| For Immediate Release | Contact: Joyce Faria Brennan |
| February 27, 2008 | 508-961-5270 |
| brennanj@southcoast.org | |
 Get this release in Word format |
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NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals' RAPPP (Responsible Attitudes toward Pregnancy, Parenting & Prevention) program honored 12 local fathers and the children who nominated them at its third annual Heart of Fatherhood awards dinner held earlier this month.
The Southcoast RAPPP program received more than 300 nominations from children age 7 to 18 years old that live in the South Coast region. The students were asked to explain why their dad, step-dad or father-like role model is so special to them and how he contributes to the community at-large.
"The objective of the contest is to put forward males as positive role models," said Cindy Guilbeault, Coordinator of Southcoast Hospitals' RAPPP program. "The nominators are asked to describe why their role model should be chosen for the 'Heart of Fatherhood Award' by writing an essay explaining what makes their father special. All of the essays are heart warming and should be considered winners."
In addition to local fathers, the Southcoast RAPPP program honors individuals for their work with youth in the South Coast communities. This year the Southcoast RAPPP program chose three individuals from the Acushnet, Dartmouth and New Bedford communities.
The 2007 Southcoast RAPPP Heart of the Fatherhood Award winners are:
Acushnet:
- John Balarinho, nominated by Russell Balarinho.
- Roland Croteau, nominated by Adam Croteau.
- Miguel Silva, nominated by Ashley Silva.
Fall River:
- Gordon Hardy, nominated by Aaron Hardy.
- David Remy, nominated by Katelyn Remy.
- Jesse Babb, nominated by Brandon Babb.
- Raosbel Guerra, nominated by Brenner Guerra.
- John Howarth, nominated by Joseph Howarth.
- Omer Thibault Jr., nominated by Jessica Thibault.
New Bedford:
- Pedro Lugo, nominated by Christian Lugo.
- Sgt. Shane Mulchay, nominated by Makayla Rose Mulchay.
The 2007 Heart of a Champion Community Honorees are:
- Nancy Francis of the Acushnet Community Center.
- Steve Burgo of the Burgo Basketball Association of Dartmouth.
- Bob Huckabee of the New Bedford Whaling City Little League and the voice of New Bedford High School Basketball.
About Southcoast Hospitals' RAPPP Program
The Southcoast Hospitals' RAPPP (Responsible Attitudes toward Pregnancy, Parenting & Prevention) program addresses the high incidence of youth risk behaviors in Southeastern Massachusetts. RAPPP began as an adolescent pregnancy prevention program designed to be used within the curriculum of the health or science department of high and junior high school systems. The Family Education Department at St. Luke's Hospital develops, sponsors and administers the RAPPP program in conjunction with school faculty and administration. All materials, models, staff support and training are free of charge to the participating schools as part of the Southcoast Hospitals Group community benefits program. Southcoast's Community Benefits Report can be found online at www.southcoast.org/news/benefits/.
About Southcoast
Southcoast Health System, a not-for-profit charitable organization, is a community based health delivery system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of advanced health services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes Southcoast Hospitals Group, formed in 1996 from the merger of Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast has more than 40 ancillary facilities, including the Southcoast Health Van, home health care, hospice and infusion services, numerous outpatient medical services, an assisted living facility and a wellness center. For more information visit www.southcoast.org.
Southcoast is one of three community hospitals approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to perform open heart surgery and primary angioplasty beginning in Spring 2002.
Media Contact
Joyce Faria Brennan
Public Information Officer
Phone: 508-961-5270
Pager: 508-387-9605
Fax: 508-961-5876
brennanj@southcoast.org
