Marblehead Counseling Center Awards Community Champion Honor, 2 $1K Scholarships

MARBLEHEAD, MA — The Marblehead Counseling Center will honor one North Shore business owner and two outstanding students with plans to enter the health care or wellness field.

The MCC announced David Aldrich, of Nahant, who founded Grab the Bagel, as the recipient of its annual Amy Saltz Community Champions Award in memory of the Marblehead resident who was dedicated to helping others.

The MCC said it was also awarding two $1,000 scholarships this year to Essex North Shore student Bryan LaFortune, of Norwell, and Lynn English student Amy Gomez Thomas, of Lynn.

"This year, we had so many great candidates for our $1,000 Scholarship, we decided to award two scholarships," said Ruth Ferguson, President of the MCC Board of Directors. "These are three people who understand the value of giving back to the community.

"We're so proud to be able to honor them."

Aldrich has spent nearly two decades giving back to the community, as founder of the national Grab the Torch foundation, working with high school students and schools across the country on the development of leadership, philanthropy, ethics, and service.

In 2024, he created Grab the Bagel, a nonprofit social enterprise based on the North Shore under the Grab the Torch umbrella.

It helps raise funds to support local families, first responders, area schools and other community services in Marblehead and Swampscott. Proceeds from bagel sales are used to fund local causes — from Make-A-Wish projects for sick children in Marblehead, to donations to local police and fire stations.

"Dave is a caring person who selflessly gives of his time and energy without expecting anything in return," said Paul Todisco, who nominated Aldrich.

Aldrich is also a big supporter of the Ukrainian community on the North Shore.

"Dave has taken a number of area Ukrainians under his wing, and become a real advocate for them," Todisco said.

Aldrich recently hosted a send-off party at The Beacon for a friend who lost his mother and primary caretaker in an automobile accident.

"Dave's motto is 'give to give, not to get,' and that's how he lives his life."

The scholarships are open to any high school student living within the center's North Shore service area, with particular emphasis on students interested in entering the health and wellness profession.

LaFortune plans to attend the University of Massachusetts Lowell Medical Laboratory Science program, followed by medical school. He hopes to develop affordable, portable medical testing kits for sickle cell anemia and other blood-borne diseases to be used in regions that struggle with limited access to early, accurate diagnostics.

LaFortune said he wants to work in collaboration with engineers and public health leaders to develop low-cost, easy-to-use kits to help communities boost early disease detection, reduce infant mortality rates, and improve local health outcomes. He said he wants to ensure that every child has a fair chance at a healthy life, and to promote equity in healthcare access worldwide.

Tomas plans to pursue her nursing degree beginning at North Shore Community College, and then transferring to a Bachelor's degree program.

While attending high school, Tomas became a licensed Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

As a young mother in high school, Tomas says her daughter inspired her to keep going and to take risks, even when it was not easy. Tomas hopes to use this experience in the future to help other teen moms going through rough times.

She said she wants young mothers who are struggling to know that although things might be difficult at times, "they won’t always be bad."

For more than 55 years, the Marblehead Counseling Center has provided social and mental health services to families and individuals.

"It's increasingly important for our society to recognize all that individuals in our community do to support one another," Ferguson said. "The mental health crisis is real, and part of what people struggle with is the tidal wave of negative information and news we face. It isn't all bad.

"We felt it was important to recognize that there are countless individuals — our neighbors and friends — who step in to lend a hand without ever making a big deal of it. They are all champions."

The honorees will be recognized at the annual Community Champions Celebration on May 7 at the Beacon Restaurant in Marblehead.

Go here for tickets and more information about the event.