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Long-serving community volunteer Raymond LaFond of Gardner will be recognized with Mount Wachusett Community College’s 2013 Service Above Self Award. LaFond, senior vice president for commercial lending and business development at Lowell-based Enterprise Bank, will be honored during the college’s 48th Commencement on May 16.
The Service Above Self Awards recognize those who have made significant contributions to the 29 cities and towns that make up the college’s service area.
“Volunteerism is a way of life for Raymond LaFond. His generosity of spirit has enriched our region in many capacities and we are proud to honor him this year with Mount Wachusett Community College’s Service Above Self Award for his abiding commitment to serving others,” said MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino.
LaFond has volunteered in the community in many capacities, including as chairman of the Gardner Zoning Board of Appeals since 1980, as a former member of MWCC’s Board of Trustees, and as a current member of the MWCC Foundation board of directors. In addition, he is chair of the audit committee for the United Way of North Central Massachusetts, and previously chaired the major gifts division, served on the chairman’s advisory council, and performed agency visits for proposal requests and other various assignments.
For many years, LaFond has served as a trustee for the Angela M. Zampogna Scholarship benefiting graduating Gardner High School students, and has served on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster, on the Johnny Appleseed Festival committee, and as a youth softball coach and umpire for more than 20 years.
“I’m honored to receive this award. I really believe in helping where I can to make life better for everybody,” LaFond said. “I volunteer because I love doing it, and I see a benefit to doing it.”
LaFond, who fondly recalls pumping gas for founding MWCC President Arthur F. Haley, said he is proud of his long affiliation with the college as a trustee, and now as a member of its foundation board. “Mount Wachusett Community College has always been at the forefront in terms of academics, serving veterans, civic engagement and renewable energy. “President Haley laid the groundwork and the college has gone on to great things under President Asquino. I have always been proud to be connected to the school because of all it has done for the students and residents of our region.”
A veteran of the U.S. Army, LaFond earned bachelor’s degree in business administration from Clark University, and a master’s of business administration from Anna Maria College. He has held leadership positions in a number of banks throughout his career, including Enterprise Bank since 2001, as well as past positions at the Bank of New England, Fleet National Bank and Sovereign Bank.
He and his wife, Linda, also a Gardner native, are the parents of three daughters, Jennifer, Karen and Stephanie, and have three grandchildren.