Making Waves Annual Awards Gala

Annual Awards Gala Celebrates Outstanding Contributions to Community Health

Over 600 guests joined the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers at its Annual Awards Gala in June. The theme was “Making Waves,” which denotes that to create change and to respond to challenging times one must make waves at all levels.

This event recognizes and celebrates the outstanding work of community health center employees and civic and government leaders who advocate for and provide excellent care to the state’s most vulnerable citizens.

“Our gala embodies and promotes our mission by recognizing our committed workforce and the entities that are critical to our success while also celebrating the innovation generated across our one million-plus patient network,” said Michael Curry, President and CEO of the Mass League. We were honored to have the legendary Dr. John Hatch, co-founder of two of the nation’s first community health centers [Boston’s Columbia Point and the Delta Health Center in Mound Bayou, Mississippi], to receive the 2024 President’s Award. An organizer, educator, and visionary, Dr. Hatch is a nationally known public health leader and pillar of the Community Health Center Movement, and we were inspired by his presence at this year’s gala.”

Other honorees included Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means; Sue Joss, CEO of Brockton Neighborhood Health Center; Guale Valdez, CEO of Mattapan Community Health Center; Joseph Scardino, Family Health Center of Worcester; Cynthia Slaga, NP, School-Based Health Center – Lowell Community Health Center; Stephanie Billings, MD, at Family Medicine, Holyoke Health Center; Jessica DaRosa, Director of Operations at Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center; and Joanne Mazar, Chief Human Resources Officer at Community Health Center of Cape Cod. The event was co-chaired by Karen Gardner, CEO of Community Health Center of Cape Cod, and The Honorable Martin J. Walsh.

“For years we have been a staunch supporter of this gala, and I’d like to thank Michael Curry and the Mass League employees for the outstanding work they do in support of community health centers,” said Magnolia Contreras, Vice President of Community Health at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. “The work they do at the community level is so important to the quality of life of our residents, and we are so excited to be a partner and to join them at this year’s ‘Making Waves’ gala.”