台灣文化光點將送雲門舞集抵麻州演出

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處代表文化部，昨（一）日和麻州五校聯盟（Five Colleges, Incorporated）簽署合作備忘錄，將從今年九月起，在麻州推出「臺灣文化光點計畫」，把雲門舞集、台原偶戲團及聲動樂團等，帶到本地民眾面前。

            麻州五校聯盟（Five Colleges, Incorporated）執行總監雅伯拉罕（Neal B. Abraham）透露，該聯盟與台灣音樂團體合作時，獲悉台灣有此計劃，輾轉聯絡，協商，議定雙方各出資一半，以十萬元經費，十八個月的時間，在麻州舉辦一系列展現台灣之美的文化活動。

            文化部駐紐約臺北文化中心主任游淑靜指出，潤泰集團總裁尹衍樑為回應文化部長龍應台的「臺灣一定要用文化走出去與世界對話」理念，主動捐贈美金400萬元推動「臺灣文化光點計畫」，從2013年起至2016年，每年撥100萬美元，邀全球40所重點大學或相關機構合作，把臺灣文化帶進全球各地，深入社區，與民眾互動。   

            文化部與麻州五校聯盟的合作，將是「臺灣文化光點計畫」的其中一部份。文化部負責協助把雲門舞集、台原偶戲團及聲動樂團等高水準團體帶來，讓麻州民眾也有機會認識到，台灣的文化藝術演出水平非常高。目前預定的活動安排，包括3場慶典、4場演出、6場工作坊、2場講座，2場大師班等。

            經文處處長洪慧珠表示，這一合作，既可把台灣文化亮點宣揚進麻州，也豐富了麻州學子，地方社區的文化生活，是個雙贏合作項目，許多其他地區獲悉麻州將承辦「臺灣文化光點計畫」，把雲門舞集等帶來時，恐怕要羨慕極了。

            麻州大學安赫斯特分校（Amherst）藝術中心（Fine Arts Center）主任Willie L. Hill表示，該校藝術中心有1800個座位，各方面設備都絕對能符合雲門舞集這類國際水準團體的演出需要。

            麻州五校聯盟是個成立於1965年的非牟利組織，為安赫斯特學院（Amherst College ），漢普夏學院（Hampshire College），霍利奧克學院（Mount Holyoke College ），史密斯學院（Smith College）等四所私立大專院校，以及麻州大學的安赫斯特分校（UMass Amherst）等位於麻州西部的五所大專院校共三萬二千餘名師生服務。其中四所私立大專院校的就讀學生，約有20%為國際學生。

            聯盟執行總監雅伯拉罕（Neal B. Abraham）表示，前述每所學校，每年撥款一百萬美元給聯盟，辦理各校難以獨立經辦的語言，文化，藝術等等項目，提供免費校巴，促進各校之間的人員，資源交流。

            麻州五校聯盟發展主任Nancy Goff表示，整個計劃將為時十八個月，除了來自台灣的著名演藝團體，該聯盟還將邀請麻州本地的台灣文化藝術界人士展演，一應節目及時間，地點，還待落實。

 

圖片說明：

            左起，文化部駐紐約臺北文化中心主任游淑靜，麻州大學安赫斯特分校藝術中心主任Willie L. Hill，駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長洪慧珠，麻州五校聯盟執行總監Neal B. Abraham，發展主任Nancy Goff等人，簽署備忘錄後合影。（菊子攝）

         駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長洪慧珠（中），麻州五校聯盟執行總監Neal B. Abraham（右）簽署合作備忘錄後握手。（菊子攝）

波市長進華埠宣佈七百萬社區人力培訓、發展經費下落

                    波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin J. Walsh）和市府就業及社區服務辦公室主任 Trinh Nguyen，昨（一）日聯袂來到波士頓華埠社區中心（BCNC），宣佈撥款 7 百萬元，與不下68個機構合作，協助約2450名成人掃除就業障礙，接受職業培訓，以及700名青少年取得高中學歷。           

            昨日（七月一日）是新會季年度開始的第一天。馬丁華殊選擇進華埠宣佈與就業、社區服務相關的社區發展整體補助金（CDBG）等預算撥款概況，以示他對亞裔社區的關心，也呼應他聘任的市府就業及社區服務辦公室（Office of Jobs and Community Services , 簡稱JCS)主任 Trinh Nguyen 是名越南後代亞裔。

