The City of Newburyport Announces The Third Annual Public and Community Service Award Winners The Reverend Helen Murgida Award
March 5, 2025March 5, 2025
The City of Newburyport Announces The Third Annual Public and Community Service Award Winners
The Reverend Helen Murgida Award
The Rev. Dr. Jarred Mercer & Afghan Evacuee Housing Volunteer Team – Under Fr. Jarred’s leadership and guidance, the parishioners at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church joined other faith communities in the area to support two Afghan families who were resettled in Newburyport in 2022. Through extraordinary generosity over several years, the team of volunteers made the families and their children feel at home by creating living space in the church basement, setting up carpools for the kids for sports and doctors’ appointments, arranging tutoring, procuring furniture, bikes and toys, helping to find the adults jobs, and ultimately finding permanent housing for them. Under Fr. Jarred’s leadership and advocacy with the State, the team of volunteers expanded the circle of concern by creating opportunities for others to easily step in and help out — these combined efforts made the entire Newburyport community stronger. The parish became a beacon of how good people who care about justice can work together to create change. Fr. Jarred and team truly walk the walk. In his words, “This is why we exist, to live as this continued expression of Christ’s love and mercy in the world and in our place, today.” This award celebrates individuals who exemplify Reverend Helen’s unwavering commitment to serving others and making our community a better place. Fr. Jarred and his team of volunteers demonstrate selfless dedication to advocating for the underserved, building bridges between diverse groups, and fostering a spirit of love, justice, and unity within Newburyport.
Business Service Award
M.K. Benatti Jewelers/Karyn and Matt Khatib – From the day Matt and Karyn Khatib opened their jewelry business here, they found ways to engage and support our community. They initially named their store Winston Jewelers, but soon found themselves in a potential legal battle for the use of the name. Their response was to instead use the name M.K. Benatti Jewelers and use the funds that had been reserved for the potential legal battle, about $20,000, to donate to the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center. Whether it is for Newburyport Education Foundation, Anna Jaques Hospital, Theater in The Open (TITO), Our Neighbor’s Table and other non-profits, Matt and Karyn are there donating a beautiful piece of jewelry or shopping spree to raise funds for the cause. Just recently their daughter, Aiya, noticed the NEF vending machines at the Bresnahan and Molin schools needed books. Her efforts, along with her parents’ support, added 400 new books. Matt and Karyn, despite being humble regarding their charity work, have given much to our city as residents and business owners. M.K. Benatti Jewelers has been a significant addition to our downtown, enhancing business and supporting our economy. They are well deserving of this recognition.
Individual Community Service Award
Mary Fratto – More than seven years ago, Mary – who, at that time, had recently moved to Newburyport — was looking for a way to give back to her new community and share her love of cooking. She began volunteering with the Among Friends Meal Program which is part of the mission at St Paul’s Episcopal Church on High Street and is under the direction of Bonnie Schultz. She began by delivering hot meals to individuals and families in need, and soon quickly increased her commitment to Among Friends by volunteering once a week preparing a meal with a team of talented chefs. Mary relished the challenge of developing well-balanced, nutritious meals based upon the food donations generously provided by the Boston Food Bank and local organizations such as Nourishing the North Shore and Our Neighbors Table. Depending on the week, Among Friends receives poultry, beef, pork, and fish along with vegetables and fruits. Her creativity, innovation, ability to transform an often-random assortment of donated ingredients -which vary wildly from week to week- into nutritious, appealing, satisfying meals is a gift and inspiration to us all. Mary not only took great pride in developing the menu and cooking, she quickly saw the difference this program made for the community members who came to dine at the program and to others who had meals delivered by volunteers. Today, Among Friends prepares 2000 meals/month to serve and deliver three times a week to our neighbors.
When the local bakery that donated desserts to the meal program closed, Mary once again was quick to step in. She began baking a wide array of treats. She soon expanded her time at Among Friends by baking one to three days a week. If she is unable to go to the program to bake, she prepares desserts at home which are then available to freeze to make sure the Meal Program always has her very popular treats for participants. In recent years, in addition to cooking and baking, Mary has expanded her volunteer role to packing and delivering meals during the Christmas holiday, participating in regional fundraising efforts, and mentoring other volunteers (and chefs!) at the Among Friends Meal Program. She also recruited friends to volunteer at the Among Friends site. Mary has witnessed first-hand the reality of how food insecurity in Newburyport and surrounding communities affects entire families, senior citizens, children, and young people; as well as individuals from diverse backgrounds who are struggling with homelessness and other challenges. The opportunity to dine in community at Among Friends has helped countless folks develop friendships and combat loneliness and isolation. She has seen the enormous difference a healthy meal, friendship, and fellowship can make in the lives of our neighbors.
Ben Iacono – Ben Iacono is a passionate advocate for our environment who has worked relentlessly to educate and inspire our community about the importance of environmental stewardship. Ben has committed countless hours of time and energy to develop and implement impactful programs and initiatives that benefit city residents of all ages. His efforts are particularly evident through his active involvement with the Alliance of Climate and Environmental Stewards (ACES), where he plays a crucial role in fostering a culture of environmental responsibility. Additionally, at the Newburyport Senior/Community Center (NSCC), Ben has been a beacon of inspiration, engaging with both the Council on Aging staff and the Department of Public Services to strive toward their ambitious goal of achieving a zero-waste facility. Ben championed the start of compost efforts at the community center. He worked with the office of Recycling, Energy and Sustainability, the COA Director and Facility Maintenance staff to provide proper and accessible receptacles. developed “the drop a bag, get a bag program” and created a way to monitor compost levels. Ben oversees the compost initiative at the NSCC, ensuring that sustainable practices are deeply integrated into its operations. Another one of Ben’s notable contributions is the creation of the Eco Ambassador program. This initiative empowers senior volunteers, known as Eco Ambassadors (EAs), to champion the Zero Waste initiative at the community center. These enthusiastic individuals not only educate their peers about the principles of environmental stewardship but also collaborate in developing compelling topics for the Eco Conversation program. In addition to his impactful work at the community center, Ben is collaborating with the parks department to launch an exciting new program featuring volunteer Park Ambassadors. This initiative, which debuted this year, aims to enhance public engagement with Newburyport’s beautiful parks through educational programs and guided walking tours. Last fall, the Park Ambassadors successfully organized two enriching walks: one that explored the scenic south end of Newburyport, including the Rail Trail, Joppa Park, and Hale Park; and another that focused on the vibrant High Street neighborhood, featuring upper Atkinson Common and Cornelius J. Doyle Triangle. With plans to continue this initiative in the spring and expand the variety of walking tours offered, Ben’s vision for a more connected and environmentally conscious community is truly taking shape.
