By Max Bowen
max.bowen@northstarreporter.com
The North Attleboro/Plainville Rotary Club has announced the winners of its 2025 Distinguished Service Awards.
The annual DSA banquet will take place on March 24 at 6 p.m. at Plainridge Park Casino’s Boylston Function Room in Plainville. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased from Dr. John W. Barone at 107 North Washington St. in North Attleboro or by calling 508-699-2481 by March 17.
The 2025 DSA recipients are: Jamie O’Hanlon of Sisters at Heart (Outstanding Citizen), Faith Ann Wilder (Outstanding Youth), Nicole Lee Pelletier (Outstanding Public Employee), Todd C. Vigorito (Outstanding Educator) and Julie Holt (Outstanding Senior).
Outstanding Citizen: Jamie O’Hanlon — Founder of Sisters at Heart, Jamie turned the family struggle of her daughter Scarlett’s battle with a life-threatening heart defect into a mission to help others. Sisters at Heart is a non-profit that offers support to families affected by heart disease and stroke in the community. A nomination letter said that “what began as just three local moms, each with their own heartbreaking connection to heart disease, has grown into an organization that has touched the lives of thousands within our community.”
Outstanding Youth: Faith Ann Wilder — As a member of the North Attleborough Cultural Council, Wilder promotes collaboration among artists, educators and cultural organizations to support the arts and humanities through grants promoting cultural diversity and artistic expression. As one nomination letter read, “Faith helped raise funds for mental health awareness by developing a creative athletic footwear design that was featured at the Maria Droste Compassion in Every Step auction. Her artwork, which advocates for mental health awareness, has earned her three prestigious Gold Keys, two Silver Keys, and three Honorable Mentions at the Scholastic Art Awards.”
Outstanding Public Employee: Nicole Lee Pelletier — As the administrative assistant to the Department of Veterans Services, Pelletier helps provide support to the veterans and their families in the communities of North Attleborough, Wrentham and Plainville. She has worked with the North Attleborough Veterans Service office from November 2018. One nomination letter stated that despite challenges, she continues to serve with tenacity and determination, adding that “her ability to work seamlessly with local, state and federal government agencies has gone far beyond all expectations in balancing veteran needs with her due diligence as a steward of the residents’ tax dollars.”
Outstanding Educator: Todd C. Vigorito — A social studies teacher at North Attleborough Middle School, Vigorito has worked in education for 28 years. One nomination letter stated that Mr. Vig, as the students call him, “consistently demonstrates an unwavering commitment to student success, going above and beyond to ensure every child feels supported and challenged in the classroom.” He is also active outside the classroom, spearheading a school-wide program to honor those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. This summer, he helped coordinate an create outdoor space for middle school students that honors a former student who passed away.
Outstanding Senior: Julie Holt — For the last 17 years, Holt has been a volunteer in the community. Since 2009, she has worked with the Meals on Wheels program. In addition, she has been a member of the Council on Aging’s board for the last 12 years and the chairperson for six years. “Julie’s unwavering dedication, leadership and compassion make her a deserving candidate for this award. Her work embodies the spirit of service and community engagement, inspiring those around her to give back and make a difference,” one nomination letter read.
As part of this program, a booklet is prepared for distribution at the banquet. To help raise funds for charities such as “Lenore’s Pantry,” Scholarships, and the Hockomock Area YMCA, as well as sponsoring the North Attleboro High School Senior Class Football Banquet, and the Annual Fishing Derby, advertising space is sold in this booklet.
The ad choices are as follows: The “exclusive” outside back cover ($325), the inside front or back cover ($225), full page ($125), half page ($75), quarter page ($60) and a double line ($35). Color ads are available for an additional $25 per ad. Cover ads are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
To place an ad or congratulatory message in this year’s booklet, call Dr. John W. Barone at 508-699-2481, email him at JWBD83@GMAIL.COM or fax your ad to 508-699-0717. Ads must be received by March 1, 2025. Please make checks payable to “Rotary Club of North Attleborough Plainville Charitable Foundation, Inc.” and submit them to the following address: Dr. John W. Barone, 107 North Washington St., North Attleboro, MA, 02760, Attention: DSA.
