Richard Patton Melick Foundation Award winner Polly Attridge with her daughter, Jody.
At the recent Special Town Meeting, the Richard Patton Melick Foundation announced that it is winding down after 25 years. The Melick Foundation was created in 1997 to honor Dick Melick, an extraordinary community leader in Needham, who served as town moderator for 35 years. Since 1997, when Dick Melick retired as town moderator, the Foundation continued to recognize outstanding volunteers and to promote good citizenship.
The Foundation presented The Melick Award to 59 well-deserving individuals for their exemplary community service. Paul and Polly Attridge were the recipients for this Town Meeting.
The Foundation recognized 75 town meeting members for their 25 years or more of service to town meeting. The Melick Foundation established a scholarship for a graduating Needham High School senior, first at $1,000 then increasing to $2,500. The Melick scholarship was awarded to 12 outstanding seniors. This year’s scholarship was awarded to Michael Fanning, who will be attending Wheaton College in the fall.
The Foundation has also supported the Needham High Speech and Debate Club and National History Day.
The Melick Foundation extended a deep appreciation to each of the original founders and former directors. Their many contributions were the platform for the Melick Foundation over the past 25 years. The Melick Foundation also offered its sincere gratitude to its benefactors, patrons, sponsors, and friends, who have supported its mission, and to town meeting, the moderator, the select board, the town manager, the town clerk and many others since its inception.
