Events

Mode Andover is excited to prepare for our 3rd Annual Whoville Event at MODE Andover, located at One Dundee Park, Building One, Suite 6. This heartwarming event is a favorite among our volunteers and brings joy to every child who participates. We transform kids into little citizens of Whoville with wardrobe, hair, nails, and face painting. The day is filled with actors, a DJ, and plenty of holiday cheer, culminating in the Andover Santa Parade.

This enchanting event celebrates the spirit of Whoville, offering children and families an immersive experience filled with makeovers, movie screenings, a DIY hot cocoa bar, and more. As our event's popularity has grown, so has the opportunity to make a significant impact on our community.  

We are excited to announce that this year's Whobilation will continue its tradition of giving back to our community heroes. A portion of the proceeds from Whobilation will be donated to the Andover Firefighter's Relief Foundation. Your support will contribute to the wellbeing of those who tirelessly serve our community and ensure that their dedication is recognized and appreciated.

My name is Kristina Ploof and I am the Volunteer Recruiter for an amazing mentoring program called "Big Friends Little Friends". Similar to the "Big Brother Big Sister" model, this is a community-based program where mentors dedicate at least two hours a month to spend time with a young kid in our community. After being screened it, trained, and interviewed, our mentors are matched with a mentee who we think would be a great fit for them. As a student pursuing a master's degree in social work, I can't speak highly enough about this program and the benefits it has for children in need. Programs like ours make sure that kids are avoiding risky behaviors and, instead, feel motivated to excel in their lives. I look forward to connecting with you all about our program and am hopeful that some of you will join us in this great opportunity to give back to our Merrimack Valley community!

With over 30 years of experience as a business owner and consultant, combined with a 20-year teaching career as an Adjunct Professor of Business at Suffolk University (Boston), John has developed a deep and practical understanding of the financial, marketing, sales, operations, and human challenges that organizations face today.  

John is known for his unique ability to quickly assess an organization’s needs and work closely with leaders to implement strategic, tactical, and leadership initiatives that drive real results. His approach is rooted in both academic rigor and hands-on experience, earning him the nickname “prac-ademic.”  

John’s boundless energy and passion for excellence shine through in every interaction. He’s helped hundreds of individuals, teams, and organizations thrive in their industries by delivering insights with depth, clarity, and a people-centric, data-driven approach that consistently achieves desired outcomes.

John offers one-on-one and group coaching programs specifically designed for CEOs and business owners of small to medium-sized companies and non-profit organizations, guiding them toward success and sustainable growth

John Bottei is a Community Sponsorship and Engagement Specialist at Catholic Charities of Boston. He earned a Bachelor's degree in International Studies from Boston College with a concentration in Ethics and Social Justice. In his current role in the Refugee and Immigrant Services division, he connects community organizations and communities of faith with families served by the agency in eastern Massachusetts. These community sponsorship groups partner with Catholic Charities to provide companionship and support for a family in the transition to their new community, giving members an opportunity to empower the family as they move towards self-sufficiency. John is committed to accompanying those who are most in need in his community, and he strives to do so through his work. 

Vin was an Andover resident for over 30 years before moving to Salem, New Hampshire last May. He is
widowed and has 3 children from 23 to 29 including the current JV basketball coach at Andover High
(John), a doctor in physical therapy (Emily) and a recent graduate of Endicott College (Alex).

After a successful career in corporate America, Vin decided to combine two of his favorite hobbies –
trivia and music to form his current company Trivia and Tunes. He designs and hosts trivia games made
specifically for his audience with musical clues. His primary audience consists of senior centers and
residences and he has hosted games for fundraisers, private parties, corporate events, organizations and
schools. His most memorable game was a baseball opening day trivia game for Dana Farber fundraisers
for over 200 people. This game was part of an on-line event highlighted by a Tim Wakefield Q and A
session. People love his game as witnessed by his 99.8% satisfaction rate. To learn more, check out his
web site at triviaandtunes.com.

Join the team from Ironstone Farm to hear more about what's happening with the herd! 

