SAUGUS — Furtado Management, owner of four Dunkin’ locations on the North Shore, has donated $1,000 to the World Series Park Lighting Fund.
World Series Park is in the midst of a year-long fundraiser to raise money to install lights at the field this spring. Park superintendent Bob Davis said lights will complete the field by allowing it to offer night games and prevent games from being stopped mid-match at nightfall.
Dunkin’s donation was announced Friday during a grant reopening ceremony of its newly-renovated Broadway location.
“We support World Series Park because it provides a place for the community to gather, be outside, and be active, promoting better health and wellbeing,” said Dunkin’ co-owner Christopher Furtado. “We also want to thank the Saugus community for supporting our family-owned business. Without their loyalty and patronage, we would not have made it through some challenging times, (and) we look forward to partnering with the Saugus community to build a better future.”
Changes at the store are meant to reflect the “next-gen” look of the Dunkin’ brand, which changed its name from “Dunkin’ Donuts” to simply “Dunkin’” in September 2018.
“We very much appreciate this donation to our lighting fund,” Davis said. “Their longtime and ongoing support has been invaluable.”
The Furtado family has been a consistent supporter of the park over the years, with Davis noting the family made large donations when the field was first opened in 2004, and again when the park’s first lighting fund kicked off in 2011.
“The restaurant has been totally remodeled and looks clean and modern,” said selectwoman Debra Panetta, who attended the event with Board of Selectmen vice chair Corinne Riley. “I wish the owners and employees good fortune with their beautiful new cafe. I’m sure my family and I will continue to frequent this Dunks often. I do love Dunkin’ Donut coffee.”
She also thanked Furtado and his family for their donation, and added: “Bob Davis and his family have done a beautiful job creating and maintaining World Series Park over the years, so this donation will definitely go to good use,” she said.
Those who donate $100 or more will have their name included on the permanent World Series Park Lighting Fund plaque, which will be installed on the third base dugout.
Donations to the lighting fund can be made by visiting the World Series Park website at worldseriespark.net and clicking on the GoFundMe button in the upper right hand corner of the page.
To donate by mail, checks should be made payable to World Series Park and sent to World Series Park at 8 Holden Ave., Saugus, MA, 01906. Donors should indicate that the check is for the lighting fund.