            這七百萬元經費，主要撥做辦理人力培訓，教育，英語班，識字班，社會服務等項目，以幫助民眾解決居住不穩定，識字能力低，遭遇家暴，濫用毒品，有犯罪記錄等問題。

            波士頓市府計劃藉這筆經費幫助2000名成人掃除就業障礙，幫助450名成人接受職業訓練，就業援助。另外幫助700名青年求學，取得高中或同等學歷，協助青少年探討諸如醫療，建築，托兒，海事，休閒等各行各業的就職環境。 

            馬丁華殊在會中強調，他也是移民之子，父母在1950年代從愛爾蘭移民來美，儘管不像其他移民有語言障礙，但也沒高中學歷。他深知波市約63000人沒有高中學歷，約23%居民生活在貧窮中的苦惱。他將致力幫助人們改善生活。

            昨日有數十名來自波市各服務機構的代表出席。馬丁華殊表示，波市經費有限，服務機構或有粥少僧多之嘆，但市府相信，藉由各機構的努力，會有最大多數民眾獲得幫助。

            這些經費來自地方，州以及聯邦政府，包括社區發展整體補助金 (CDBG)，鄰里就業信託（NJT)，人力投資法（WIA)，以及波市府的另類教育計劃（AEI)，麻州中小學教育局（DESE）等。

            在社區法展整體補助金方面，約有68個機構將獲得230萬元，辦理成人英語班，識字班，解決流浪問題，並幫助人們就業等。以升學為重心的課後輔導項目，也可獲得經費。

            波市府表示，市府就業及社區服務辦公室（JCS）代表鄰里就業信託（NJT)，在六月份時發出招標書，徵求成人就業培訓，英語班項目。約有150萬元將撥給10到15個培訓及英語項目。

來自人力投資法（WIA)，波市府另類教育計劃（AEI)的大約180萬元經費，將用來協助14個機構，在暑假，或一整年期間，為青少年辦理探討職業的教育項目，或是另類教育項目。

            約有200萬元將撥給地方上的就業中心，培訓人力機構。 麻州中小學教育局（DESE）的經費，將供地方辦理八項成人基本教育服務。

        波士頓華埠社區中心董事會副董事長馬以正，昨日代表BCNC歡迎波士頓市長，指出該機構得以為社區服務，都靠政府資助，社區捐款。波士頓華埠社區中心發展主任陳小慧透露，該機構大約獲得35000元CDBG 款項，和波士頓青少年家庭中心（BCYF）的合作，也容許該機構在辦理活動時節省很多經費。

            紅橡木課後輔導班家長勞笑瓊，昨日發表感言，指出波士頓華埠社區中心這類組織的服務，讓父母放心，子女進步。

圖片說明：

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin J. Walsh）說到 Trinh Nguyen 告訴他，第一次在社區中見到他，自己還是個小孩時，兩個人都忍不住笑了起來。（菊子攝）

            波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin J. Walsh）進波士頓華埠社區中心宣佈撥款七百萬元助社區發展。（菊子攝）

            昨日有數十人出席撥款發表會。（菊子攝）

邦克丘獲捐款一萬元

邦克丘社區學院基金會（Bunker Hill Community College Foundation）六月廿四日食獲得美國銀行慈善基金會捐給一萬元的人力發展教育補助金。

            邦克丘學院表示，將用這筆經費來更新該校位於雀喜市（Chelsea）校區的聯合健康（Allied Health）項目教室，實驗室。

            該校校長余慕潔（Pam Y. Eddinger）表示，美國銀行基金會的捐款，代表了該機構認可，支持該校在幫助學生覓得更有意義工作上的努力。

            聯合健康項目藉著有目標的培訓，為波士頓一帶欣欣向榮的醫學社區，提供學有所長的工作人員。

            該校畢業生有大約70%，畢業後不到九十天，就在所學領域受聘。該校的聯合健康證書項目，包括緊急醫療技師（EMT），醫療助理，醫療傳譯，病人護理技師，不孕處理及外科技術等。

