Kids & Family

Invensys Hockomock YMCA Celebrates 5th Anniversary of Expansion

Yesterday, the Invensys Hockomock YMCA celebrated the fifth anniversary of their expansion campaign with friends, donors, and even some of their youngest users.

One by one donors and those involved in the Y spoke about what it has meant to give to the organization and to see the positive impact the expansion has had on the community.

“Promises made, promises kept. We’ve been able to deliver on all those promises we made,” Rep. Jay Barrow said who was involved in the expansion.

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Special recognition was given to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, the Spier Family, and Invensys for their gifts of $1 million each for the expansion

“Your early investment provided a spark for the public and boosted our fundraising efforts,” Hockomock Area YMCA President Ed Hurley said before letting Kraft speak

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Kraft, whose name adorns the the Kraft Family Center, started by recalling his connection to Foxboro starting as a Patriots season ticket holder in the early 70s.

“I was thinking how much I love this town. I started coming here in 1971 so I’ve actually spent more time here than my own town so we feel pretty connected and visible here,” Kraft said

Philanthropy has been a major part of the Kraft family’s efforts to give back. In addition to the donation, Kraft’s son Josh helped establish the Chelsea Boys and Girls Club and now runs the Boys and Girls Club of Boston.

“In all our businesses and philanthropy, the most important thing is that we’re investing in things that give continuous return and anyone whose privileged enough to make an investment in the Hockomock Y is getting a great return” Kraft said.

In addition to a donation, Invensys Senior Vice President of Strategic Accounts and Foxboro resident John Eva reminded those in attendance of the role Invensys played in donating the land for the YMCA. Prior to the start of construction in 1999, the area was used as a recreation area for Invensys at the time known as the Foxboro Company.

The Spier family, whose donations led to both the indoor and outdoor pools, showed great pride when mentioning the impact made by the pools constructed in their family’s name.

“I was so proud. It was so awe striking to me that my family was able to be in the position to do this,” Sonja Spier said, recalling seeing the pool under construction. “I am bursting with pride today.”

Other speakers included Foxboro superintendent Debra Spinelli, Congressman Joe Kennedy III, and FOX 25 anchor and Foxboro resident Maria Stephanos.

To end the celebration, a group of young members of the YMCA appeared with sunglasses and a banner that read, "Out future is so bright we gotta wear shades!"


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