Four Longtime Volunteers Honored for Civic Service

[Editor's Note: Scott Frasca tells us that Michael Zellen and James Smerczynski will be out of town for Thursday's event, so they will receive their awards at a later time. James Burke and Neil Price will still receive their awards Thursday.]

The Making a Difference in Peabody Foundation is celebrating 10 years this Thursday at and giving special recognition to four longtime volunteers in the community who have all stepped up to the plate.

The foundation's president Scott Frasca says the annual community service awards will be presented to following individuals:

• James Burke -- A Peabody attorney, Burke has 25 years of service on the Peabody Education Council (now Peabody Education Foundation), more than 10 years on the board of directors for the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the advisory board for the Simon Youth Foundation and 10 years of supporting Making a Difference in Peabody.
• Michael Zellen -- A vice president at North Shore Bank, Zellen is a former Ward 6 City Councilor, former member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and has served as the co-chair of the International Festival, chaired a committee on downtown issues and redevelopment, chaired Kids Day for three years, is a past president of Massachusetts Elks and a 10-year supporter of Making a Difference in Peabody.
• Neil Price -- A Parks Commission member, Price is also being honored for his years with Peabody Babe Ruth, the George Peabody Memorial Fund and Peabody Little League.
• Jim "Smuz" Smerczynski -- "Smuz" has spent 40 years with Peabody Babe Ruth and Peabody Little League and has served on the Parks Commission.

Thursday's event is scheduled for 5-7:30 p.m. at Burtons and admission is $20 per person at the door. There will be silent auction items, a raffle, appetizers, cocktails and a cash bar.

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, which provides basic emergency assistance to Peabody residents, for such things as electricity, oil, gas, food, clothing, housing and emergency disaster relief.