Sen. Scott Brown Gives Inspirational Keynote at Hockomock Y Breakfast

United States Senator, Scott Brown, served as the keynote speaker at the annual YMCA launch event of the Reach Out for Youth & Families campaign at the Holiday Inn in Mansfield.

Over 450 people attended the March 1 annual breakfast event, making it their largest breakfast thus far.

The Reach Out for Youth and Families (“ROYF”) Campaign raises money to provide financial assistance to families in the Hockomock YMCA (Mansfield, No. Attleboro, Franklin, Foxboro) who would like to become a part of the YMCA Community but cannot afford program/membership costs because of a particular personal circumstance. provided over $1.2 million in financial assistance to over 15,000 children.

The breakfast kicked off with the YMCA Arts Center Esemble preforming "Consider Yourself."

Karen Lovejoy, cancer survivor and participant in the YMCA's Livestrong program, recited opening remarks on "what the YMCA means to her."

"The Livestrong program changed my life," proclaimed Lovejoy, who was able to use the program to help overcome the many obstacles and challenges that cancer causes.

Senator Brown took the stage shortly after Lovejoy. Senator Brown spoke to the crowd for approximately 20 minutes, before he headed back to Washington D.C to vote on a series of important issues this afternoon.

The Senator first stressed what an important part the YMCA has played in his life. 

"Some of the happiest moments in my adult life have been at the Hockomock Y. The way my kids and I would talk together, would be to go down to the Y, shoot around (basketball) and just talk," said Brown. "It is amazing what you can get out of kids when you are there just doing the things they like."

Senator Brown also spoke on the importance of having a solid support system, made up of close friends and family.

"When it comes to friends, I have learned to rely on the support of a whole lot of friends. Some I have grown up with and legislative folks I have served with. The friendships that people create in the YMCA are friendships that will last forever," noted Senator Brown. The friends that I have still in my life, are friends I had from the Wakefield YMCA back in the day and that support has brought me to places I never thought I would be."

Senator Brown also commented on his title of  "41st Senator."

"In actuality, I am the 1,914 Senator to serve. There have been many before me and there will be many after me," said Senator Brown.

The Senator closed out his keynote with inspirational remarks regarding community spirit.

"Everyone of us has the power to do some good. Every single person in this room has the ability to do better, to be better and to make a difference," he said.

The breakfast concluded with an emotional "mission story" from Kathy Dreapeau. Dreapeau and her family have had to overcome an overwhelming amount of obstacles in the past year.

Dreapeau's husband was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which he beat back in October. After getting a clean bill of health, the Dreapeau family of six thought that they were out the woods, but not for long. Two tumors were later discovered in her husabnd's brain and he underwent immediate surgery. Dreapeau's husband is now in the recovery process.

Through it all, Dreapeau said that "the Y has been a blessing for her and her kids, especially considering her husband has been out of work."

"We were not even aware at first who nominated us for a scholarship, but we found out later that is was numerous Y staff, community members, and neighbors," said Drepeau.

Drepeau's mission story received a standing ovation from the crowd, a true reflection on the community's devotion toward helping those in need.