Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services to honor Dr. Harvey G. Clermont with Cutting Award

Shrewsbury – The Board of Directors of Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services (SYFS), along with Executive Director Terry Cassidy, have announced that the organization will be hosting its 11^th annual gala, “Building A Stronger SYFS,” Saturday, March 14, 2015, at Saint John’s High School, starting at 6 p.m.

Chairing this year’s gala will be Melissa Pride-Fahs, the owner of Emerge Marketing. The night will have a “Great Gatsby” theme and will feature a sumptuous sit-down dinner provided by Struck Catering. Nick Sachs of Sachs Jewelers in Shrewsbury is once again donating an exquisite piece of jewelry that will be reflective of the era of “Gatsby.” And one lucky person will go home with tickets to the July 24, 2015 Taylor Swift concert at Gillette Stadium.

The organization will also be honoring Dr. Harvey G. Clermont that night as well, as the recipient of the Harry S. Cutting, Jr. Award. The award is named for Cutting, one of the co-founders of SYFS and a noted philanthropist in Shrewsbury.

Dr. Clermont is an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Massachusetts-born, and raised in Adams, Dr. Clermont is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and of the Harvard Medical School. He is a retired board certified general and vascular surgeon who has practiced in Worcester since 1973, and is a former U.S. Navy Medical Officer.

Together, with his wife of 50 years, Ann Marie, he has raised 10 children, (three natural born and seven adopted) in Shrewsbury.

Dr. Clermont has been involved with international efforts to help children with life-threatening conditions get the medical treatment they need. He and his family have been a foster family for 35 children that came from impoverished countries to have major heart surgery here in the United States. Thirty-three of these children survived and were able to return to their families with stronger hearts. Dr. Clermont also founded a medical mission called CHANGE which brought health care to many third-world countries in South America.

He is currently the medical director of three free medical clinics including St. Anne’s Free Medical Program in Shrewsbury, which has been providing free healthcare to the underserved and uninsured of the greater Worcester area since 1996. He also is involved with the Greenwood Street Medical Clinic and Akwaaba Free Medical Program in Worcester and founded the Medical Clinic of the Central Massachusetts Shelter for Homeless. When not volunteering at St. Anne’s Medical Clinic, one can find him teaching Pilates at Shrewsbury’s Senior Center.

“This is going to be one very special evening. We have Melissa as chair and she has so much talent, vision and knowledge. It is nearly guaranteed to be a fun-filled night,” Cassidy said. “At the same time, we are honored to present Dr. Clermont with the Cutting Award. He is a man who has literally saved lives in this community and around the world.”

“We are excited to be planning this year’s Gatsby-themed gala for such a tremendous and important organization in our community,” Pride-Fahs said.

If interested in sponsorship or volunteer opportunities for the gala contact Cassidy at SYFS at 508-845-6932 or Pride-Fahs at 508-948-5656. Tickets are $100 each and will be available for purchase soon online, by phone or mail.

Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services Inc., a 501c3 private, nonprofit community social services agency, provides professional support and social services to children, parents and individuals in times of need, regardless of their ability to pay. For more information visit www.syfs-ma.org.