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Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 18, 2026 FOUNDERS DAY | FROM PAGE 3 at AAFCPA’s focusing on nonprofit audit clients, just as his father Jeff has done for the last 30-plus years,” she said. Cicolini worked for more than 12 years as a child care provider in Saugus. She began volunteering as a Girl Scout Leader for many years when her daughter Gianna became a Girl Scout, according to Prag. “As her children grew older, she realized she had more time available to give back to the youth in her community,” Prag said. “She stepped into the role of President of the Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus organization in March of 2020. Healthy Students-Healthy Saugus, or better known as HS2, has an important mission to provide a weekend supply of meals to any student who requests the assistance,” she said. “Her passion has been to serve the youth of the community and bring awareness of food insecurity issues our students and families face. Julie wears many hats within the HS2 organization. She actively pursues grants and funding. She coordinates food drives and volunteer opportunities with businesses, youth groups and other organizations to help support HS2,” she said. “She can be found monthly at It has become a tradition for the names of past “Person of the Year” award recipients to be read at every Saugus Annual Founders Day. Doing the honors this year were former “Woman of the Year” recipients Joyce Rodenhiser (2015) and Donna Manoogian (2016). (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) local food warehouse stores purchasing the necessary food items, loading them in her car and then unloading them into the pantry shelves. But her favorite part of it all is how the community comes together every Thursday night to assemble over 100 food bags a week.” HS2 bags are distributed at the Saugus Public Schools on Fridays to take home to anyone that signs up. All food is provided free of charge. Bags include items such as peanut butter, canned meals/soups/ tuna/vegetables, pasta, fruit cups, cereal, oatmeal, goldfish, pretzels and granola bars. In the course of a school year, the volunteers – led by Cicolini J& • Reliable Mowing Service • Spring & Fall Cleanups • Mulch & Edging • Sod or Seed Lawns • Shrub Planting & Trimming • Water & Sewer Repairs Joe Pierotti, Jr. – assemble 3,600 bags. “I just simply wanted to help children and families in the community access nutritional meals,” Cicolini said in a brief speech as she accepted her award. Cicolini said she initially underestimated the willingness of people to get involved when volunteers gathered in an assembly line on Thursday nights to fill bags for the students to take home. “In the beginning, I was nervous that no one was going to show up to volunteer,” Cicolini said. “But I was wrong. On Thursdays, they are filled with retirees, parents, children, friends, neighbors, Saugus youth S LANDSCAPE & MASONRY CO. Masonry - Asphalt • Brick or Block Steps • Brick or Block Walls • Concrete or Brick Paver Patios & Walkways • Brick Re-Pointing • Asphalt Paving www.JandSlandscape-masonry.com • Senior Discount • Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured 617-389-1490 Designing and Constructing Ideas that are “Grounds for Success” Landscaping A crowd gathered in front of Saugus Town Hall last Saturday for the presentation of the “Person of the Year” awards to Julie Cicolini and Nelson Chang. They are the latest among 80 Saugus residents to have received the award during the 36 years it has been presented at the Saugus Annual Founders Day. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) Town of Saugus officials and state legislators shared a moment with this year’s “Person of the Year” award recipients, Nelson Chang and Julie Cicolini, at last Saturday’s 45th Annual Saugus Founders Day. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) groups, Saugus sports teams, other nonprofit organizations, local businesses and many students,” she said. In closing, Cicolini offered a special message to the crowd watching her award presentation. “I hope each of you find your passion and use it to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most,” Cicolini said. “Together, the smallest act of kindness can create a lasting impact and strengthen our wonderful community,” she said. Chang: a quiet, but dedicated volunteer Last year’s “Man of the Year,” Eugene Decareau, described Chang as a quiet, unsung hero among the town’s many volunteers. “The individual that I am going to introduce is an individual that has done so much for this community, and nobody really knows what he does because he’s quiet and he does it out of his heart,” Decareau said in his introduction speech. “And he does so darn much, it’s amazing,” he said. Chang is a 1968 Saugus High School graduate who credits the town for much of the success he’s enjoyed in his personal life and career. “This is the town I grew up in, the town I chose to live in because it’s the town I love,” Chang said in his speech. “If I am able to give back to this town, it’s only because of the support provided to me over the years by this town. I was educated here, grades 1 through 12. That education allowed me to succeed both at Tufts University and later at Boston College Law School,” Chang said. “When I graduated from law school and made my first run at public office here in Saugus … the same day that I learned FOUNDERS DAY | SEE PAGE 11

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