PEABODY — Bertolino Foods partnered with Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island to host a surprise send-off celebration Wednesday afternoon for Peabody 3-year-old Vincent “Vinny” Marino, who is celebrating being one year cancer free.
For his wish, Vinny is going to Rocking Horse Ranch in New York’s Hudson Valley later this month. Vinny’s wish will be fulfilled by Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which grants life-changing wishes for local children with critical illnesses.
According to Maddie Delande, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island wish program coordinator, there will be many activities for Vinny to choose from at Rocking Horse Ranch.
“He gets to do a lot of horseback riding,” she said. “There’s also a huge water park with water activities, slides, I think splash pads, fun things like that, tons of games, activities, sports — anything he really wants to do.”
Vinny loves animals and farms, and he is especially excited to ride a horse on his wish trip. Vinny’s mom Shelby Flaherty said Vinny has “literally been obsessed with farm animals his entire existence.”
Because of this, Bertolino Foods not only ensured the party was farm themed with some cowboy and ranch elements, but they also had a four-legged guest appearance.
At Wednesday’s celebration, Vinny met Peppy, Bertolino Foods Nighttime Warehouse Supervisor Kevin Hios’s 25-year-old horse. Vinny’s excitement was off the charts when he was feeding Peppy carrots.
“It just means a lot,” Flaherty said. “I think he’s special, obviously, but seeing how everybody else makes him feel special warms my heart. I love seeing him loved by so many people, and he deserves it.”
Vinny is sweet, social and “loves life,” according to one of his Make-A-Wish volunteers. His favorite book is “Little Blue Truck,” and his favorite song is “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” In addition to animals and farms, Vinny loves gymnastics, camping, swimming and biking.
Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island CEO Sean Holleran said seeing kids get their wishes, be celebrated and have some fun “is the testament that there’s good in the world.”
He continued, “It’s everywhere. What you see today is a family that’s on a journey that they don’t have any control over. And if we could inject happiness into their life at any moment — in terms of their wish journey — and replace the fear and loneliness that comes with the family that has been struggling with a life-threatening illness, it’s a beautiful thing.”
Holleran added that Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island is granting 120 wishes this summer.
During the celebration, the Bertolino Foods team prepared a lunch featuring their high-quality meats in the state-of-the-art kitchen at their facility in Peabody.
Since 2021, Bertolino Foods has supported Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island through wish celebrations, volunteer opportunities, event sponsorships and more. To date, Bertolino Foods and its staff have donated more than $100,000 to support local wish granting.
VP of Sales Michael Bertolino has run two Boston Marathons to raise money and awareness for Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. “I mean, who wouldn’t get behind helping kids out, right?” he said, adding that “it’s a real easy thing to get behind and get the company behind.”
Bertolino Foods CEO Leo Bertolino said he was “grateful” to be part of Vinny’s celebration. He said he learned about Make-A-Wish over 25 years ago, and he knew from that first introduction that he would like to be involved with the organization someday.
He added that it’s an “honor” and a “privilege” to work alongside Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
“The partnership with Make-A-Wish is just near and dear to my heart,” Leo Bertolino said. “When we moved here from Boston up to Peabody, one of the first things (we thought) was we have to give back to the community.”
He added, “To be involved with them makes us feel really proud and special for the work that they do. I love what they do.”
Staff at Bertolino Foods send well-wishes to Vinny Marino, of Peabody, as he celebrates one year of being cancer-free by taking a Make-A-Wish trip to Rocking Horse Ranch.
Decorations celebrate the one-year anniversary of Vinny Marino, of Peabody, being cancer-free at Bertolino Foods in Peabody.
Shelby Flaherty carries her son, Vinny Marino, around the surprise farm-themed Make-A-Wish send-off party thrown for him at Bertolino Foods in Peabody on Wednesday.
Vinny Marino, of Peabody, plays a farm-themed game with his dad, Eddie, during the surprise party thrown for him to celebrate one year of being cancer free.
Vinny Marino, of Peabody, gets in the spirit of his farm-themed Make-A-Wish party at Bertolino Foods by putting on a cowboy hat.
Vinny Marino, of Peabody, is overjoyed to meet Peppy the horse during his Make-A-Wish party at Bertolino Foods celebrating one year of Vinny being cancer free and his upcoming Make-A-Wish trip to Rocking Horse Ranch.
Vinny Marino, of Peabody, gets to sit in the front seat of a Bertolino Foods truck during his Make-A-Wish send-off party.
