HOLDEN — Two local women were recently announced as recipients of the prestigious annual MA Commonwealth Heroine Award for their dedication to community.
Real estate agent Janice Mitchell was presented with the award certificate, a citation from the House of Representatives, and a citation from Sheriff Lew Evangelidis during a gathering on Sept. 6. She and fellow longtime town resident and award recipient Karen Raini attended the June 23 ceremony at the State House in Boston, where the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women celebrated the 20th Annual Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2023 in the Great Hall of Flags.
“It was a great honor to be nominated for this award along with so many other Massachusetts women,” Raini said.
According to a press release, a total of 125 Massachusetts women were honored this year.
“The Commonwealth Heroines are women who don’t make the news, but make all the difference in their communities,” MCSW Chairwoman Dr. Sarah Glenn-Smith shared in the release. “Thousands of women in every community across the Commonwealth perform unheralded acts on a daily basis that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities, and towns better places to live. Commonwealth Heroines use their time, talent, spirit, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others in their community. They are mentors, volunteers, and innovators — they are the glue that keeps a community together.”
Each year, MCSW partners with state legislators to identify women who make outstanding contributions to their organizations and in their communities. Each legislator is encouraged to submit the name of one woman from their constituency as a means of recognizing their invaluable efforts and extraordinary acts of service, those who are making a big difference in their communities but not necessarily making the news.
Mitchell was nominated for the honor by State Rep. Kimberly Ferguson.
“Janice was nominated due to her support of many local, charitable initiatives throughout the Wachusett community,” Ferguson said. “An energetic person who built her real estate business from the ground up, she has dedicated significant time, energy, and financial resources to supporting those in need in her area. Whether it be fuel assistance, food pantry donations, veterans’ services, senior assistance, or specific individuals’ needs, Janice is there.”
Mitchell has called Holden home for 51 years, and said she believes “in giving back to the community that has been good to me and my family.”
Her Main Street-based business, Janice Mitchell Real Estate Inc., has been a drop-off spot “for many organizations and foundations for easy access to the community to help the less fortunate,” and Mitchell has been involved in many clubs and boards, sponsored baseball and soccer teams and town events, and received several awards and other recognition over the years for her giving spirit, including the Wachusett Chamber Leadership Award in April 2019.
“When I think about a heroine, I think of St. Joan of Arc marching into battle,” Mitchell said. “Now, I am no saint, and I don’t look like Joan of Arc, but to be recognized for the 50 years I’ve … donated time and effort to the community I love is a very fulfilling and heartwarming feeling. This award energizes me and my agents even more to continue doing what comes naturally to us: Give back to those who have given so much to us and my company.”
She is proud to be among the “many remarkable women who are honored each year” with the award, and shared that she recently had embarked on a special project: Donating an original poppy painting she creates to area veterans’ groups and senior centers. Mitchell meets with veterans and their families and discusses the meaning of the painting and donates it as a reminder of her support and love for them.
“Giving back to the Wachusett community that has been a part of my life for 54 years has been very rewarding to me,” she said.
Raini said is “extremely honored” to be nominated for the award by former state Rep. and state Sen. Anne Gobi for her leadership role and work with the Massachusetts Residents Against Crumbling Concrete group.
“I am an affected homeowner of a crumbling foundation and have had to spend $280,000 to replace the foundation of my home,” Raini said. “I have been advocating and educating people for the past three years on the widening impact of crumbling foundations. This includes working with a wide array of stakeholders so that together, we can pass legislation.”
Raini found out she was an award recipient upon receiving an email from MCSW Executive Director Shaitia Spruell. Raini said the honor “was completely unexpected.” While she hopes to get involved with other community service projects in the future, her full-time job and foundation advocacy work keep her very busy.
“Having a crumbling foundation home has been an extremely emotional and financially devastating experience. I want Massachusetts to resolve this issue, so this disaster stops,” Raini said of her personal attachment and dedication to the cause. “Getting legislation passed is hard, dedicated work, and I will not give up until that happens. My heart breaks for every affected family going through this ordeal, and my experience through this has driven me to act.”
