Christopher Belmonte
Christopher "Monte" Belmonte (born 1978) is a radio personality in Western Massachusetts known for his fundraising event Monte's March, in its twelfth year in 2021.[1][2][3]
Belmonte is a program director and morning show host at The River, WRSI, in the 6-10 am slot.[4][5] He broadcasts while he is on his fundraising march from a portable transmitter in a shopping cart he pushes.[6] The walk takes place over two days, walking 43 miles from Springfield to Greenfield, Massachusetts, with Belmonte often in costume.[1][7][8][6] He is often joined by Congressman Jim McGovern who has marched with him nine out of the last twelve years.[7] His 2020 march raised $614,577 for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.[1] During the COVID pandemic many schools did "solidarity marches," doing local marches while raising money for local food banks.[9]
Belmonte also writes about wine for the Valley Advocate.[10] He has been a regular guest bailiff on Judge John Hodgman.[11] He supports other charity projects, raising money for cancer with the Cancer Connection Campout, and being a judge for Stir Up Some Love which raises money for the Treehouse Foundation.[12][13] He was named one of Business West's 40 Under 40 in 2017 when he was 39.[5] He is the board president of the Shea Theater in Turners Falls, Massachusetts.[14]
Belmonte is of Italian American heritage.[15] He was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts and raised in Norton, Massachusetts.[16] He is married and has three children.
References
- ^ a b c Munford, Aprell May. "12th annual Monte's March seeks to raise $500,000 to fight hunger". MassLive. MSN News. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Poli, Domenic (2018-05-29). "Monte's March: Walking 2 days, 43 miles to benefit food bank". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ Center, Shea Theater Arts (2021-11-03). "Monte Belmonte's 40th Birthday Bacchanalia , Sat, Feb 24, 2018". Shea Theater Arts Center. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ "Monte Belmonte". 93.9 & 101.5 The River. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ a b "Christopher Belmonte". BusinessWest. 2017-04-17. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ a b Serreze, Mary C. (2016-11-24). "Monte's March against hunger raises $200,000 for Food Bank of Western Mass". masslive. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ a b O'Brien, George (2020-09-15). "Monte Belmonte". BusinessWest. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ Berry, Patrick (2021-11-18). "43 mile Monte's March for hunger steps off Tuesday". WWLP. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ "Monty's March". Collaborative for Educational Services. 2012-11-15. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ "Monte Belmonte, Author at Valley Advocate". Valley Advocate. 2018-05-29. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ "Episode 122: Reckless Endungeonment". Maximum Fun. 2013-08-14. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ "Monte's Bed In for Cancer Connection Fundraising Page". pledgereg.com. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ "Support Western Mass Restaurants and The Treehouse Foundation". Stir Up Some Love. 2021-06-19. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ Center, Shea Theater Arts (2021-11-03). "Shea Theater Arts Center". Shea Theater Arts Center. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ "Monte Belmonte Wines: Trying to Love Italian Wine". Valley Advocate. 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
- ^ "10 Questions with ... Chris". All Access. 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2021-11-23.