News & Event
The Foundation announced the 139 awardees of its 2018 Community Grants: a total of $1,747,900. Community Grants support nonprofit organizations that build healthy and vibrant communities throughout Central Massachusetts. Areas of interest this year included Civic Life, the Arts and the Environment; Early Childhood Development; Economic Security; Healthy Communities; Youth Development & Education. Of the 159 grants awarded, 22 were dedicated solely to projects that focused on early childhood development. Through its Early Childhood Initiative, the Foundation has invested in programs that improve the quality and availability of early childhood education and care, reduce summer learning loss, and support families as primary nurturers and teachers. The initiative aims to ensure that all children in the community gain a sound start during their formative first years. “We are honored to be a part of a strong and thoughtful network of strategic donors that are committed to making positive change in Greater Worcester. I am especially excited that of the over $1.7M granted, over $400,000 went specifically towards early childhood projects, a Foundation priority,” said Ann T. Lisi, GWCF President and CEO. “Our Community Grant program is the largest funding cycle we have, and annually provides meaningful support towards the better of the community. We look forward to seeing the impact, especially for our community’s children, in the year ahead.”
Abby's House
Shelter, Housing, and Advocacy Operations
$18,000.00
African Community Education Program (ACE)
Family Outreach & Education Programming
Youth Academic & Social-Emotional Programming
$20,000.00
Alzheimer's Association Massachusetts New Hampshire Chapter
Increasing Core Services through Volunteer-Powered Program Delivery
$5,000.00
American Red Cross
Disaster Cycle Services
$9,000.00
Angels Net Foundation Inc
Educational and Social Programs for Immigrant and Refugee Youth
Anna Maria College
OpporTUNEity® Music Connections
$2,500.00
Appalachian Mountain Club
Youth Opportunities Program Worcester Summit Site 2019
Apple Tree Arts*
Head Start Preschool Music Outreach Program
$15,000.00
Art in the Park Worcester (fs Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston)
Art in the Park, Worcester
$10,000.00
Ascentria Community Services, Inc.
Immigration Legal Assistance Program
$25,000.00
Auburn Youth & Family Services
Youth and Family Support Programs and Services
Audio Journal, Inc.
General Operating Support
$5,500.00
Bancroft School
Worcester Partnership
Best Buddies Massachusetts
Worcester County Friendship Program
$4,000.00
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest, Inc.
Worcester Area Mentoring Program
Blackstone Valley Boys and Girls Club
2019 Summer Program Camperships
$7,500.00
Boys & Girls Club of Lunenburg
After-School Program
Boys & Girls Club of Webster - Dudley
Junior Staff Development Program
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
Youth Development Programs
Building Futures, Inc. (fs Worcester Housing Authority)
Lakeside Summer Camp
Camp Putnam, Inc.
Summer Camperships
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester
Citizenship Services and Education for Families
$12,000.00
Center for Health Impact
Supporting Early Childhood Development Through Cultural and Linguistic Navigation
Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Inc.
Public Education & Advocacy
Clark University
Adam Achiever Program
Clinton Adult Learning Center
Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester (fs YWCA of Central MA)
Strengthening and Diversifying Community Engagement in the CHIP
Community Harvest Project
CRAVE (Class Room Agriculture and Vegetable Education)
Volunteer Farming Program
Community Healthlink (fs UMass Memorial Healthcare)*
Together For Kids
$12,500.00
Community Legal Aid, Inc.
Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project
$17,500.00
Community Servings
Nutrition Program for Critically Ill Individuals & Families
Creative Hub Worcester
SPARK Arts
Discovery Museum
Discovery Science: Worcester
Dismas House of Massachusetts, Inc.
Prisoner Reentry Program
Dress for Success Worcester Inc
More Than a Suit
EcoTarium (Worcester Natural History Society)
EBT Access Program
EcoTarium (Worcester Natural History Society)*
Countdown to Kindergarten 2018/2019
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
Linguistically and Culturally Competent Care for Arabic-Speaking Patients
Edward Street Child Services*
Early Childhood Matters
Master Teacher Consultation Program
$55,000.00
Elder Services of Worcester Area, Inc.
Nutrition Program
Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc.
Summer Jump Start 2019
Healthcare for Homeless Families Program
Dental Care for Un/Underinsured Low-income Individuals
Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc.*
Baby Cafe
Centering Pregnancy
Fathering Fathers Inc.
REAL MENtors
Fresh Start Furniture Bank, Inc.
Furniture Distribution Center
Friendly House, Inc.
Frances Perkins Transitional Program
$21,000.00
Friends of St Luke's, Inc
St. Luke's Guesthouse
Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library
Memory Cafe
English Conversation Circle
Genesis Club, Inc.
Supported Education with Young Adults Focus
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts
It's A Girl's World
Girls Incorporated of Worcester
Eureka! Program
$6,500.00
Support for General Operations
Greater Worcester Land Trust
Community Based Environmental Conservation
$7,000.00
Growing Places Garden Project
NCM Food Hub Connector
$8,500.00
Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester
General Program Support
Hope Coalition (fs UMass Memorial)
Peer Leadership Program
Hope Coalition (fs UMass Memorial)*
Worcester ACTs (Addresses Childhood Trauma)
Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Worcester (fs Friendly House)
Program Support
Jeremiah's Inn
Nutrition Center
$8,000.00
Joy of Music Program, Inc.
