In the first of a four-part series, we learn about two organizations in the Towns and Wellesley and Newton that are supported by the Boston Marathon and the year-round impact this has on the local community.
Wellesley
The Town of Wellesley welcomes Boston Marathon runners from mile 11.7 to 15.9 each year, the most notable part of the course in the Town being the famous Wellesley Scream Tunnel. But the marathon’s connection and support of education goes far beyond the supporters who come out on race day. Each year the Town recruits' runners on behalf of a fund that allows local students to reach their academic potential through scholarships.
The War Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by the Town of Wellesley in 1951 in an effort to enable deserving students to pursue higher education. At that time, 40% of Wellesley High School Students looking to continue their education needed financial assistance. During that same period, Town funds were used to build a War Memorial at the Town Hall to commemorate Wellesley citizens who served their country in World Wars I and II. Both the permanent market and the living scholarship fund ‘were intended to be suitable memorials to remind children and coming generations of the great sacrifices required by citizens should they again be called up to go to war.’
The War Memorial Scholarship Award is offered each year to graduating high school seniors. It is intended for Wellesley resident applicants who have an interest in the military or have close relatives who are, or were, veterans. Funds can be used at the college of the recipient’s choice. The War Memorial Scholarship Fund is supported by the Town of Wellesley’s Boston Marathon invitational bib program.
The three chosen to run for the War Memorial Scholarship Fund in 2025 are Caroline Carol, Grace Seaborn and Nicholas Cavallerano.
“My name is Caroline Carroll, aged 54, I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and mother of four children. My desire to support The Wellesley War Memorial Scholarship by running the 2025 Boston Marathon is for two important reasons. My son Charlie was the proud recipient of this award in 2024 and is majoring in Business at the University of Denver. His grandfather, an Army Veteran, has always been his hero. My father was an Army career officer and he retired as a colonel after tours in Vietnam and 26 years of active-duty service. He was a marathon runner, running the New York City marathon in the 70’s! I grew up cheering him on! I will be running to give back to the Scholarship Fund and to help fund future War Memorial Scholarships. I will also be running to honor my Dad, a proud Veteran who at 91 would be running too if he only could!”
“My name is Grace Seaborn, aged 23 and I am a registered nurse. I graduated Wellesley High in 2019 and relied on scholarships to help pay for college, so I want to run for the War Memorial Scholarship Fund to pay it forward to other young people. This is going to be my first marathon and I’m so happy to run it in my home city of Boston. This opportunity means the world to me. Given that Wellesley is the halfway point on the marathon, and I grew up going to watch the runners every year, I can’t believe I get to join the many runners who have come before me in running this historic race.”
“My name is Nicholas Cavallerano, I am a proud and lifelong resident of Wellesley and a 2021 graduate of Wellesley High School. More importantly, I am a recipient of the War Memorial Scholarship, and I will be the first War Memorial Scholar to run and give back to the mission that helped me, and others pursue higher education. It will be my honor to raise funds to support future scholars that honor the service and sacrifice of our Veterans.
Military and community service has been a hallmark of my family and a legacy that I actively participate in. I have family members and relatives who have served in the military, specifically the Army and the Navy, and I aspire to serve in the United States Foreign Services Office. For many years, along with my brothers, we have helped organize and participated in the ‘dressing of the graves’ as part of the Memorial Day and Wellesley Wonderful Weekend activities.”
Learn more about the Wellesley War Memorial Scholarship Fund and support their runners HERE.
Newton
The City of Newton welcomes runners through miles 15.93 to 21.35 and supports a range of organizations with fundraising opportunities through the Boston Marathon. Service Stars are proud recipients for 2025.
Service Stars began in 2018 and offers a variety of educational community service programs for kids in kindergarten to Grade 8, led by experienced teachers and education professionals. Their mission is to introduce children to the work of local charities, develop empathy for those in need, and engage children in the benefits of helping others, all while having fun and working as a team! The school year and summer programs pair fun, hands-on service projects with age-appropriate discussions about the importance of giving back to your community. Through their service projects, students support dozens of local charities doing impactful work across New England.
Kelly Comings, Executive Director, Service Stars said, "Funds raised through the Boston Marathon will have a huge impact on our ability to sustain and grow our program, allowing us to bring service-learning experiences to more youth in and beyond our community of Newton."
Some of the young students in the programs share the impact that Service Stars has on them:
“Service Stars is important to me because we help our community in many different ways. I love learning how to help animals, people and the Earth”.
"At Service Stars I learned that something small can make a big difference for someone."
“One of my favorite things in Service Stars was when we made bags for foster kids and I liked it because we got to color on the bags, and we got to make kids happy."
“What I like about Service Stars is all the amazing projects that we get to do for people in the community. My favorite project was probably collecting school supplies and painting bookshelves for the John Hennigan School.”
“We make the Earth and our community a better place!”
The parents of these students feel equally passionate about the work they do:
“The Service Stars after school program has transformed our eight-year-old daughter. She has developed empathy and a genuine interest in helping others. Service Stars has opened her eyes to the ways we can help others who aren't as fortunate as us. Recently she has sorted through her clothes to donate to Cradles to Crayons and she regularly asks to buy food for the Freedge. She was so proud to raise money for the MSPCA! At home she has been a great advocate for improved recycling practice and up-cycling containers. It has been incredible watching her blossom at Service Stars!”
“Our kindergartener has grown so much over this year of community service acts with Service Stars! Each week they come home excited as they tell the whole family about the current act of service, and their enthusiasm rubs off on each of us. Thank you to the Service Stars team for curating meaningful and impactful acts of service for our child to learn and grow from!”
“For our son who had viewed himself as a troublemaker, Service Stars has been life changing. He now sees himself as an important contributor to the community. We have seen his empathy grow in ways we could not have imagined. He picks up after others without being asked, offers his allowance to ‘people who need it more’, requests to go on walks to collect trash, and more. Thank you, Service Stars!”
“Service Stars is such an amazing program. Both of my daughters look forward to attending and volunteering each week and always come home with lots of great ideas and feedback. We are so lucky to have this opportunity for our kids right in our community.”
Sarah Viadero will be donning a bib at the 129th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America for Service Stars. She can be supported HERE.