Medford Family Network hosts another successful Teddy Bear Picnic

Squeals of delight and children’s laughter ring through Victory Park as families gather for the Medford Family Network’s annual Teddy Bear Picnic.

It’s a sunny and hot Friday morning, but no one minds as kids run around, dragging parents from one activity to the next, whether it’s the popular kiddie roller coaster, giant tic-tac-toe or the rainbow parachute.

In the corner, Marie Cassidy watches. The event, which she started 26 years ago at Logan Park, will be the last for her as executive director.

“We wanted a way to gather families together,” Cassidy says, of this event. “Every year, I used to dress as a teddy bear or in different costumes. It’s a huge event now.”

Cassidy isn’t dressed as a teddy bear on June 5, but she is decked out in purple and teal — the MFN’s colors — and is wearing a glittering sash that reads “The Legend Has Retired” and a tiara that also says “Retired.” But soon, she is also decked out in a purple cape, with a multi-colored flower heart that reads “We Heart Marie.”

When asked if she is sad this is her last Teddy Bear Picnic, Cassidy shakes her head.

“No,” she says and emphasizes, “This is just my last one as director.”

Nearby incoming director, Irina Shumway, is instructing volunteers from Deloitte to staff activities and making sure families are having fun. She points out her daughter, 19, is taking photos of the event for MFN.

“When they were little, we used to come to MFN events,” Shumway says.

Shumway watches the crowd gathering for the two-hour event and says she is excited to start her new job on July 1. She adds Cassidy will still be around this summer, running concerts and other events and she’s not leaving MFN any time soon, despite her official retirement.

As Shumway moves off to a gathering crowd of elected and state officials here to honor Cassidy, A.J. Rizzo roams the crowd of volunteers.

Rizzo is a senior manager at Deloitte, a tax firm in Boston. June 5 is IMPACT Day for the company, which holds a volunteer day the first Friday of June each year for employees across all of its sites nationwide.

Rizzo has been at the Teddy Bear Picnic in Medford since 2018 when he took over for another colleague. He says this is the 12^th year the company has volunteered at the event.

“About 12 years ago, someone who worked for us and lived in Medford, told us about this event,” Rizzo says. “Their family took part in MFN. So, we made this one of our sites that year.”

But it was so successful, Deloitte has made the Teddy Bear Picnic in Medford an annual volunteer site. Rizzo says many of the company’s MFN volunteers repeatedly come back to take part in the event year after year.

“It’s such a fun day and it’s never rained on this event for us,” Rizzo says. “This is like a field day and it’s something that really connects us with the community. That’s why we’re here…to interact.”

One the volunteers today is Greg Goodgame, who has found himself at the mini-roller coaster for toddlers. It’s a very popular event.

“I’m actually from Tennessee,” Goodgame says, with a laugh. “I was in Boston for work and I decided this might be fun.”

And is it?

“I really love it!” he says. “It’s so great to come here and participate. I can see why it’s so popular.”

That’s what Haji Shearer is most surprised by — the number of families pouring into Victory Park on a Friday morning. An assistant commissioner at the Department of Early Education and Care, Shearer is familiar with the MFN, but has never been to the Teddy Bear Picnic.

He says he’s not surprised by the fanfare, given this is Cassidy’s baby. Shearer adds he’s known Cassidy for years, ever since the two met when he worked for The Children’s Trust.

“I met first Marie when we started looking around the state for places to do this type of supportive work,” he says. “Marie was constantly a standout. She is really known for having such high quality programs.”

Shearer and two other state colleagues are also at the event to say their goodbyes to Cassidy, as she steps down from the director’s role.

“This is just the kind of send-off she deserves,” Shearer says, watching families and officials flock to Cassidy’s side to give her hugs and take pictures with her. “Marie has consistently led such a high quality program, this program. She is such a leader in our network.”

Rep. Paul Donato and Rep. Christine Barber arrive at Victory Park and set off a small ceremony in which Cassidy is given a special commendation from the House of Representatives for all the years of dedicated service to Medford’s families.

An clearly emotional Donato recalls first meeting Cassidy when she was hired by Medford to take on the MFN in 1993.

“Marie is honestly one of the most gracious, most dedicated city employees in this community,” Donato tells the gathered crowd of well-wishers. “Marie has made this happen for 33 years. This entire community is so proud of this program, just look at the young people who are here today.”

Donato says there are kids at the park on June 5 who are about 4 or 5 years old whose parents were the original children taught when the MFN began.

And while half of the program’s funding is being cut this year, Donato announces he has a surprise for Cassidy — the fiscal year 2027 state budget has earmarked $100,000 in funding for the MFN.

“The whole delegation talked to Ways and Means to get this done,” Barber says.

As officials start taking their leave of the event, MFN staffers and Medford families stay behind to enjoy the rest of the Teddy Bear Picnic — including two newcomers.

Julian Goldstein has been bouncing on a yellow bumble bee for about 20 minutes, as his mom Leah Shafer sits nearby watching.

“This is our first year here,” Shafer says, watching her 2-year-old continuing his bouncing. “We just moved to Medford in April and we heard about the Network.”

What does she think about the Teddy Bear Picnic?

“It’s great!” she says. “We did the parachute tunnel and now he’s been sitting here for the past 20 minutes.”

Shafer says she wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the event, but adds she’s glad she came.

“What a great event for families in Medford,” she says. “It’s just such a nice event for everyone.”