波士頓有風雨威脅 七月四日慶祝可能提前一天

麻州及波士頓政府相關人員昨（一）日向社區匯報七月四日在查理士河畔河濱區（Esplanade）的美國國慶活動相關安全措施，將等到週三（二日）最後一刻，才決定是否會因熱帶暴風雨亞瑟（Arthur）來襲，更改慶祝活動時間。

波士頓市長馬丁華殊（Martin J. Walsh）昨日進華埠宣佈人力培訓，社區發展經費新年度概況後，出席國慶煙花，音樂會的活動發佈會。由於天氣預報指熱帶風暴“亞瑟”將在國慶日期間襲擊波士頓，他和相關人士不排除把慶祝音樂會等活動提早一天舉行的可能。

熱帶風暴“亞瑟”週二在佛羅里達州海岸成形，預計會沿著東海岸來襲。天氣預報人員估計那將在七月四日這天，讓紐英崙部分地區下大雨。

麻州警察長Timothy Alben將軍表示，由於朗費羅橋（Longfellow Bridge）一帶仍在維修中，將禁止人們擠上橋，想看煙花的人，得另找地方了。

此外，週五這天，河濱（Esplanade）的橢圓形和潟湖/島嶼地區，將禁駛自行車。其他地方也不准人們把自行車鎖在欄杆，柱子，或其他結構物上。

在麻州大道橋和煙花駁船之間，將不准船隻停洎。所有的船隻都必須停在一個指定安全區的東邊，以及麻州大道橋的西邊。

            警方估計，將有六十萬名圍觀者出席。

今年的慶祝將和往年相似，演奏傳統的“1812序曲“，煙花中的新花樣是狀如棒棒糖的煙火之花，將擴散成200度角的扇面，讓天空一片璀璨。

今年將有重約三頓的大約 12,000 枝煙花施放進空中。

BOSTON MARATHON RAISES HISTORIC AMOUNTS FOR LOCAL NON-PROFITS: $38.4 Million Raised

BOSTON MARATHON RAISES HISTORIC AMOUNTS FOR LOCAL NON-PROFITS: $38.4 Million Raised

BOSTON, July 1, 2014 - Participants running on behalf of non-profit organizations raised $38.4 million for charity this year in the 118th running of the Boston Marathon.  The 2014 figure is a record amount and nearly doubles the $20 million raised in 2013. 

In this year’s race on April 21st, with an expanded field size of 36,000 registered runners, more than 300 organizations received donations in support of their missions.  The majority of the fundraising runners gained entry through the Boston Athletic Association’s Official Charity Program and John Hancock’s Marathon Non-Profit Program, which provide non-profits with guaranteed entry numbers (“bibs”) that enable funds to be raised for their organizations. 

In addition, many qualified runners, along with deferred runners who did not finish the 2013 Marathon, contributed by raising money for charity.  The B.A.A. also made special allocations to the One Fund Boston, the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation, local hospitals, and many other organizations and individuals who were touched by the bombing at last year’s race.  

Included among the charitable organizations benefiting from the B.A.A.’s Official Charity Program in 2014 is the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which marked its 25th year of fundraising with the B.A.A. for the Boston Marathon.

“This year’s Boston Marathon was like no other that we have witnessed,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director.  “We worked in cooperation with the community, especially the eight cities and towns which comprise the Boston Marathon route and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to accommodate as many participants as possible, and we were delighted that so many chose to channel their dedication and commitment towards fundraising for worthwhile causes.  The 2014 Boston Marathon will go down in history as a special day for the sport, for the City of Boston and for unprecedented fundraising, all benefitting local charities.”

“The world bore witness to the resilience of the Boston community and the true spirit of the Marathon this year,” said Craig Bromley, President of John Hancock.  “The Boston Marathon will forever be defined by compassion, courage, competition, and extraordinary generosity.  We are proud of our partnership with the B.A.A. and join them in congratulating our charitable partners for raising an unprecedented amount of funds to support their important missions.” 

In the 2014 race, funds raised by John Hancock-sponsored runners amounted to slightly over $10 million, a 27 percent increase over the $7.9 million total raised in 2013.  Some of the 125 non-profit organizations participating in the John Hancock program were:  Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston MedicalCenter, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Hoyt Foundation Inc., Horizons for Homeless Children, and Bottom Line.

