During a trip to New York City before the pandemic, a group of Springfield students got the surprise of a lifetime when they were taken backstage before a Broadway show to meet actor Tom Hanks. The Academy Award winner posed for photos with them and spent an hour talking to them about show business.
That visit was made possible thanks to the longtime friendship between director and producer David Horgan and actor Peter Scolari.
“I directed Peter in a movie years ago, and we just struck up a friendship,” remembered Horgan this week.
Horgan donated $100 to the 99th annual Toy for Joy campaign in honor of Scolari, who died in October after a long battle with cancer.
The Salvation Army collaborates with The Republican, El Pueblo Latino and MassLive to present the annual Toy for Joy campaign. The goal is to raise $150,000 by Christmas Eve. This year, the campaign is joined by media partners at Reminders Publishing and The Westfield News. The charitable campaign provides books and gifts to children in need in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.
Pride Stores and Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas J. Cocchi are among the community partners supporting this year’s effort. This marks Cocchi’s third year of assisting the holiday drive, while Pride Stores has been rallying its customers to support the effort for many years. Last year, Pride Stores donated $17,000 to the cause.
Horgan, who has been running a media program for students in Springfield for nearly a decade, said Scolari met with many of the teens both in Springfield and when students took trips to New York City.
“I just decided one year to call and ask him if he would be willing to talk to students about what it’s like being a working actor, and you’re used to getting a response like, ‘Oh, you have to check with my agent’ or, ‘My schedule is pretty busy,’ but not Peter,” Horgan said. “He always accepted, and I never had to compensate him for any of it. He just enjoyed meeting with them.”
Scolari, known for his roles on TV sitcoms including “Newhart,” “Bosom Buddies” and “Girls,” died on Oct. 22 at age 66 after battling cancer for two years.
“I had known for a while that he was sick, but you can’t talk to any friends about it because then the media finds out, so it was very difficult,” Horgan said.
Horgan’s media program started eight years ago in Springfield and gives students interested in the arts an opportunity to learn about film and music production through a free, immersive program.
“These are students who would otherwise not have the access or the opportunity to learn about the business, and Peter understood that,” Horgan said. “He would talk to the kids and tell them if you fall down seven times, you get up eight. He would tell them that it was a business of working hard and being able to face rejection. It was just real, good, honest advice.”
While many people will remember Scolari for his acting abilities, Horgan will always remember him for his kindness.
“He was so generous with his time and his knowledge and I just don’t think people knew how much of a humanitarian he was,” Horgan said. “He was an incredible person.”
Today’s contribution list also includes a $1,000 donation from the Phelon family in honor of Mary Phelon, of Westfield. She was a beloved sister and aunt who loved Christmas and giving gifts to her nieces and nephews. She died in 2018 at 68.
Last year her younger brother John “Jack” Phelon decided to do something special in her honor. He approached his family and asked if he could use the money he would normally spend on their presents to donate to Toy for Joy. His children quickly agreed. The family has chosen to donate again this year.
Donations, which are chronicled daily in The Republican and on MassLive, go directly to cover the costs of toys and books already purchased for the children.
Each child will receive a book, a toy and a game or game-type toy. Donations can be mailed with the attached coupon to The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103, or made online at SalvationArmyMA.org/ToyForJoyDonation.
Here is a list of the latest contributions:
In honor of Tristan Gaudette. Happy birthday to a special guy $25
In memory of Edwin and Nancy Shea $1,000
In memory of Joseph Caldwell $50
Merry Christmas from Robert $20
All children deserve a gift on Christmas $100
Anonymous $100
Anonymous $25
In memory of our parents from Michael and Marianne $100
In memory of TR Despard $20
In memory of those friends who have passed away Frank, Karl, and Bobby. $100
Richard $100
Kerry $25
God bless the children. Rest in peace Peter Scolari from David $100
Merry Christmas to all from Ann and Bruce $100
In memory of Eileen Stewart $100
Heidi and Andy $100
In memory of America, Helen and Karen Bruschi $25
Reynaldo $100
From the Phelon family in memory of Mary Phelon $1,000
Sandra $50
Richard $50
In memory of Maurice W. and Marion Melius Dickey $250
In memory of Jean Caldwell $50
Received $3,590
Total to date $12,460
Still needed $137,540
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