Unsung Hero Awards

Coming Soon: 2012 Unsung Hero Awards

Each year BCF recognizes a person or people who quietly and tirelessly work to make our town a better place for all of us. Awards are given in two categories: youth and adult. You can help us identify people whose leadership and service have had a beneficial impact on our community. Please click here for the 2012 Unsung Hero Nomination Guidelines and Form.

2011 Award Ceremony Highlights

Scott Hillman and George Vien, founders of the outstanding Brookline Youth Lacrosse.

In conjunction with the Brookline Recreation Department, Scott and George founded the Brookline Youth Lacrosse Program 10 years ago because of a love of the game and a shared vision of making athletics accessible to any child who wished to participate. Sportsmanship, team building, and fun are the core values of the program; no child is turned away and there is equal playing time for all. From a group of 30 participants the first year, Scott and George have grown the program to over 300 players last season. Scott and George have given so much of themselves to foster community relationships and to contribute to the increase in exercise and wellness in boys and girls in Brookline.

Frank Caro, community volunteer and activist instrumental in creating BCAN – Brookline Community Aging Network.

Frank Caro, former chair of the UMass Boston Gerontology Program, is the Co-chair of the Steering Committee of B-CAN: Brookline Community Aging Network. principal purpose of the Brookline Community Aging Network is to maintain a high quality of life for older residents by promoting services and activities that enable independent living while also increasing opportunities to engage in the town's social, cultural, and civic life. Frank is a tireless and dedicated community volunteer.

The 2011 Unsung Heroes were honored on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 at The Arcade Building in Coolidge Corner. Guests were entertained by Brookline Music School's Justin Meyer Trio.

The Unsung Hero Awards celebration is generously sponsored by Eastern Bank, FastFrame, Chobee Hoy Associates Real Estate, the Law Offices of Susan Howards and the J.A. Lynch Fund Against Domestic Violence.

Additional support generously provided by: Kerry Goodwin (photographs), The Justin Meyer Trio (music), Gimbel's Liquors (refreshments).

Previous Unsung Heroes

2010

Crispin Weinberg, science and music volunteer and enthusiast.
Brookline Teen Center Interns who have been working since 2006 to build a dream into a reality.

2009

Phoebe Anderson-Kline, an exceptional youth volunteer and role model.
Roger Grande, a Brookline High School teacher devoted to inspiring an new generation of youth activists.
Linda Olson Pehlke, an author, advocate, and leader on environmental issues in Brookline.

2008

Joan Sokoloff social worker for high-risk teens in Brookline for 40 years, she worked with many adults experiencing serious trauma, including having volunteered her services to counsel families who had lost loved-ones on the Boston-LA flight on 9/11.
Inda Omerefendic, Katie Ullman and Cecilia Brown, students who led the SAJE (Student Action for Justice and Education) Environmental Committee. They planned a major event--a Carbon Cafe--at the Devotion School in the spring that attracted over 100 community members.

2007

Jim Margolis from the Brookline Emergency Food Pantry.
Eva O’Brien, a Brookline High Student who is working on raising awareness of the AIDS/HIV crisis in South Africa.

2006

Jeff Polack, who received this award posthumously, engaged students and adults alike in recreational activities at Brookline High School. He single-handedly turned created a boxing gym and rock wall at BHS.
Nika Gorini a senior at Brookline High School who worked hard to bring greater awareness of fair trade goods to the BHS and the Brookline community at large.