Public Service Award
Laurel Hanke – In 2012 the City of Newburyport received a grant from The Walmart Foundation to employ people with disabilities in electronics recycling. Since that time, Laurel Hanke has overseen the program and staff. Laurel has consistently demonstrated outstanding dedication and compassion in her role as Recycling Assistant. With a deep commitment to inclusivity and empowerment, she has excelled in providing personalized support and care to these individuals. Her work ethic is marked by reliability, adaptability, and a proactive approach to problem-solving, ensuring the highest quality of service for those she oversees. One of her most notable qualities is her exceptional patience. Laurel approaches every interaction with empathy and understanding, creating a safe and respectful environment where individuals feel valued and supported. She actively listens to the needs and concerns of the recycling center staff, fostering trust and promoting confidence in their abilities. In addition to her hands-on support, Laurel has played a vital role in advocating for accessibility and equality. She has gone above and beyond to implement creative solutions to challenges, enabling greater independence and inclusion for the individuals we serve. Her efforts have not only enriched the lives of this staff but have also inspired colleagues and community members alike. Laurel’s unwavering dedication, ethical integrity, and compassionate demeanor make her a role model and a true asset to our city and community.
Kyle McElroy – Officer Kyle McElroy has worked as a Newburyport Police Officer since 2016. Officer McElroy was raised in Newburyport and graduated from Newburyport High School. He recently took on the role as the School Resource Officer. Often referred to by the students as “Officer Kyle”, he is by far one of the best school resource officers the Newburyport Police has ever had, knowing each student by name. This past summer, a local resident dressed up as Batman and would walk the streets bouncing a basketball. Batman would visit all the local Newburyport outdoor courts trying to get more kids outside and off their phones. One day during the dayshift, Officer McElroy challenged Batman to a game of one on one with all of the kids cheering them on. The kids in attendance were on the younger side. With all of the kids chanting and rooting for him, Officer McElroy ultimately beat Batman. What young kid would root against Batman? It showed how much all of these kids have a true admiration for the officer that walks the halls of the same schools that they go to. The Newburyport High School’s Class of 2024 Senior Yearbook was dedicated to Officer Kyle McElroy. Following are some of the quotes accompanying this dedication: “He always puts a smile on everyone’s face and makes everyone at school feel welcome”, “Always bringing positivity to the school”, and “He was always kind to everyone in our grade, super easy to talk to, and showed that he cared about us”. Officer McElroy has made each and every moment that he has been in the school system a positive one. Most importantly, Officer McElroy has immersed himself in every student’s life and has showed that he truly cares for and protects them. We are truly lucky to have him.
Youth Community Service Award
Madeleine Jackman – Madeleine took on a community initiative at Newburyport High School that will hopefully save lives and make our city a safer place for tourists and residents alike. When she was 10 years, she choked on a piece of steak at a restaurant and stopped breathing. As she started to pass out, someone who had been trained in CPR and knew how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, saved her life. That experience inspired her to establish the Newburyport High School Red Cross Club and rally members around the mission to provide a free American Red Cross CPR training course to the employees at every Newburyport so there will always be someone qualified to perform life-saving CPR and act in a life-threatening situation. After hosting several community events to raise awareness on the need for CPR training to save lives, she and her classmates secured funding from many generous community donors including the Institution for Savings (IFS) and Newburyport Development (NED) to implement this project. What makes this initiative so unique is that it is not a one-time effort, but rather a sustained readiness that will benefit the Newburyport community and visitors for years to come. To provide this sustainable mechanism for NHS Red Cross students to lead this effort for maintaining preparedness, their project has not only allowed several club leaders to become CPR trained, but they are now fully certified as Red Cross CPR Instructors. This way, each year, certified upperclassmen can certify incoming club members as the next team of instructors to lead an annual effort throughout Newburyport to provide a free American Red Cross CPR certification course to restaurants for the busy spring and summer season ahead. Madeleine and her team just held a free training event for staff members of several Newburyport restaurants and are continuing to spread the word and raise money so they can provide training for anyone who is interested.
Cedar Schumacher– Cedar Schumacher is a Newburyport High School student being recognized for his exceptional contributions in managing sound engineering for many school and community productions. Over the past few years, Cedar has truly enhanced the quality of the performances at the high school and in the community through his expertise in sound engineering, musical performance, and general technical support. If it sounds good, Cedar must be working behind the scenes making that happen. From high school graduations to the recent community talent show, Cedar has consistently shown a collaborative spirit. His technical skills and musical knowledge, combined with his willingness to step up and help, make him an asset to our community. Cedar’s work backstage has ensured smooth and seamless audio experiences for both performers and audiences alike – the importance of which cannot be overstressed. This recognition is a well-deserved acknowledgment of Cedar Schumacher’s talents and community spirit. His willingness to help make so many productions a success is essential in helping to keep our community connected.
