"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."

Operation Smile

7/21/2011

In August 2010, NEC Incorportaed set a goal of $1000 to donate to Operation Smile, an organization whose mission is to better the lives of children born with facial deformities. NEC achieved their goal by the end of 2010 and decided to double their goal by spring 2011. NEC employees have come accustom to exceeding their goals and raising the bar in and outside of the workplace. Once again NEC met and exceeded their goal. NEC employees feel very passionate toward Operation Smile. NEC is the smile and hand shake behind our corporate clients. NEC Incorporated knows the importance of a smile. The company decided to turn the fundraising campaign into a year long project raising as much funds as possible by the end of August 2011 to contribute to Operation Smile. On July 21, 2011 NEC hosted a water pong tournament at the Texas Saloon in Quincy, MA. After hours of fun NEC employees earned over $350 to add to their charitable contribution to Operation Smile. To learn more about Operation Smile please visit www.operationsmile.org.

Horizons for Homeless

5/21/2011

With NEC Incorporated’s strong values of philanthropy the company recently reached out to another organization committed to building a strong foundation for future success. Employees of NEC Incorporated joined over 400 runners to raise awareness of the crisis of child and family homelessness. The runners and walkers raised over $36,000 for Horizons for Homeless Children. The event was hosted by The Young Professionals Group. Formed in the spring of 2009 this group is dedicated to supporting Horizons for Homeless Children by way of raising awareness and fundraising. The group focuses on encouraging young professionals throughout Massachusetts to dedicate their time and themselves to addressing the issue of homeless children and their families and their move towards self-sufficiency. NEC Incorporated jumped at the opportunity to make a difference and help homeless children and families build their foundation for a better future. If you are interested in learning more about Horizons for Homeless please visit: http://www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org/

Room to Grow

5/7/2011

NEC Incorporated employees know how to have a good time and at the same time benefit a great cause. On Saturday, May 7, 2011 teams of NEC employees participated in Boston’s Great Urban Race. The Great Urban Race is a wild urban adventure. Teams of two solve twelve clues and complete exciting mental and physical challenges in all parts of the Boston metro area. The 2011 Boston Great Urban Race partnered with the local charity Room to Grow. The mission of Room to Grow is to enrich the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development. The organization’s goal is that children will thrive during their critical first three years of life, meeting appropriate cognitive, social, and physical milestones in their development to provide a bright future. Furthermore Parents will attain the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to assure that children fulfill their emotional, intellectual and physical potential. With the participation of NEC employees in the Great Urban Race teams not only donated to the charity but helped to raise funds as well. To learn more about Room to Grow please visit: http://www.roomtogrow.org/index.php.

The Epilepsy Foundation New England Donation Center

3/21/2011

NEC Incorporated and The Epilepsy Foundation New England Donation Center (EFNEDC) recently joined forces to host a Spring Cleaning Clothing Drive for the benefit of epilepsy. The clothing drive was held on Monday, March 21st from 7 am to 12 pm outside the office of NEC. Epilepsy is a condition affecting 2.3 million Americans. The clothing donations help fund children for the Epilepsy Foundation Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine’s summer camp, Camp Wee-Kan-Tu, along with research, job placement, support services, etc. All donated clothing brought in from the drive helped to generate revenue to support these Epilepsy Foundation services and programs. For more information on The Epilepsy Foundation New England Donation Center and how to donate visit http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/local/massri/

Operation Smile

2/26/2011

In August 2010, NEC Incorporated set a goal of a $1000 contribution by spring 2011 to donate to Operation Smile, an organization whose mission is to better the lives of children born with facial deformities. After NEC achieved their fundraising target, they decided to up the ante and double the contribution goal to $2000 to raise by spring. NEC Incorporated organized a charity poker tournament on February 26, 2011 in which all of the proceeds went to benefit Operation Smile. More than 25 employees, friends, and family members gathered to play some poker, win prizes for the top three winners, and most importantly raise as much money as possible to donate to Operation Smile. NEC Incorporated once again exceeded their goal. The donation will be able to provide more than 8 children with the life changing surgery. For more information about Operation Smile please visit www.operationsmile.org.

Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family

12/25/2010

For the second year Jim Rothermel, President of NEC Incorporated, adopted a family through the Salvation Army. This holiday season NEC Incorporated teamed up with the Quincy Massachusetts Chapter’s Adopt-A-Family Program to help grant holiday wishes. Twenty NEC Incorporated employees gathered at a local Wal-Mart to buy gifts for a single-Mother and her family of six prior to the holidays. The gifts were then separated, wrapped accordingly and dropped off at the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family program matches impoverished families with individual or group sponsors to provide for their tangible needs at Christmas. Many adoptees are referred by professional social workers who help deserving families complete an application during required home visits. An inventory of each family’s needs is taken and a Christmas wish list is compiled. NEC was able to provide gifts ranging from kitchen appliances and new bedding to board games, MP3 players and Barbie’s. NEC Incorporated’s employees had a great time shopping for the family and even more importantly helped to make holiday memories for a local family in need. The Salvation Army of Massachusetts offers recreational, spiritual, educational, and social programs to assist those in need. The programs are open to people of all ages and are focused on building character, confidence, and capacity for excellence within underserved communities. For more information please visit http://www.use.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use_mas.nsf/.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

