College Hype, VERC Enterprises and Ross Common Quilts team up to raise funds for Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation

CONTACT: Jim Farrell, PR First, 781-681-6616, jfarrell@prfirst.com

College Hype, VERC Enterprises and Ross Common Quilts team up together to raise $2,500 for Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation

DORCHESTER, MA, ISSUED JUNE 3, 2014…College Hype, a Dorchester-based company providing quality custom apparel and school uniforms since 1987, teamed up with VERC Enterprises, the L Street Running Club, and Ross Common Quilts to raise more than $2,500 for the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation.

Eight year old Martin Richard died as a result of the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15, 2013.  Martin’s parents, Bill and Denise Richard determined it was fitting that the foundation should honor Martin’s message of peace by investing in education, athletics and community. An inaugural team of 100 runners named Team MR8 raised awareness as ambassadors running in this year’s Boston Marathon on April 21st. The new fund, established by the Richard family, is to honor their son’s message “No more hurting people – Peace.”

College Hype had raised funds for the family last year, and built on those fundraising efforts in 2014 by donating proceeds from the sale of their “Dorchester Strong” and “Boston Strong” T-shirt lines, as well as raffling off two handsome quilts bearing the words “Boston Strong” and “Dorchester Strong.” The quilts were donated by Jack Cunningham of Ross Common Quilts, Dorchester, and College Hype, and were auctioned recently.

Winners included Kevin McDonough, winner of the Boston Strong Quilt; and Timothy O’Steen, originally from Dorchester but now of Smyrna, GA, winner of the Dorchester Strong Quilt. The first quilt was created with “Dorchester Strong” T-shirts, and the second quilt was made from “Boston Strong” shirts. The drawing took place after Dorchester Day.

College Hype President Jack Doherty is a member of the L Street Running Club, which also assisted in the effort to raise funds by selling raffle tickets for the quilts and with other financial contributions. VERC Enterprises Vice President Paul Vercollone provided space at their Dorchester location to sell shirts from their VERC Neponset Gulf & Dunkin Donuts, located at 719 Gallivan Boulevard, Dorchester, MA, and the company contributed to the fund additionally.

Jack Doherty, President of College Hype, said, “Dorchester Days has always been an opportunity for people to come together. I am pleased that we were able to team up with some strong area businesses, including Paul Vercollone of VERC Enterprises, Jack Cunningham of Ross Common Quilts, and our friends at the L Street Running Club to help the Martin Richard Fund along.” He said, “The Richard family serves as an inspiration to all of us and Martin’s message of Peace has touched people all across the globe. As members of the community we are honored to be able to contribute to this wonderful cause in some small way, and these two quilts capture the spirit of our community.”

About College Hype

Since 1987, College Hype Custom Screen Printing and Embroidery has worked with many organizations as a full-service apparel partner, providing quality, customized apparel and uniforms. College Hype markets through a retail store, and an online catalog (www.collegehype.com).   In addition, the company offers a large variety of apparel lines exclusive to College Hype.  College Hype also operates a walk-in, retail store at its Dorchester location, at 540 Gallivan Boulevard. For additional information, please visit www.collegehype.com or call 888-983-3625.