Helping wounded warriors

“That struck a chord with me,’’ Oswald said. “I wanted to help.’’

Last weekend at the Black Rock Country Club in Hingham, where she works as a tennis instructor, Oswald organized a charity tournament to raise money for the nonprofit Wounded Warrior Project with Jason Ronan, the club pro. The event, dubbed “Tennis for the Troops,’’ raised about $2,000, she said.

When she first got the urge to help, she said she and her mom thought about greeting returning soldiers at airports.

“But I wanted to do more than hug them and thank them for their service,’’ said Oswald, who is also a surfer. “Then I read an article in a surfing magazine about the Wounded Warrior Project. Part of what they do is taking wounded vets into the water, to reconnect with nature; that seemed so special to me.’’

A big help to her at Thayer came from physics teacher James MacVarish, a Marine who had served in Iraq. Oswald said he’d told her stories about life as a soldier, “how difficult it was over there for soldiers. He’s so modest about it, but was so inspiring, I just wanted to do something for all those men and women just like him.’’

Her next project will be to start a club at Thayer to raise money to buy needed supplies for soldiers overseas, with which she said she’ll send along individual hand-written messages.

“It’s something I feel so deeply about,’’ said Oswald, who has grandfathers who served in World War II and an uncle who served in Vietnam. “I just want to help any way I can.’’

To learn more about her efforts, e-mail Oswald at claire11@comcast.net.

CUSHING CENTERS IN NUTRITION STUDY: The Cardinal Cushing Centers in Hanover was selected to participate in a research study to improve the school-food environment and encourage healthier selections. Aviva Must, professor and chairwoman of the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, applied for the grant for the study, which was accepted by the Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Research Fund.

The study, “Cushing Opportunities for Meals Eaten Together at School,’’ will serve as a pilot program to improve nutrition for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities enrolled at residential schools. The healthy eating behaviors being promoted include increasing the intake of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy snacks, she said. Research at Cardinal Cushing Centers will continue throughout the school year. Throughout the year, discussion groups will be held with students, teachers and staff, and an advisory board implemented to chart the study’s progress.

FOUNDATION HOSTS ANNUAL CELEBRATION: The Paul R. Matthews Foundation hosts its third annual “Celebration of Community Spirit’’ Friday at Pequitside Farm in Canton starting at 7 p.m. The event raises money for the foundation, established in memory of Matthews, who died in March 2009, and was founded by his wife, Suzanne Matthews. It will feature performances by three Boston-area comics, Joe Yanetty, Dave Russo, and Graig Murphy. Also featured will be a silent auction that includes getaway packages, tickets to events, and sports memorabilia. Tickets are $35 each and can be bought at www.prmfoundation.com, or by calling 781-828-0989 or e-mailing pmfoundation@aol.com.

BUSINESS BRIEFS: Joseph T. Schlieff of Middleborough has joined Rockland-based Bay Copy as a managed print specialist, assisting clients in creating cost-control strategies and assisting new businesses. Prior to joining Bay Copy, Schlieff was a sales associate for Sears in North Dartmouth, earning several achievement awards.

Juan Cruz of Holbrook was named manager of Neponset Gulf in Dorchester, part of the VERC Enterprises chain of convenience stores and gas stations. He has more than 20 years experience in store management and has been with VERC for the past five years, starting in Raynham.

James Guarente was promoted to senior project manager at Norwood-based GZA GeoEnvironmental’s metro Boston office. A resident of Nashua, Guarente joined GZA in 1993 as a geotechnical engineer, and in his tenure at the company has served as a resident engineer for several multimillion-dollar dam repair and improvement jobs.

Tom O’Brien of Pembroke was named marketing director of Needham Bank, operating from the bank’s main office in Needham. He previously worked for Bank Rhode Island, Citizens Bank, and BankBoston Corp.

Davenport Crocker Jr. of Cohasset was named regional vice president of the central New England south region of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, serving 16 communities in Southeastern Massachusetts, including Dedham, Hingham, Milton, Scituate, and Westwood. Crocker most recently served as sales manager of the company’s offices in Cohasset and Scituate.

Paul E. Kandarian can be reached at Kandarian@globe.com.