Dan Strollo, Executive Director – In Control Family Foundation - a nonprofit offering the nation's first state certified closed course, hands-on crash prevention training.

www.driveincontrol.org

Dan is a father of four with a background in the auto industry, marketing and construction.  He first learned of In Control back in 2006 and has led the organization for over 15 years, reaching 40,000+ students and saving countless lives in the process.  Today, his goal is to educate you on how dangerous driving has become and offer some tips to keep you and your family safer on our roads.

Common Man for Ukraine’s co-founders turned small-town New Hampshire heart into global impact, refusing to stand idly by after the February 2022 invasion. Without a clear path to help Ukraine’s children, the four volunteers reached out and built one. 

Inspired by our Plymouth Rotary Foundation's commitment to Service Above Self, our all-volunteer team efficiently and effectively partners with fellow Rotarians on the ground to deliver impactful relief programs for Ukraine's most vulnerable children.

With every humanitarian trip our co-founders lead, it becomes clear that the needs of Ukraine's children of war keep growing both in scope and complexity.

Starting with an effort to feed the children and heat their safe houses, the toll on their mental health became increasingly clear -- leading to the launch of our trauma counseling initiatives.

Aaron’s Presents is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that offers 1) hands-on, individualized mentoring, 2) materials/services, and 3) logistical help to any child in 8th grade or below who wants to carry out an idea that benefits at least one other person, animal, and/or the environment. We follow the children’s vision as they create and lead a memorable, meaningful, and fun experience by practicing kindness, empathy, and generosity.

In the process, the children discover the value of their ideas and unique qualities and their ability to make the world better exactly as they are at every age and stage. Ours is a new approach to “community service”, because we’re asking kids to start seeing giving not as an occasional obligation but as their larger purpose.

Leah Okimoto started Aaron’s Presents in January 2014 as a way to honor the memory of her son. At other phases of her life, she has composed music for musical theatre, run a legal recruiting firm, tutored and mentored kids, and volunteered at homeless shelters, hospitals, schools and meal kitchens. She graduated from Harvard University in 1998 and currently lives on the campus of Phillips Academy in Andover, MA with her husband and two daughters.

Top Notch Scholars positions inner-city youth for success based on the principles of Intentional Psychology, an approach that’s been effective in helping improve human performance & achievement.

Andover's Leadership Academy is an 12 week course designed to enhance townspeople's understanding of Town government operations and for municipal leaders and townspeople to learn from one another through conversation. The program is designed to advance understanding of and participation in civic affairs as well as to increase awareness of the challenges facing municipal government.

Essex Capital Partners was founded in 1995, and since its inception, has owned, developed and operated a portfolio of commercial properties in the greater New England region.

ECP’s first solar project was CRL Solar in White River Junction, VT, which entered commercial operations in 2012. Since that time ECP has successfully developed and capitalized 14 MWdc of solar projects in Massachusetts and Vermont.  As a family business and owner-operator, we take a long term view towards equipment and vendor selection, community relationships and sustainability. 

The goal of the Haggetts Pond ADA Rail Trail project is to improve the existing trail along the railbed near Haggetts Pond to make it more welcoming and usable to all town residents. The paved trail proposed at the site will be fully accessible, providing opportunities for persons of all abilities to enjoy Haggetts Pond and the serene environment that surrounds it. When completed, the trail will be the first Town-sponsored accessible and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant trail in Andover, making it a cornerstone of accessible recreational opportunity in the community. 

Andover High School students made a splash on the world stage recently after winning an international physics competition and being invited to a laboratory in Germany.

It all began at the start of the 2023-2024 school year when then-junior Richard Chen approached physics teacher Daniel Donovan with a lofty idea. Chen, a member of the Andover High School Physics Club, wanted to enter a group into Beamline for Schools, a challenging particle physics competition.

Last May, the team received news that it was one of the competition’s three winners and earned the team a trip to Hamburg, Germany to test their experiment.

Only the third team from the United States to win this competition, the team is bound for Germany in September 2024, excited for a unique two-week long learning experience that will serve Andover students in years to come.