12/13/10 - 12/15/10

In December, NEC Incorporated continued their holiday tradition of volunteering with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. NEC jumped at the opportunity to wrap gifts for holiday shoppers at the South Shore Plaza Mall in Braintree, MA, December 13th through December 15th. One hundred percent of the proceeds of gift wrapping sales and donations benefit the Massachusetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The Komen Massachusetts Affiliate works to reduce breast cancer in our state by funding education, screening and treatment programs, with an emphasis on those facing barriers to care. Without a cure, 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will continue to be diagnosed with breast cancer, which is a statistic that drives Susan G. Komen for the Cure to fight every minute of every day to save every life. NEC volunteers were in charge of wrapping gifts from small to big as well as selling Susan G. Komen for the Cure merchandise ranging from key chains and bracelets to earmuffs and car magnets. Over the three days of volunteering at the booth NEC Incorporated volunteers were able to raise close to $1000.00 to benefit the Massachusetts Affiliate. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure Massachusetts please visit http://www.komenmass.org/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp.

The Greater Boston Food Bank

11/24/2010

In 2009 NEC Incorporated made a dent in ending hunger by donating time and man power to The Greater Boston Food Bank. NEC employees got busy with sorting, packaging, and preparing food items for delivery to hungry homes in the Boston Metro Area. This year NEC Incorporated made an impact by hosting a food drive during the month of November ending just in time for Thanksgiving. NEC Incorporated made a very generous donation of canned goods, pastas, and non-perishable items to the Greater Boston Food Bank. In today’s economy people are having a harder time to make ends meet. All around Boston, and nation-wide, the level of homelessness and poverty has grown tremendously. From recent estimates nation-wide, there has been at least a 35-45% increase in homelessness and poverty. NEC Incorporated was able to collect hundreds of items to donate to The Greater Boston Food Bank. To learn more about The Greater Boston Food Bank visit: http://www.gbfb.org/index.cfm.

Operation Smile

10/2/2010

In August, NEC Incorporated set a hefty goal of a $1000 contribution to donate to Operation Smile, an organization whose mission is to better the lives of children born with facial deformities. A terrific group of employees, friends, and loved ones made an appearance to show their support and generosity to reach our goal. With the success of the October 2, 2010 Operation Smile Charity Poker Tournament NEC Incorporated was able to meet and exceed our fundraising goal. Eighteen charity poker players gathered to help the worthy cause, eat some delicious snacks and, of course, play some poker. After a few hours of chips flying, poker stares, and card flops the tournament ended in a success with prizes for first, second, and third and more importantly the fundraising goal met for Operation Smile. As of October 2, 2010 NEC Incorporated exceeded the donation goal by 24%. The donation will be able to provide 5 children with the life changing surgery. For more information about Operation Smile please visit www.operationsmile.org

Autism Speaks

9/26/2010

Volunteers from NEC Incorporated helped to orchestrate the 10th Annual Walk in Greater Boston benefiting Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks is the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism. Established in 2000, the Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism events are the signature fundraising events for Autism Speaks and have attracted hundreds and thousands of walkers worldwide who have raised tens of millions of dollars for Autism Research. NEC Incorporated's employees were able to help out in whatever department needed; everything from accounting to face painting. All proceeds of the event benefit Autism Speaks. 17,000 Greater Boston walkers were able to raise more than $800,000 at this event. For more information about Autism Speaks please visit www.walknowforautism.org/greaterboston

Operation Smile

8/28/2010

NEC Incorporated organized a charity Bowl-A-Thon to raise funds and awareness of Operation Smile. Operation Smile is an amazing organization consisting of dedicated medical volunteers who have been providing free surgeries to children around the world since 1982. More than 200,000 children are born each year with a severe cleft condition often leaving the child unable to eat, speak, socialize, or smile. In many of the cases the families can not afford to provide the repair surgery to give the child the chance to live a normal life. With strikes, spares, a few gutter balls, and a lot of laughs NEC Incorporated was able to reach 78% of their fundraising goal with the successful Bowl-A-Thon. NEC Incorporated will continue to raise funds through the rest of 2010. For more information about Operation Smile please visit www.operationsmile.org

