Satina Craffey

Plymouth, MA

For her exemplification of the power of empathy, hope, and engagement, for being a mentor and role model for young people, and for her deep understanding of the strength of community to nurture and uplift those in need.

Satina Craffey is known and beloved for her abiding compassion, boundless energy, and deep understanding of the strength of community to nurture and uplift those in need. She devotes her passion and energy to volunteering and coordinating outreach programs through Faith Community Church. Each week, you’ll find her delivering hot meals to anyone in need or bringing bagged lunches for homeless people in Plymouth. For many years, she has also worked hand-in-hand with the staff at Algonquin Heights to host programs and bring resources to the residents. She organizes after school/vacation “Fundays” for 8 – 12-year-olds and a Teen Program for youth ages 13 – 16, including young people in alternative schools and/or with jobs. Satina also organizes annual events throughout the year, including coat drives in winter, prom dress drives in spring, high school graduation celebration dinner parties, end-of-school field day, a back-to-school barbeque, Halloween trunk-or-treat, Thanksgiving turkey giveaways, and numerous December holiday events and parties. A teacher at heart, she engages youth in the planning and implementation of the events, so they can learn valuable social, organizational, and leadership skills and build strong relationships with trusted adults. Satina creates safe and nurturing spaces where young people from elementary school to high school can freely express themselves, seek guidance, form friendships, and enhance their academic pursuits.

Annie’s Kindness Blankets

Middleborough Non-Profit

Barbara Buckley, Founder and CEO

For its embodiment of the compassionate and collaborative spirit of community action, steadfast dedication to eradicating stigmas associated with mental health, and fostering of kindness in our communities.

In March of 2015, after battling depression for years, Annie Varney ended her life in suicide. Her 3 daughters and her aunt, Barbara Buckley, lost their beloved mother and niece. More than a niece, Annie was Barbara’s best friend. The Varney sisters and Barbara turned their grief and confusion into action and remembrance. Over the years, they had made blankets together with Annie as a shared hobby. To help with their own healing, Barbara and the girls decided to make 35 blankets in honor of Annie’s 35 years of life. They brought these blankets to South Shore Hospital with the hope to distribute them to any patients or caregivers in need of kindness and warmth. The response of the nursing staff was overwhelming and spurred them to make still more blankets. In September of 2015, they founded the non-profit Annie’s Kindness Blankets which has grown to include 8 women with clear purpose: to stop the stigma associated with mental illness, depression, and suicide and to reassure anyone who is struggling that they are never alone. The Annie’s Kindness Blankets team organizes volunteer events throughout the area to create blankets which are then dispatched to anyone in need of unexpected kindness. The volunteer events themselves provide a therapeutic space for participants touched by depression, mental health struggles, and suicide. For the recipients, the blankets serve as tangible symbols of enduring warmth, the kindness of strangers, and that it’s alright to acknowledge one’s struggles and seek support. Thanks to their passion and their compassion, over 18,000 blankets have been created and distributed to date. 

Christine Alicandro-Karnolt

Kingston Resident and Owner/Principal Marty’s GMC

In recognition of her generosity of heart, tireless leadership, and lifelong dedication to making a difference for those in need and contributing to the strength and vibrance of our communities’ social fabric.

Christine Alicandro-Karnolt exemplifies a lifelong dedication to serving and strengthening her community, giving back, and uplifting those in need. Her generosity of spirit and commitment to community date back to her youth when she sold candy bars to raise money for her favorite causes. Over the years, personally and professionally, she has supported well over 100 local organizations through sponsorships, scholarships, donations, and hands-on community service. A true leader, Christine is a model of community engagement. She encourages her employees and fellow business owners to engage in service and actively steps forward to help meet community needs. A supporter of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth, she donated a new plow truck to the maintenance department and helped to fund the construction of the waiting area for the Hospital’s new Breast Cancer Treatment Center. Each year, she and the Marty’s team host a food drive and sponsor the America’s Hometown Express locomotive float in the Thanksgiving parade, marching alongside and collecting food donations from parade goers for our very own Food Resources Program. In every endeavor, in ways big and small, whether she’s walking in a parade or contributing behind the scenes, Christine emerges as a pillar of generosity, leadership, collaboration, and impact in our communities.

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