May News from The Spirit

Celebrating Springfield's Biggest, Best and Brightest

Spring has sprung in Springfield and we are ready. The World's Largest Pancake Breakfast, the first rite of warm weather outdoor fun, is just days away. We are also lining up golfers, assisting with the opening of the Seuss Museum, and gearing up for the Springfield's Union Station's grand re-opening.

We hope you will be a part of the fun and festivities.

- Judy Matt
President

Traffic Will Pause for Pancakes

Main Street in Downtown Springfield, which is usually bustling with cars, will instead be lined with tables for the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, May 13 from 8AM to 11AM. The community will gather to celebrate Springfield's 381st birthday with a feast of flapjacks served by hundreds of volunteers.

It is presented with the support of the community. This includes MGM Springfield that has sponsored the event for five years. There are also the donors who provide every product that is served and the paper products they are served on. This includes Cabot Creamery, Baystate Health, Costco, HP Hood, Mansfield Paper Company, Carando Classic Italian, Performance Food Service, Sheraton Springfield, and Health New England.

The giving continues with the volunteers. They will be behind the grills, pouring coffee, selling tickets and cleaning up the mess. There is also Gleason Johndrow Landscaping, Springfield Business Improvement District, Hampden County Sheriff's Department, Springfield Department of Public Works and the Springfield Police Department supporting the event.

For more information about the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast, visit spiritofspringfield.org.

Dance, Dance, Dance at the Flapjack Feast

The All-Stars Dance Center from in Westfield is warming up for their performance at the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast. They have something special planned. Let us just say "They Can't Stop the Feeling!"

There will be plenty more entertainment on May 13. Before the grills are even lit, the Sci-Tech Jazz Band will be tuning up to open the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast. Under the direction of Gary Bernese, the band boasts of more than 400 musicians who will be performing at the Bruce Landon Way stage. The other stage is at Harrison Avenue. It too will be filled with talent.

Court Square will have displays from the Hampden County Sheriff's Department, Springfield Police and Fire Departments, 180 Fit Gym with a pull up bar and newly expanded activities presented by the Massachusetts Army National Guard. There will be rides on a miniature train and horse-drawn wagon, and McDonald's is bringing their Happiness Tour.

For a complete schedule of activities and exhibitors, visit spiritofspringfield.org.

Support Comes in Fours

There are four from the Springfield Water & Sewer Commission, four from Charlie Arment Trucking, four from New England Promotional Marketing, and two sets of four from Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and Western Mass News. They will be participating in the Spirit of Springfield Golf Classic Friday, June 2 at Franconia Golf Course. It is just one of two annual fundraisers presented by the Spirit of Springfield.

The Mayor's Cup which has traditionally been putted out after the tournament will be held at 9:30. Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos will be defending his three-year reign against Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno as well as others.

Each golfer will receive a beautiful Spirit of Springfield golf shirt, lunch on the course and dinner under tent. There will be raffles and contests on the course including one for a Bum Drum.

To register a foursome or be a sponsor, visit spiritofspringfield.org or email [email protected].

Union Station Festivities Unveiled

With Congressman Richard Neal and Mayor Domenic Sarno, Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt unveiled plans for a black-tie gala worthy of re-opening Springfield's Union Station. Chairing the festivities are James Murren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for MGM Resorts International, Maura McCaffrey, President and Chief Executive Officer for Health New England, and William Pepin, President and General Manager at WWLP-22News.

Congressman Richard E. Neal said, "I am thrilled that after more than 40 years, this historic building will re-open at the end of June. It is a tremendous accomplishment and I am thankful to the co-chairs who have offered to lend a hand in making sure that the opening is done right for all members of the public to enjoy."

The gala will be held Saturday, June 24 and free open house will be held Sunday, June 25. Tickets for the gala are $200 each with sponsorship opportunities also available. Tickets can be purchased on-line. For more information, contact the Spirit of Springfield at 413-733-3800 or [email protected].

Breaking News!

The President's Own United States Marine Band will perform a free concert Thursday, October 19 at 7PM in Springfield Symphony Hall.

In This Issue

Traffic Will Pause for Pancakes

Dance, Dance, Dance at the Flapjack Feast

Support Comes in Fours

Union Station Festivities Unveiled

Breaking News!

Guest Column - Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield

Valley Gives

Guest Column

Michael Mathis

President & COO

MGM Springfield

MGM Springfield is honored to once again sponsor The World's Largest Pancake Breakfast. We applaud Judy Matt and her team for their enthusiasm and continued success at providing people with a sense of community and civic pride, along with opportunities to celebrate the City of Springfield. MGM Springfield embraces that same commitment to our new home and we are eager to help spread the word about this great city and its downtown rebirth.

At MGM, we hope you agree there is a lot to celebrate. Our March topping off event helped highlight the incredible construction strides that were made as foundations were set and buildings framed. Now that all of our steel is up, we turn to outfitting the exteriors and interiors of our resort buildings.

Off-site, we continue to develop and foster community connections and partnerships to help create economic prosperity for the city and the region. We are moving forward in earnest on workforce development, filling out our core executive team and getting ready for mass hiring in 2018. That's when thousands of people from Springfield and around the region will have an opportunity to build a career with MGM, an industry leader in hospitality and entertainment.

We eagerly anticipate the fall 2018 opening of our downtown resort, and welcoming the thousands of people who will join MGM's growing workforce. We are so proud to call Springfield home.

nutrition. It's hard to deny the impact fitness has on our daily lives.

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GIVING DAY TUESDAY, MAY 2

2017 Calendar of Events!

World's Largest Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, May 13

8AM to 11AM

Main Street