boards ranging from educational to cultural to business.

Barbara “Babs” Donahue holds a doctorate in Braille and has brailled many text books, has been very active with her church, Girl Scouting, storytelling through Raggedy Ann and spent many years as a private secretary and floral designer while maintaining a home for Jim and her two children. Barbara is noted of late for the many prayer shawls she has personally knitted over the years through a program sponsored by St. Mary’s church in Shrewsbury.

Their daughters Susan and Judith have been inspirational as well.  Sue is one of the founding organizers of the Spirit of Shrewsbury, has been an educator and has been involved with the Shrewsbury Historical Society, the SSMA, Shrewsbury Scouting, and the SCDC and is a past recipient of the Karyn Polito Inspirational Leader Award.  Judith, also an educator, has been running the family business successfully for over 20 years while staying involved with the community through leadership roles with WPI, Central Massachusetts Employers Association, Shrewsbury High School Alumni and the Better Business Bureau.  Judith was listed in “Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders of America” 1993-1994.

While the Donahue family is most known for donating funds for the building of the Donahue Rowing Center on Lake Quinsigamond, they have been extremely generous throughout the community.  In 2001, The Fountains of Dean Park Pond were a gift to the Town of Shrewsbury made by Babs Donahue and family in memory of her husband, Irving James Donahue Jr. These fountains are accompanied by selections of classical, patriotic and popular music which can be heard by tuning one’s car radio to 91.7 FM.  The fountains run at select times May through October. They were inspired by Jim’s love of the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

Co-chairs for the event are Shrewsbury residents Kelly Marcimo and Ronald Everitt. They have this to say, “Jim and Bab’s Donahue set the bar high and sought to be model citizens in Jim’s hometown. Jim never forgot where he came from as he achieved the American dream. His record of giving back to Shrewsbury was a herculean effort. He encouraged his entire family to live by the same creed. Bab’s continues to carry on the mission and their daughters follow that lead as well. Our family has been personally touched in so many ways by the generosity of the Donahue’s it is a privilege to serve as co-chair for the SYFS gala at time when we get to honor such a remarkable family. We are certain Shrewsbury citizens will recognize the opportunity to come to the Gala and show their appreciation for all the Donahue’s have given our town and are preparing a very special evening of inspiration for the entire community to share.”

Anyone interested in sponsorship or volunteer opportunities for the Gala can contact SYFS at (508) 845-6932 or visit www.syfs-ma.org.  The event takes place Saturday, February 26, 2011, in The Salem Commons, Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury.  The evening is a celebration of community spirit and a fundraiser to support critical SYFS programs for local children and families. Tickets are $75 (tax deductible) and can be purchased over the phone (508) 845-6932 with a credit card, or at SYFS, 240 Maple Avenue, Shrewsbury, with cash, check, or credit card.  Space is limited.

Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services, a 501c3 private, non–profit community social services agency, provides professional support and social services to children, parents and individuals in times of need, regardless of their ability to pay.