In addition, Team John Hancock, consisting of 118 employees, ran while raising funds for the Ron BurtonTraining Village and the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, and 37 employees of parent company Manulife ran on behalf of Canadian charity Pathways to Education.  Employees raised nearly $370,000, a 28 percent increase over 2013 results.

2014 marked the 29th year of John Hancock’s landmark sponsorship of the legendary Boston Marathon.  Over the past 29 years, the official B.A.A. Charity Program and John Hancock’s own Non-Profit Program have combined to raise more than $208 million for community-based organizations. 

For the third consecutive year, John Hancock utilized a centralized online platform to capture fundraising through a partnership with CrowdRise™ (www.crowdrise.com/2014bostonmarathon), an innovative online fundraising web site.  

Bruno Event Team Selected to Manage 2017 U.S. Senior Open at Salem Country Club

Bruno Event Team Selected to Manage 2017 U.S. Senior Open at Salem Country Club

Sports Management Company’s 21^st USGA Championship in 15 Years

Birmingham, Ala. (July 1) – Bruno Event Team (BET), a nationwide leader in sports event management, announced today they were hired to manage the 2017 U.S. Senior Open Championship at Salem Country Club located outside of Boston in Peabody, Mass.  This will mark the 21^st United States Golf Association (USGA) Championship that BET has managed in different markets across the country over the last 15 years, including the upcoming 2014 U.S. Senior Open at Oak Tree National in Edmond, Okla., next year’s 2015 U.S. Senior Open at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento, Calif., as well as the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif.

The championship will take place June 29 – July 2, 2017, and Jeff Ewing, a vice president and 13-year veteran of Bruno Event Team, will serve as championship director.

Bruno Event Team is a Birmingham, Ala., based sports marketing company that manages a wide variety of events in golf, motorsports, and intercollegiate athletics.  

“We are honored to have been selected to manage the 2017 U.S. Senior Open at Salem Country Club,” stated Gene Hallman, president and CEO of Bruno Event Team.  “Salem is an exceptional partner, and we are excited to work with them to host what has the potential to be one of the most successful U.S. Senior Opens in history.  We are very pleased to have Jeff Ewing as our championship director given his wealth of golf experience with USGA championships, and Sean Sovacool from our team will also be instrumental since he played a huge role in the successful 2001 U.S. Senior Open at Salem.”

Sovacool, BET’s executive vice president over the golf division of the company, was the championship director for the 2001 U.S. Senior Open at Salem Country Club, which surpassed USGA ticket sales records, selling out one year in advance, and produced Bruce Fleisher’s one-stroke victory over Gil Morgan and Isao Aoki.  Ewing is currently the championship director for the 2014 U.S. Senior Open and has worked on previous USGA events for Bruno Event Team such as the 2004 – 2009 and 2013 U.S. Senior Opens, as well as the 2002, 2004 – 2006, 2008 and 2011 U.S. Women’s Opens.

“I am truly excited to be selected as championship director for the 2017 U.S. Senior Open,” stated Ewing. “I am looking forward to the opportunity to organize this prestigious event at one of the nation’s top country clubs and working with the club and community leadership to make this event a showcase for the USGA, Salem Country Club and Massachusetts.”

“Salem Country Club is confident that we have identified the right partner in assisting us with this prestigious Championship,” said William H. Sheehan III, general chairman of the 2017 U.S. Senior Open. “Bruno Event Team has more USGA experience than any other sports management company and that is one of the primary reasons we selected them as our management team.  We have already begun the process of working together to create another successful event.”

The U.S. Senior Open, considered to be the world’s premier golf tournament for men age 50 and older, has had past champions that include such legends as Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin. Champions Tour stars who will be eligible to compete at Salem are Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Steve Stricker, Tom Watson, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomery, Vijay Singh, John Daly, Jose Maria Olazabal, Kenny Perry, Billy Andrade, Brad Faxon and many more.

For the latest information on the 2017 U.S. Senior Open, visit www.2017ussenioropen.com.  For more information on Bruno Event Team, visitwww.brunoeventteam.com.