By Nance Ebert
Contributing Writer
FRAMINGHAM – The sixth annual Framingham Senior Heroes Awards have once again honored four members of the community who generously donate their time and expertise to truly make a difference. This year, the four recipients are Jim Pillsbury, Glenda Thomas, Marty Dutton and Audrey Hall.
The Framingham Council on Aging’s Senior Heroes Awards program honors those who selflessly give back through their mentorship, leadership, and volunteerism to enhance their community. While there are many individuals who are also committed to giving back to their community, these four people have been chosen for this special recognition.
The four categories for the awards are Culture and Arts, Social Development, Health and Healthcare and Public Service.
Public service
Audrey M. Hall has spent twenty-seven years volunteering and strongly believes that public service is earned through trust. She is receiving the Public Service Award and emphasized that this acknowledgement is also for inclusion and diversity; two key factors she has fought so hard to ensure.
“I was nominated by another community volunteer, so, to me, that means a lot. I have always believed that public service is earned by trust,” said Hall. “Over the years, I have tried to earn that trust by doing the work, being honest, listening to different viewpoints and seeking out the facts. We look at the issues and the context and then staying focused on what’s best for the community.”
Earning that respect from the community has given Hall the motivation to continue and means more to her than anything, she said. She was the Chair and Vice Chair of the Town Meeting Ways and Means Committee, reviewing every article and policy. She has been a huge advocate for the education sector and one program led to the offering of full-day kindergarten.
“I think that receiving this recognition is so meaningful. People know they can count on me to care deeply about improving our community. Every single voice matters and if you recognize that and people feel respected, you get a positive outcome,” said Hall.
Social development
Glenda Thomas is being given the Social Development Award. She is the founder of the Framingham Senior Heroes Awards program, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked hard to recognize seniors through inclusivity and diversity.
“I am very proud and happy knowing that I created something that will leave a legacy within the community,” said Thomas. “The program inspired so many to volunteer and make a difference and be recognized.”
Thomas said she is humbled to be given this award, and she recognizes all the good work the seniors have done and continue to do.
“Framingham is a culturally rich community. We should all be proud of that; it’s how we can grow to be a better community,” she said.
Culture and arts
Jim Pillsbury is receiving his award for Culture and Arts. For well over a decade, he hosted live shows in the public access television sphere, with the first show called “Jim Pillsbury Live,” which was an hour long with two guests for thirty minutes each. Some of the topics included at the time were controversial. The show was interactive and viewers could call in and ask questions. His other show was called “Jim Pillsbury Live from the Knotty Pine Café” with live music performed at the opening, and he played the drums before hosting each show. Both his shows invited the community in and gave them a space to feel connected.
His show also motivated those in the Framingham community to advocate for a safe haven law. (This law ensures infant safety where newborns can be surrendered in specified locations.) In addition, Pillsbury said recognizing our veterans is important to him and he used his show to help fly the POW/MIA flag on town buildings.
“It is amazing after all this time that I would be recognized for my contributions to the community through public media. What I did, as an amateur, was groundbreaking and even controversial. I am just thrilled,” said Pillsbury.
Health and healthcare
Marty Dutton is being given the Health and Healthcare Award. She has helped lead the Keep Framingham Beautiful (KFB) initiative, bringing those in the community together through various projects since 2020.
“I’m just one of many who volunteer. I feel so grateful for being awarded this honor and being nominated by the Keep Framingham Beautiful co-chairs, Mike Croci and Debra Caplan. They are the reason KFB is so successful,” said Dutton.
KFB is an anti-litter task force that believes everyone is entitled to a cleaner, greener, healthier place to live, work and play. Because litter contributes to so many environmental hazards and effects humans, plants, animals and more, Dutton is passionate about how microplastics affect the environment and our health and she implements projects that support her cause and gets many in the community involved.
“Anyone can pick up trash and help to make a difference. It’s actually gratifying and helps to improve your sense of well-being while getting some exercise,” said Dutton.
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