Team members participate in ride and sponsor event for third year
Tocci Building Companies (Tocci), a Boston area construction management company and recognized leader in Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), recently participated in the Eighth Annual SPARK “Buddy Run” fundraiser on July 16th, 2016 sponsored by Tocci and the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club. The “Buddy Run” featured motorcyclists participating in a two-hour urban “motorcycle run” to support the important work of the Supporting Parents and Resilient Kids Center (SPARK Center) in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood.
The mission of the SPARK Center is to help Boston's highest-risk children build brighter tomorrows. This unique center provides childcare offering comprehensive, integrated, state-of-the-art services through therapeutic, medically-specialized programs for children and families whose lives are affected by medical, emotional and/or behavioral challenges.
At this year’s event, Tocci’s own avid motorcyclists, John Tocci, Chief Enabling Officer and Lila Tocci, Director of Company Life + Charitable Giving participated by hitting the open road along with dozens of other riders. For John and Lila this is their third consecutive “Buddy Run”. In addition to Tocci’s motorcyclists, Mark Herstein, Tocci Design Manager, assisted with set up and event organization. The 2-mile ride began and ended at the SPARK Center, located at 255 River Street in Mattapan, MA.
“Providing medical care and educational development in a home-like environment requires extraordinary staff,” said Lila Tocci. “The care that the SPARK Center provides to high risk children embodies the mission of Boston Medical Center, ‘Exceptional care without exception.’ Sponsoring the ride allows Tocci to link arms with the Buffalo Soldiers who organize and promote the Buddy Run, in memory of Buddy Brown a former Buffalo Soldier and Boston Firefighter.”
The SPARK Center relies on partnerships with Boston Medical Center (BMC), state and federal grant support, and the generosity of private foundations, individual donors and volunteers. The annual “Buddy Run” fundraiser helps to supplement these gifts in order to keep its high-quality medical and psychotherapeutic services free of charge.
“It is so meaningful to have the continued support of the Tocci team, not only as a corporate sponsor, but also as participants in the annual Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club ‘Buddy Run’,” said Barbara Hughes, Program Coordinator and Director of Events at the SPARK Center. “With the Tocci’s perennial display of strong core corporate values, their continued support shows that they have joined hands in in making a better life for these fragile children, allowing us to sustain a quality program. Their loyalty and generosity is inspiring.”
Making long-term investments in Boston’s urban communities, the SPARK Center and its supporters, including Boston Medical Center, are dedicated to helping families make healthy choices, cope with emotional problems, and gain solid educational and parenting skills. For more information and to make a donation, please visit bmc.org/SPARK.
About Tocci Building Companies:
Tocci Building Companies, a leading construction and project management firm, specializes in Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), Building Information Modeling (BIM), Highly Collaborative Project Delivery (HCPDSM), and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). Tocci was an early adopter of VDC in the Northeast and in 2006 committed to use it on all projects. In 2008, Tocci built the first IPD project in the Northeast and is now doing IPD across the country.
Tocci provides BIM-enabled building solutions and construction services with a sustainable approach and emphasis on lean construction. Headquartered in Woburn, MA, Tocci has a long history of design/build and highly collaborative delivery in the Northeast and MidAtlantic United States. For more information visit www.tocci.com.
About The SPARK Center:
The SPARK Center, originally known as the Children's AIDS Program, was founded by the Boston Public Health Commission in 1989 in response to the pediatric AIDS crisis in Boston. It was established in its present community site in 1992, and became part of Boston Medical Center (previously Boston City Hospital) in 1995. In September 2004, through a state mandated merger with another Boston Medical Center program (Family Development Center), they expanded their mission to serve children with other medical conditions, as well as children with traumatic histories due to caregiver disruptions, loss and/or suspected abuse/neglect. As a result of this expanded mission and an increase in children served, they have adopted a more inclusive name: The SPARK Center - Supporting Parents and Resilient Kids.
Built in 1992, their sunny, cheerful SPARK Center houses state-of-the-art infant care rooms, multiple toddler and preschool classrooms, private therapy and testing rooms, a nurse's office, a full kitchen, child-friendly spaces for specialists and administrative offices. Outside playground equipment is safe, colorful and age-appropriate, and the facility sits on a beautiful open lawn with ample play area and a lovely garden.
About the Buffalo Soldier Motorcycle Club
The Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club was established in 1993 in Chicago, Illinois. With a mission of fostering unity and fellowship amongst motorcyclists, the club has grown from one, original chapter to over 100 chapters nationwide and overseas. With professional men and women dedicated to the sport of motorcycle riding and safety, the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club organizes numerous community service events, including feeding the homeless, awarding scholarships and, of course, the Annual “Buddy Run”.
