Member & Staff Philanthropy

Ferncroft CC encourages our staff to be involved in the community, and supports members' philanthropic and charitable efforts, whether on site at FCC or elsewhere. The following are some examples of staff and member involvement:

• LPGA Instructor Cathy MacPherson founded and chairs The Link Up for MS, Pro-Am Tournament for the Central New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Since 2004 the golf event has raised over $300,000. Cathy is also the committee chair and creator of the Wine & Dine for MS Dinner & Auction. Since its inception in 2006, it has raised over $286,000. Cathy has also ridden in the Great Mass Getaway 150 (a two-day bike ride of 150 miles) and with her team raised over $21,000. Cathy was named to the Board of Trustees of the MS Society New England Chapter in 2006. “I really admire her a great deal,” says Lou Caputo, who serves on the golf tournament committee with Cathy. “She’s done a terrific job with the National MS Society with how vigorously she approaches fundraising.” Cathy remarks, “A very good friend of mine has MS. I've had many students who've had physical challenges, including MS, which gives me a strong desire to raise money and awareness to fight this disease, and to make a real difference for a lot of people.” To donate or get involved email Cathy.

• After retiring from his playing career, former Bruin and FCC member Shawn Thornton launched a foundation dedicated to helping find cures for diseases close to Shawn's heart, specifically, Parkinson's and cancer. The Foundation will works toward this mission by raising awareness, funding innovative research and helping to relieve the burden and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Many fun events to raise funds for the foundation have been held at FCC and throughout the great Boston area over the years. For more info or to become involved, see here.

• Member Billy Lynch Has been hosting a yearly fundraiser, the Salem Snowball Gala, since 1995. The Gala raises funds for Globe Santa, which is a great cause that last year provided gifts to over 35,000 local families. Billy also receives yearly help throwing the gala from other FCC members, and would like to thank Chris and Sheila McNeil, Pat Buonopane, and Dave and Juliet Silvey for their help putting on the 2017 edition, along with all the other FCC members who attended or donated. There was a really nice article in December 2017 in the Globe here, and if you want to get involved, more info is here and here.

• Member Mark Sampson's young son had a ultimately successful five-year battle with brain cancer beginning in 1998. Mark and his daughters have been running in the Boston Marathon to raise funds for the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program at Mass General Hospital for Children since then. Since 1998, with the partnership of John Hancock, the Mass General Marathon Team Fighting Kids’ Cancer, One Step at a Time has raised over $13 million to support the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program. Funds raised are directed to cancer care, research, and initiatives that enhance the quality of life for the hospital’s youngest cancer patients. For more info or to donate in support of their 2018 efforts, click here.