There are a lot of good people in the WPI community. Even great ones. And two who have devoted much of their time and efforts toward ending, and educating about sexual assault and domestic violence were recognized by Worcester’s YWCA Daybreak for their efforts.
Zachary Gendreau ’14, now a graduate student, and Matthew Barry, a mental health counselor at WPI’s Student Development and Counseling Center, were recognized at the annual YWCA Daybreak Breakfast with its “Great Guys Award.” Monday’s program at Holy Cross, was titled “Working Together: Engaging Men to End Violence Against Women.”
The awards were presented by Anna Maria professor and former prosecutor Michael Donnelly, co-chair of the Daybreak Standing Committee. Also receiving the Great Guy award was Worcester police detective George Adams.
The purpose of the annual Daybreak breakfast is to applaud the efforts of those in the community who work to stop domestic violence and to place domestic violence issues in the spotlight in October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Daybreak is a service provided by the YWCA that lends support to those who are adversely affected by domestic violence.
“One of the great things Daybreak has done is recognizing the bonds between all of us,” Donnelly said before naming the award winners. “They cut across economic class, and they also cut across gender. And the question of men as allies in this work is crucial. And so, this is a small step but, I think, an important step in recognizing them (the awardees).”
