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]
