"Have Fun"
JOHN WELCH PRODUCTIONS
WHO WE ARE
In order for everyone to understand the importance and goal of this fund, we must first establish who John Welch was and what he stood for.
John devoted his life to his community. He was a teacher in Somerville, MA for 37 years, worked for the Boston Red Sox for 41 years, and was part of the facilities management at LoConte Rink in Medford, MA during the baseball off-season. Not only did he work multiple jobs at once, John was devoted to the Catholic Church; always willing to lend a hand when help was needed.
Whether it was in school or sports, John always believed that it was not about being the best but rather trying your best; as long as you tried your best, everything was going to work out and be okay. John did not only ensure his children, nieces and nephews followed this ideology, but his students as well. Whatever advice or principles John instilled on his family, he did the same with his students.
Winter Hill Community Innovation School, in Somerville, MA, was where he spent his entire teaching career. John was consistent in wanting his students to have different experiences to help them develop and grow, just as he did with his family. John would plan a trip to New York City at the end of the school year for the 8th grade students at Winter Hill; these trips were always something he looked forward to each year. During these trips, John made sure to bring his students to places he felt they may never get to see; he wanted to make sure these trips were something his students would never forget. Whether it was touring Yankee Stadium, going to the top of the Empire State Building, or traveling to Ellis Island, John always made sure his students had the times of their lives.
The mission of this fund, is to continue John’s legacy by providing the students of the Winter Hill Community Innovation School with experiences they may not be able to obtain otherwise. John always felt that experiencing new things would help you grow as a person and succeed in life. The John Welch Productions Fund achieves our mission by working with Winter Hill Community Innovation School administrators to identify students that would truly benefit from a unique experience. The fund, through donations, covers the cost of the experience, so that families do not have a financial burden. One of John Welch’s famous quotes was “Have Fun” and this is exactly what we are hoping to carry on throughout the years for the students of Winter Hill Community Innovation School.
NEWS & VIEWS
Latest Stories
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April 4, 2022
Hello to all our wonderful family and friends!
It's been a crazy few years -
As the days are getting a little brighter, we're asking for your support to keep John's memory alive. John showed us how to love, be kind, and never forget our roots. He always wanted to make sure children, in particular those at the Winter Hill Community Innovation School, got to experience as much as possible.
For us to continue John's legacy, we are asking for your help to build the John Welch Productions Foundation.
John always loved a good t-shirt, with a great story, so we decided to start a t-shirt fundraising campaign. Please consider purchasing a t-shirt to keep John's love for a great story alive, while contributing to his foundation: https://www.bonfire.com/john-welch-productions-t-shirt/
Thank you for all your love and support throughout the years!
Stay Well. Stay Healthy.
Keep Smiling ~
With Love,
The Welch Family
THE JOY OF GIVING
December 6, 2020
Hello everyone,
I'd like to send you all a message of love and appreciation for helping to keep John's legacy alive through John Welch Productions.
As we reflect on this year, we realize how truly blessed we are to have each other- it's a wonderful gift.
John always wanted us to stay in tune to what we believe in and take care of those who need it most. Due to your generosity, we were able to make a $5,000 donation to Winter Hill School to help support families in need during this holiday season. When Winter Hill received this donation, they said it was sent by angels- you're all angels.
Hopefully we will be able to have another successful John Welch Productions fundraiser soon but until then, stay safe and have a beautiful holiday season.
With love,
Mary Welch
NAVIGATING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK
July 29, 2020
2020 has been quite a year. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused large disruptions and changes in how we live, work, learn, and connect. As this situation has progressed, we have learned to adapt and cherish the many activities and moments we once took for granted. And while some of us have been able to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, others have faced an insurmountable challenges in providing their families with basic and fundamental support.
That is why in late march, we decided that although our mission was to provide experiences, we had to make an accommodation, considering the unprecedented situation. We coordinated with school officials and determined that about 45 families were having serious issues with food insecurity. We decided that we would donate $6,750, to provide each family with a $150 a gift card to a local grocery store. The school and families were so grateful for the donation and we know John is looking down knowing that his mantra “anything for the kids” is being achieved through us.
We also are postponing our annual fundraiser to next year, assuming the COVID-19 pandemic is effectively over. We are continuing to support the school with additional needs during this time. If you would like to support our fund, please click the link below to donate. We sincerely appreciate any donation you can make at this time. Please stay health and safe. Thank you.
Sincerely,
The Welch Family
OUR FIRST ANNUAL FUNDRAISER WAS A SUCCESS!
October 24, 2019
The John Welch Productions first annual fundraiser was a success! We had over 250 people in attendance, celebrating John’s life, legacy, and commitment to the Winter Hill Community Innovation School in Somerville, MA. On behalf of our family, and the John Welch Productions Fund, we would like to express our deepest appreciation for your generosity and support at our kick off fundraiser! We were able to raise a great amount of money for the kids at Winter Hill Community Innovation School. We are hoping to continue sharing John’s legacy through this foundation for many more years to come!
JOHNNY WELCH HONORED TO REMEMBER LATE FATHER, FACE ROGER CLEMENS AT OLDTIME BASEBALL GAME
WELCH’S DAD DIED AFTER BATTLE WITH ALS IN DECEMBER
August 12, 2019
Steve Hewitt from The Boston Herald discusses the recent Oldtime Baseball game in honor of John Welch, with John's son Johnny invited to play in the game. Red Sox legend Roger Clemens pitched the game.
CAMP HAWKEYE STUDENT SPONSORSHIP
June 1, 2019
This summer, The John Welch Productions Fund sent two students from the Winter Hill Community Innovation School to Camp Hawkeye located in Moultonborough, NH. Camp Hawkeye's mission "is to bring together a diverse community of individuals that include campers and staff from a variety of geographic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds" with the goal of bridging gaps in social, economic, and cultural areas. Camp Hawkeye helps campers to build positive relationships and deep mutual understanding.
Source: http://camphawkeye.com/About/Mission.
FORMER FENWAY EMPLOYEE WITH ALS DREAMS OF WORLD SERIES WIN
October 23, 2018
The players on the field get all the glory, but there are plenty of people behind the scenes at Fenway Park, like John Welch, who have contributed to helping the Red Sox make the World Series. Welch started working for the Red Sox in 1978 when he was in college. Then in 2016, his worst fears were confirmed when he was diagnosed with ALS. But baseball has been his therapy and this World Series is a gift. While Welch had to leave his job at Fenway in May, he remains very close with the staff at the ballpark.
Source: Published Tuesday, Oct 23, 2018 | Credit: Jackie Bruno
“Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”