Annual Sports Banquet Celebrates Achievements and Community
Summer wouldn’t be complete without the marquee event of the Social-Recreation Program—the Annual Sports Banquet. Held at the Tiffany Ballroom in Norwood’s Four-Points Sheraton Hotel, approximately 150 guests, including athletes, coaches, and volunteers, gathered for a night of celebration. Director of Social and Recreation programs Kate Kalinoski and the Director of the Autism Support Center Brian Clark served as Masters of Ceremony, presiding over a fun filled evening. A special acknowledgment goes out to Kate, who spearheaded the event’s planning for the first time.
Participants reveled in the opportunity to socialize with friends, teammates, and family members, creating a vibrant and joyous atmosphere. The evening, always a hit, featured great dining, a slide show highlighting the sports and players over the past season, and dancing to the tunes of our favorite Lifeworks DJ Steve Bishop- the Man of Many Hats.
The highlight of the night arrived with the trophy presentation for each of the six sports—cornhole, basketball, bowling, bocce, floor hockey, and softball. Trophies were awarded across various categories, recognizing achievements such as Bowler of the Year, Highest Single Score, Highest Average, Sportsmanship, Most Improved, Team Spirit, and Dedication. Each awardee received rousing cheers from their teammates as many lifted their trophies in the air in celebration of their achievement.
The prestigious 2023 Ben Keister Award was presented to Bowling coach Natalie Woodward in recognition and appreciation of her support and efforts in assisting the coaches and athletes. The Recognition of Continuous Support Award for 2023 was presented to Softball Coach Artie Webber for his unwavering dedication to the Lifeworks sports program.
The evening’s excitement reached its peak with the raffle prize drawings. Raffle ticket sales generate additional revenue to help alleviate social and recreation program costs—such as equipment, field rental, travel expenses, and staffing. Gratitude is extended to the generous companies and individuals who donated prizes, ensuring the raffles’ success.
Lifeworks expresses deep appreciation for the invaluable support of community partners, including the Norwood Sports Center, Ryan Family Amusements in Millis, the Town of Norwood, Walpole Italian American Club, and Xaverian Brothers High School. As a token of appreciation to all the wonderful athletes, they each received a Lifeworks logo baseball cap to add to their collection of Lifeworks gear.