Perkins School for the Blind

5/14/10 - 5/16/10

This year Perkins School for the Blind is hosting the annual Eastern Athletic Association for the Blind (EAAB) Track and Field Tournament. There are 8 blind schools on the East Coast who will be invited. We expect more than 175 individuals coming to the campus. The tournament runs from May 14th to May 16th, 6:30AM to 7:30PM. To make this event successful, we are volunteering as cooking aids and field supervisors. Just like any other track and field competitors, these young athletes strive to throw farther, jump higher and run faster. Sprinters used a cable to show them the line markers. Distance runners had sighted runners as guides. Long jumpers aimed for their coach’s shouts as markers. Perkins School for the Blind is committed to providing education and services that build productive, meaningful lives for children and adults around the world who are blind, deaf blind or visually impaired with or without other disabilities. For more information on the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts please visit http://www.perkins.org/inside-perkins/

Horizons for Homeless Children

5/02/10

This Sunday, May 2nd, at 11AM, NEC will be playing in a charity softball game at Teddy Ebersol's Red Sox Field. It is $15 per person to play, and the winning team will be donating the money raised from the softball game to Horizons for Homeless Children. Baseball t-shirts, hot dogs, hamburgers and music will be provided too! Throw on your baseball cap, grab your softball glove and come support Team NEC on Sunday. We are raising money for a special charity! Teddy Ebersol's Red Sox Fields at Lederman Park is a series of fields along the Charles River in Boston. The Teddy Ebersol's Red Sox Fields project was developed by a partnership of three non-profit groups: The Red Sox Foundation, Hill House, and The Esplanade Association. NEC's opponents better start practicing today, for its "ONE, TWO, THREE STRIKES YOU'RE OUT.. at the ol' ball game!" For more information on Horizon for Homeless Children please visit http://www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org/

Miles for Hope 5K Race

4/06/10

NEC organized a team for the "Miles for Hope - Moving Towards a Cure - Boston 2010 Race!" This is a 5K race for brain tumor research at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. This is the first annual Miles for Hope race in Boston, Massachusetts too! The race is May 8th, 2010 at Artesani Park in Brighton. Our goal is to raise $250 and recruit 10 people to be a runner or walker participant for "Team NEC!" Miles for Hope is located in Clearwater, Florida and has been founded by Barb and Bob Gibbs to fund brain tumor clinical trials, and to provide travel assistance to brain tumor patients enrolled in brain tumor clinical trials. The Miles for Hope mission is to find not only treatments that provide a better quality of life for those suffering with brain cancer, but to find a cure for it. Come support "Team NEC" on Saturday, May 8th, at Artesani Park! The proceeds from the event will be used towards cutting edge brain cancer research and patient travel assistance. Miles For Hope goal is to raise $130,000 by the end of May 2010 to open a brain tumor vaccine trial. For more information on Miles for Hope, please visit http://www.milesforhope.org/

Best Buddies Massachusetts

3/20/10

NEC Incorporated will be volunteering at an event called "Friendship Relay to Celebrate Best Buddies Month" at Hopkinton High School Field House in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. This event will be held on March 20, 2010 from 2PM to 5PM. The proceeds donated and raised from the event will go towards an amazing organization called Best Buddies Massachusetts. There will be raffles, food, music, dancing, activities and a special visit from the Patriots, Bruins Mascot, Miss Teen Massachusetts and Miss Massachusetts USA. Our volunteer squad of NEC's coworkers, friends and family members will be wearing an event t-shirt and a superhero cape to go along with the superhero theme of the relay. Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and development disabilities (IDDs). For more information on Best Buddies Massachusetts, please visit http://www.bestbuddies.org/

Children's Hospital Boston

3/11/10

NEC Incorporated will be hosting an in-office event for the Children's Hospital Boston to create "Activity Booklets" for children, siblings and families waiting in the Emergency Rooms, on March 11, 2010 from 6pm-8pm, with food and beverages included. The "Activity Booklets" will be filled with games, puzzles, and mazes. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Volunteering can be as simple as collecting arts and craft material to create a time-filler activity for children in the hospital; coloring a picture or finishing a puzzle might even bring a little smile to their faces! "Kids love it and with the Emergency Rooms going to be busy this year, it will be even more useful," said Barbara Blundell, Supervisor at the Volunteer Services Department for Children's Hospital Boston. Children's Hospital Boston continues to provide life-changing care and world-changing research. For more information on Children's Hospital Boston, please visit http://wwwchildrenshospital.org/

American Cancer Society

2/16/10

We can give hope to people facing cancer and save lives by supporting the American Cancer Society Daffodil Days program. The daffodil is the first flower of spring, a symbol of hope, renewal, and for the American Cancer Society, the promise that one day the world will be free of cancer. To raise awareness and funds to help the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer, NEC will be volunteering and fundraising for the Daffodil Days campaign February through March. People who give a gift of hope donation can feel good knowing their good deed will result in a delivery of a bouquet of daffodils to a cancer patient in your community. The flowers may never fail to brighten someone's day! NEC Incorporated raised over $200 for the American Cancer Society and can't wait to help out again next year for Daffodil Days. For more information on The American Cancer Society, please visit http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp