MassBay Foundation Board Members to Participate in the Ride for Food, Supporting MassBay’s Student Hunger Assistance Fund

MassBay Community College Foundation Board Member, Chris Teachout (photo on left) poses after Ragnar Reach the Beach Run and Foundation Board Member Becky Kannam (third from left) poses with fellow riders. Photo courtesy Chris Teachout and Becky Kannam.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (September 25, 2025) – Two MassBay Community College Foundation Board members, Becky Kannam of Wellesley, MA and Chris Teachout of Medfield, MA, will take part in the Ride for Food to raise funds for the MassBay Student Hunger Assistance Fund.

The Ride for Food, organized by the nonprofit Three Squares New England, is an annual biking and walking fundraiser that benefits local organizations addressing food insecurity. This year’s event will be held on Sunday, October 5, 2025, from 7:30 a.m.– 1:30 p.m., at the Noble and Greenough School in Dedham.

“I joined MassBay’s food insecurity committee (Student Nourishment and Care Committee) because I believe in the mission – and the people behind it,” said MassBay Foundation Board Member and team leader Becky Kannam. “Now, I’m leading our team in the Ride for Food because I know how hard it is to focus when you’re hungry. Riding is something I love, and it’s a powerful way to raise awareness and funds for food scholarships and snack programs that help students stay nourished and succeed.”

The Foundation Board’s goal is to raise $10,000, with all proceeds benefiting the Student Hunger Assistance Fund. The fund supports students facing food insecurity through a variety of initiatives including providing free nutritious snacks on MassBay campuses and awarding grocery gift cards to students through an application process each semester. Food insecurity is a critical barrier to learning and MassBay is committed to ensuring students don’t have to choose between hunger and their education.

One anonymous MassBay student shared, “As a single parent, affording enough food for my family has been a constant struggle – I do everything I can to provide nutritious meals for my children, but the rising cost of groceries forces difficult trade-offs. Balancing food with rent, utilities, and school expenses creates daily stress and uncertainty.”

The Foundation Board welcomes people to join the MassBay Ride for Food team or make a donation to help MassBay students at https://ride.threesquaresne.org/team/665001

The MassBay Foundation Board is a volunteer group dedicated to advancing the college’s mission of academic excellence and student achievement through fundraising, endowment growth, and strategic partnerships. The Board supports students by awarding scholarships, building community connections, and ensuring MassBay’s long-term financial stability. Howard Ferris of Marlborough, MA is the newly appointed Board Chair. His two-year term started July 1, 2025.

To learn more about the Ride for Food or to donate, visit: www.massbay.edu/event/ride-for-food/2025-10-5.

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston and is free to most Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree. With more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs, along with comprehensive workforce and educational training, MassBay provides a wide range of courses with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Wellesley, Framingham, the Automotive Technology Center in Ashland, and online, in high-demand fields including health and life sciences, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, business, and the humanities. MassBay students receive unparalleled value, with free one-on-one academic and social support services, compassionate and experienced faculty, and stackable credits that easily transfer to bachelor’s degree programs and that provide hands-on, workforce-ready skills. Health sciences, human services, early childhood education, and many general education programs are offered at the 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art MassBay Framingham, which has served the community since January 2024. Founded in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by multiple governing bodies and remains dedicated to serving its diverse communities, fostering inclusiveness, and advancing equity for all.