Supporters
WAAV's first supporter was the Rotary Club of Wakefield. The local Rotarians, under the leadership of then President Carol Gamble, donated our first grant of just over $5,000 in July 2007.
Their initial financial support was followed quickly by the bipartisan support of Wakefield's legislators Senator Richard Tisei, and Representatives Mark Falzone and then Representative Mike Festa. Together they were successful in including WAAV in the FY2008 Massachusetts budget with an earmark of $10,000. That much-appreciated bipartisan support, this time with the support of new Representative Katherine Clark, continued in FY2009 with another $10,000 Massachusetts earmark.
In addition, the elected Board of Directors and the Advisory Board serving WAAV represent a wide range of civic, business, and individual support in providing the flexibility for our board members to attend morning meetings. Our Boards are comprised of individuals representing the Wakefield Police Department, the Wakefield School Department, the Beebe Library, Wakefield Adult Mentoring, North Suburban Family Network, Hallmark Health and Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, Wakefield clergy, the Rotary Club of Wakefield, and Riverside Community Care, just to name a few.