Old Friend Donates the Most for Joey's Park

A local family who raised the most money for the Walk for Belmont to Benefit Joey's Park is enjoying a new iPad courtesy of Belmont Savings Bank.

Linda and Tim Brodigan, along with their three children, raised $3,355 for the Walk, which will help build a new Joey's Park.  Five-year-old Ryan and three-year-old Joey Brodigan sent family and friends crayon-colored cards requesting donations to help finance a new park, which they and their baby sister, Grace, will all enjoy.

"We got donations of $5 and $10 and pretty soon we had a stack of cash," says Tim Brodigan.  

"The kids earned the iPad, we're going to load it up with kids apps," he said.

Tim Brodigan has a special connection to Joey's Park. As a child, his best friend was Joey O'Donnell, the boy for whom the park was named.  

Brodigan looks forward to seeing the new park, which will again bear his old friend's name.

"I think it's going to be great," said Brodigan who was 12-years-old in 1986 when Joey O'Donnell died to cystic fibrosis.  

"It was impossible back then to imagine a time when I would have children of my own playing in a park named after Joey," he said.

About 1,000 people turned out last month for the Walk for Belmont to Benefit Joey's Park and raised more than $57,000, according to organizers.  

"The Walk for Belmont to Benefit Joey's Park was an enormous success, both as a fundraiser and a celebration of community," says Walk organizer Ellen Schreiber.  

"None of it would have been possible without the incredible support we received early on from Belmont Savings Bank."

The Belmont Savings Bank Foundation provided a $5,000 grant to help establish Belmont Partners in Play, which organized the Walk.  

 "Supporting Belmont Partners in Play was a no brainer," says Katie Bates, Belmont Savings Bank Marketing Manager.  "This is a community playground and we are a community bank."

Belmont Savings Bank donated the iPad as a fundraising incentive.

"This is what we're all about," says Nancy Sarris, Belmont Savings Bank Director of Retail Banking. "Our biggest goal is for families to understand about banking and savings. It’s all about being part of the community.”

Other local businesses and organizations who generously contributed to the Walk for Belmont to Benefit Joey's Park included Al Halliday, Belmont Auxilliary Police, BHS Community Service, BHS Marching Band, BHS Volleyball Team, Brother's PIzza, Century 21 Adams, Champion's Sporting Goods, Jump On In Boston, Magic Beans, Meetup.com/ParentsandBabiesofBelmont, Moozy's, Music Together of Belmont, Quebrada Baking Co., Subway.

A Chocolate Dream, Nick’s Pizza, Rancatore’s, Subway and the Toy Shop of Belmont donated raffle prizes.