H. Carter Hunt Volunteer of the Year • Elizabeth Casello We are pleased to recognize Elizabeth Casello for her outstanding contributions to The Hanover Theatre’s volunteer program. Elizabeth has been volunteering with us since the fall of 2011 and has contributed over 1,000 hours of volunteer service. In addition to volunteering as an event volunteer she loves sharing the history of the theatre as a docent tour guide, leading her fellow volunteers as a dedicated volunteer team leader, and a loving member of the volunteer social committee. Elizabeth truly believes in the power of volunteering and creating a truly unique experience for our patrons. Her outstanding customer service to our patrons, her genuine love and dedication to her fellow volunteers, and her loveable personality are unmatched. Elizabeth believes that the theatre has been an asset to the city, a stepping stone for further developing and growing the city of Worcester. She is proud to be a part of the theatre and we are proud to have her as a volunteer.
Photo Charlene Barron.
Our Vital Volunteers
The theatre volunteers play an integral part with the front-of-house team during shows and performances, as well as leading historic and architectural tours and supporting the theatre’s administrative departments with ongoing clerical and management needs. From July 2019 through June 2020, over 300 individual volunteers donated over 19,439 hours of service to the theatre. The current Massachusetts volunteer equivalency rate is $32.15. This means that The Hanover Theatre volunteers donated over $624,964 dollars of in-kind service this season. Since 2008, The Hanover Theatre volunteers have donated over 275,652 hours of service to the theatre. At today’s Massachusetts volunteer equivalency rate that translates to over $8.5 million of in-kind services over the past 12 years.
Before volunteering with the theatre, Elizabeth taught for 40 years in different capacities including kindergarten, 1st grade and 4th grade with the Worcester Public Schools, Auburn Public Schools and the Tom Thumb nursery school. She continued to substitute teach until the pandemic in March. Currently she is tutoring a first grade student in Shrewsbury. Elizabeth also volunteers for Preservation Worcester, Worcester Historical Museum, Abby’s House, the Manhattan Film Festival and REAM. Elizabeth Casello epitomizes the role of a caring, positive, and outgoing volunteer with a constant passion for everyone at the theatre. We are so thankful to have such a charismatic individual on our team. Her desire to help everyone she meets truly exemplifies the admirable qualities of our outstanding volunteer staff.
In Memoriam We fondly remember volunteer, Kristen Boosahda, who passed away in April 2020. Kristen began volunteering with the theatre in the fall of 2011 and was quickly recognized as a dedicated and passionate individual with a caring personality and loving heart. She will be greatly missed.
The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Team Founder and Technical Consultant, Don Phipps Curator, Bruce Hager Assistant Curator, Jon Anderson Team member, Len Beyersdorfer In Memoriam We fondly remember Don Peterson, a devoted member of The Hanover Theatre’s Wurlitzer Organ Team, who passed away in September of 2020.
28 • Resiliency Meets Creativity • TheHanoverTheatre.org
This team provides exemplary service in maintaining the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, our treasured musical instrument. They take excellent care of the organ, so it always sounds its best, especially during our silent movies and our annual production of A Christmas Carol.