Bellingham Business Association Holds Awards Night
Kerry Farrell received this year’s Bellingham Business Association “Unsung Hero Award,” for her dedication to Bellingham Youth Baseball, and more specifically, her advocacy for children with special needs.
By J.D. O’Gara
On Wednesday, June 12th, 2024, The Bellingham Business Association held its annual awards meeting, where the group named its “Unsung Hero” of the year as well as awarded two scholarships to deserving Bellingham high school seniors.
BBA President Kerry Pickering talked about the Unsung Hero award, awarded to an individual who “gives more than they take,” and focuses “on the big picture. Unsung Heroes take action and are willing to sacrifice time and humility as well as consistent excellence, teamwork and effort for the good of others. They are committed to a cause and do so with empathy and compassion.”
This year’s Unsung Hero Award went to Kerry Farrell, someone Pickering noted was “synonymous with baseball and basketball. Kerry has been a member of the Board of Bellingham Youth Baseball League, serving as the secretary from 2012 to 2016 and serving as president since 2016. Kerry founded The Challenger Program in 2014, so that players with special needs and unique talents could participate in baseball. Kerry is also the president of the Special Education Parents Council in Bellingham. She is an amazing advocate for children with special needs.”
Pickering went on to name the two scholarship recipients, each from Bellingham High School – Liam Coyle, who will attend Dean College in the fall with a major of communication and sports broadcasting, and Isabella Stearns, who will attend Providence College in the fall, majoring in business. The BBA awarded each a $1,500 scholarship for “showing leadership and community involvement.”
Noted Pickering, “We had a great number of qualified applicants this year, and the decision was not an easy one, but these two applicants stood out from their peers.”
The BBA will hold a summer event to be announced in August and on September 16th will host its golf tournament. For more information, visit www.bellinghambusinessassociation.org.
