Chris Kelley, the 2022 Honorary Chair, announced and introduced Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and present her with her official jacket that has been embroidered with four gold stars on each shoulder.
“I’m truly honored to be selected by the Spirit of Springfield as the Honorary Chair of the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast. The pancake breakfast brings thousands of members of our community together, especially the students from our Springfield Public Schools,” said Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl C. Clapprood. She continues, “I am looking forward to interacting with our community when I’ll be wearing a different type of uniform. The Spirit of Springfield always delivers on events our city can be proud of and I can’t wait to help make this year’s pancake breakfast the best ever.”
Mayor Sarno states, “Congratulations to Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood on this tremendous honor. I want to thank Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt and her dedicated team, MGM Springfield President and COO Chris Kelley, and all of the sponsors and supporters as we announced Superintendent Clapprood as the 2023 World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast Honorary Chair and kickoff this wonderful and family-friendly event which draws thousands to our downtown to enjoy a warm breakfast of pancakes, bacon, coffee, juice, milk and more. I also want to thank all of the workers and volunteers; without them this World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast wouldn’t be possible. Special thanks to our Springfield Police Officers and Firefighters, DPW workers and Parks personnel for their efforts too.”
As her first official act as the 2023 World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast Honorary Chair, Superintendent Clapprood presented MGM Springfield Executive Chef Omar Echeverria and the MGM Springfield’s Culinary Bacon Team, with a Golden Spatula for warming 1,000 pounds of bacon and “Helping to Serve Up Community Spirit” for the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast.
The World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, sponsored by MGM Springfield, will be held Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 8am to 11am on Main Street from State Street to Bridge Street. The annual pancake party will celebrate Springfield’s 387th birthday with a hot, hearty breakfast of pancakes, bacon, coffee, juice, milk, lots of entertainment and activities, and community spirit. Admission and beverages are free. Breakfast is $3 for adults and $1 for children.
“What an incredible honor it has been to serve this past year as the Honorary Chair of the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast. The Spirit of Springfield does such an amazing job, year after year, to create this iconic event that brings families, friends and neighbors together,” said Chris Kelley, MGM Springfield President and Chief Operating Officer. “I am, however, equally honored to pass the reins over to Superintendent Clapprood. Her dedication, not only to the Police Department to which she has served for more than four decades, but also to the people of the City of Springfield, is truly an inspiration. Cheers to Superintendent Clapprood and to another, wonderful event!”
In addition to MGM Springfield, Monson Savings Bank, and TD Bank, support for the event comes in various forms. American Medical Response (AMR) will deliver 75,000 free tickets and fliers to area schools that were printed by Mercy Medical Center, and who will also mix 500 gallons of pancake batter that will be donated by Performance Foodservice. Baystate Health and Mansfield Paper will provide paper products. Cabot Creamery will be shipping 200 pounds of butter. H. P. Hood will deliver hundreds of gallons of milk, juice, and cream for the coffee that will be donated and brewed by the Sheraton Springfield. Smithfield Packaged Meats will contribute 1,000 pounds of bacon that will be cooked by the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, and warmed by MGM Springfield. Costco will donate a gift card to purchase cooking spray, sponges, and other supplies. Quality Beverage and Home Grown Springfield – Sodexo will keep the product cold in their refrigerator trucks. Elegant Affairs’ will donate the use of their facility for event headquarters. The Springfield Business Improvement District, with an assist from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, will keep the area clean. Springfield Parking Authority will provide free parking for volunteers, and Gleason Johndrow Landscaping will work behind the scenes to assist the Spirit of Springfield with set up and keep the volunteers stocked with the products they need.
It will take an army of volunteers from many organizations to serve the breakfast. They include the 94.7 WMAS, Armoury Quadrangle Civic Association, Bethel Child Care Services, Baystate Academy Charter School, iHeart Media, Jack and Jill of Western Massachusetts, John Boyle O'Reilly Club, Law Office of Maurice Powe, Rock102, SATCO (PVTA), Springfield Code Enforcement/Building Division, Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, Springfield Honors Academy, Springfield Thunderbirds, Springfield UNICO, The MacDuffie School, The Q 99.7, UMass Five Federal Credit Union, United Way of Pioneer Valley, U.S. Postal Service, Vox Church, Western Mass News, Western Mass. Square Round Dance Association, and more.
“From the donors to the volunteers, and even the response from the area towns and schools for free tickets, the response has been tremendous,” said Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt. “We are grateful to have so much support and enthusiasm for an event that has been held annually since 1986, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to honor Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood for her 44 years protecting and serving Springfield.”
Also participating in the 2023 World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast will be MGM Springfield, Dunkin’, Western Mass News, WWLP-22News, businesses and community service organizations promoting their services. There will be a performance by the Sci-Tech High School Band, St. Michael’s Academy, and many others.
For more information about the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, visit www.spiritofspringfield.org
