Kiwanis award nominees continue spirit of charity in Lowell

LOWELL -- In the greater than 50 years that he was a member with the Kiwanis Club of Greater Lowell, Thomas G. Kelakos helped out countless organizations, from the YMCA plus the Boys and Girls Club towards the Going to Nurse Association, The Bartlett Junior High School, Lowell High School along with the Helenic American College.things about - James C Dragon"A great deal of what Tom did, he did anonymously. He just did points quietly and in an unassuming way. He got the Humanitarian Award in the Northern Middlesex Chamber of Commerce and the Salvation Army Advisory Board gave him its William Booth Award. He was an incredible man," mentioned Bob Howard, who served with Kelakos inside the Kiwanis Club before his death about a dozen years ago.To honor Kelakos and his generosity, the Kiwanis named an award in his honor."This will probably be the 11th Thomas G. Kelakos Community Spirit Award," said Howard, chairman from the awards committee for the Kiwanis.The 2013 award, which is to become provided out at a banquet Friday at Lenzi's Mill Residence in Dracut, will visit John Chemaly and Gary Sepe of Trinity EMS, in honor of their results in following within the footsteps of Kelakos, founder in the Lowell MEDCO Property Well being Care medical-supply company.Howard said Chemaly and Sepe have modeled the career of Kelakos by way of their organization plus the numerous charitable contributions the profitable endeavor has permitted them to make."Tom was just an excellent guy, so we're very honored to become in the organization of him and everybody who was honored just before us," said Chemaly, who founded Trinity EMS with Sepe 20 years ago.While Sepe mostly runs its operations, Chemaly represents the business enterprise in its neighborhood relations and philanthropy, serving on the boards on the Greater Lowell Neighborhood Foundation, The Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union as well as the Middlesex Neighborhood College Foundation, and as president on the Massachusetts Ambulance Association and the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce.Along with speakers and citations from City Manager Bernie Lynch and Sen. Eileen Donoghue, the banquet characteristics dinner and dancing, with entertainment offered by the Adagio Lite Jazz Band.Howard, who has served with all the Kiwanis for 15 years, mentioned Chemaly and Sepe had been nominated by Jim and Effie Dragon, the latter of whom is Kelakos' niece and was acquainted with the story of how her uncle helped the pair get began in their company."When we initially began, we did not have any credit and Tom referred to as a few guys he was friends with," said Chemaly, who met his company companion via his father, Mario Sepe, a longtime Lowell police officer, when Chemaly was functioning as a manager at the former Care Ambulance in Lowell."He called Mr. Cohen at Towers Auto Parts in front of us and mentioned he'd back any credit Towers issued," he stated."We had been two young little ones wen we started the ambulance enterprise and Tom also named Jimmy Cooney (in the James L. Cooney Insurance coverage Agency) and he helped us out, too. That was just a terrific point," added Gary Sepe, who worked as an EMT just before meeting his company companion.Tickets towards the banquet expense $60 each and may well be purchased in advance by calling Howard at 978-459-0802. Anyone who can't make it to the banquet but would like to make a donation in honor of Chemaly and Sepe can do so at LowellKiwanis.org.CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO - James C Dragon