Every holiday season for nine years Dartmouth Mall bookkeeper Sylvia Gregory has used her position at the top shopping destination to benefit women and children in crisis in the local community.
Gregory, who has worked for the mall for a decade, organizes a highly successful annual holiday gift wrap program at Dartmouth Mall that benefits The Women's Center where she serves as a board member with her husband Tom. Gregory enlists fellow volunteers in the Blessing Branch #1647 of the Foresters, where she also serves as a volunteer, to wrap thousands of gifts for shoppers for a small donation each holiday season.
This May, Gregory has been recognized by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women as one of the state's 100 Unsung Heroines of 2011 for her holiday gift wrap efforts that have provided nearly $70,000 to The Women's Center.
Gregory of Dartmouth is surprised and grateful to be nominated and chosen for the prominent award. She credits her gift wrapping volunteers and Dartmouth Mall for the success of the program.
"I am very honored to receive this award, and although I am the organizer I couldn't do it without the support of our volunteers. This is a team project and not one person can do it alone," Gregory said. "It feels wonderful to help The Women's Center because we are able to give back to our community and local women and families in need."
The Holiday Gift Wrap Service at Dartmouth Mall, a long standing community tradition, is one of The Women's Center's most successful fund raisers, as volunteers wrap thousands of gifts each holiday season.
The mission of The Women's Center is to affirm the choices and independence of women of all cultures in Greater New Bedford and to build support for action toward a healthy violence-free community. Its service area extends to the cities and towns of Southeastern Massachusetts, from Westport to Wareham, and from Taunton/Middleboro to Buzzard's Bay.
The Women's Center's development director Rebecca McCullough nominated Gregory for the award for her compassionate spirit, unwavering support for The Women's Center as a board member and her ability to encourage people to work together for a charitable cause. McCullough notes that Gregory's husband has also been instrumental in work with the center.
Dartmouth Mall is owned and managed by Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT).