WGGB: 70 Years - supporting and serving the community

(WGGB/WSHM) -- Over the last seven decades, we’ve served the latest news, weather, and sports information to our viewers, but just as important is serving our community.

WGGB’s commitment to the western Massachusetts community has been seen in many ways in the last 70 years. From the traditional to the not-so-traditional ways, we have worked to improve the region where we live.

Over the last seven decades, ABC40 has hosted telethons, relief drives, and even Halloween trick-or-treating events - all in the name of bringing western Massachusetts together. In recent years, we have only ramped up our help for others including a drive for the people of Ukraine following the Russian invasion:

“It’s the right thing to do. We had the stuff packed, we packed it yesterday, and we figured we’d just bring it over. If we find more stuff, we’ll bring over more,” said Raymond Hopfe of South Hadley.

Just this year, ABC40 employees voted to make Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center our station charity for 2023. We’ve worked to help our viewers understand more about what TJO does and each week, we’re featuring adoptable pets.

We also have a renewed partnership with Make-a-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. As their official media partner, we helped the organization raise more than $200,000 with their annual ‘Swish Night’ event.

“We get to grant life changing wishes to children and families who have critical illnesses at time where they may feel alone there’s uncertainty in their lives and we get to tell them there’s an entire community that’s wrapping them in a big hug,” said Sean Holleran, CEO of Make-a-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Sometimes, it’s just about community involvement. Each year, ABC40 and our Western Mass News team are happy to serve up pancakes at the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, as well as March in annual parades, including the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade.

Our commitment to serving the community has spanned the past 70 years and we look forward to the next 70 years.

Copyright 2023. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.