Financial Aid Program
Kennedy-Donovan Center*
Fostering Early Connections - Building Parenting Confidence and Competence
L.U.K. Crisis Center, Inc.
Mentoring Program
Latin American Health Alliance of Central Mass. Inc.
Pilot Program
Latino Education Institute (fs Worcester State Foundation)
ENLACE (Encouraging Latinos to Achieve Excellence)
Latino Education Institute (fs Worcester State Foundation)*
Early Connections Program
Let's Get Ready
Worcester Access to Success Program
LGBT Asylum Support Task Force (fs Hadwen Park Congregational Church)
LGBT Asylum Task Force
$6,000.00
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester
English Language Literacy for Job Seekers and Other Adult Immigrants & Refugees
$22,500.00
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester*
English Language Literacy for Immigrants and Refugee Parents Helping Schoolchildren
Literacy Volunteers of South Central Massachusetts
ESOL Tutoring Programs
Main South Community Development Corporation
Youth-Police Dialogue Program
Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc.
Nature Education and Recreation Programs for Worcester Youth
Massachusetts Education & Career Opportunities, Inc.
Collegiate Success Institute (CSI)
Massachusetts Education & Career Opportunities, Inc. (MassEdCO)
On Our Way
Matthew 25, Inc.
Montachusett Interfaith Hospitality Network
Family Pathways Project
Montachusett Opportunity Council, Inc.
Homework Help Center at Green Acres
Muslim Community Link Inc
Black Seed Farmers Market
Nativity School of Worcester
Graduate Support Program
NEADS Inc.
Service Dog Training
$9,500.00
New Hope, Inc.
MJ Leadenham Center Supervised Visitation Expansion
NewVue Communities
North of Main Neighborhood Initiative
North Brookfield Youth Center
Youth Programs
North Quabbin Citizen Advocacy, Inc.
Protecting Vulnerable People
Notre Dame Health Care
Educational Bridge Center
Oak Hill CDC
Operating Support for Neighborhood Development
One Can Help
Operational Support
Open Sky Community Services
South County Homeless Assistance Program
Safe Homes
Opera New England of Northeastern CT
Opera and Symphony Programs for Schools
$3,500.00
Our Father's House, Inc.
Ensuring Health & Wellness in Homeless Children
Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester
Financial Assistance for Children from Low-Income Households
Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PPAL)
Outreach and Navigation for Families
Pathways for Change
Sexual Assault Prevention & Survivor Services
Pernet Family Health Service, Inc.*
Early Childhood Development Program
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
Sex Education for Youth and Parents
Preservation Worcester, Inc.
Operating Support
Pride Productions Inc
Millennial Media Group
Quinsigamond Community College Foundation
Brothers & Keepers Summer Bridge Program
Women in Technology STEM Program
Rachel's Table
Support for Food Programs
Rainbow Child Development Center*
Early Education Program
Reach Out and Read*
Worcester Rx for Success!
Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center (RIAC)
ESOL System Navigator
Comprehensive Case Management
Regatta Point Community Sailing, Inc.
Boating Program Scholarships for Youth
Regional Environmental Council, Inc.
General Operations
Restorer of Broken Bridges, Inc.
Net of Compassion - Main Street Saturday Program
Rise Above Foundation
Activities for Foster Youth
Salisbury Singers Inc
$2,000.00
Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts
Building Healthy Asian and Arabic Speaker Communities
Spanish American Center, Inc.
Nos Estamos Ayudando (Helping Ourselves)
Straight Ahead Ministries Inc
Worcester Youth Re-Entry Center
Tasks for Transit, Inc.
Free WRTA Bus Day Pass
Tenacity, Inc.
Summer Tennis & Reading Program
The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Inc.
Campership Program
The CASA Project*
Early Childhood Support Services
The Salvation Army - Worcester Citadel Corps
Sally's Place
The SHINE Initiative (fs Community Foundation of North Central MA)
Student Wellness Advisory Team (SWAT)
Tower Hill Botanic Garden (Worcester County Horticultural Society)
Youth Refugee Gardening Program
Tri-Community YMCA*
Strengthening Families
Tri-Valley, Inc.
Nutrition Program for Seniors
United Way of Central Massachusetts
YouthConnect Worcester - 2019
United Way of Central Massachusetts*
Summer Learning Collaborative
$60,000.00
VSA Massachusetts
Open Door Gallery at Worcester Art Museum
WCUW Inc.
The Sounds & Stories of Worcester
Whitin Community Center
Youth Outreach Programs
Worcester Academy
Summer Scholars Program
Worcester Anti-Foreclosure Team (fs Worcester Common Ground)
Program Support for WAFT
Worcester Center for Crafts (WCC)
Youth Craft + Creativity
Worcester Center for Performing Arts (Hanover Theatre)
Adopt-A-School WPS Partnership
Worcester Common Ground, Inc.
Community Building and Affordable Housing
Worcester Community Action Council, Inc.
YouthWorks Year-Round Jobs Program
Worcester Community Housing Resources, Inc.
Confronting Critical Housing & Financial Needs for Long-Term Solutions
Worcester Cultural Coalition
Building Community Through Creativity
Worcester Earn a Bike Inc.
Worcester Education Collaborative (fs United Way)
Worcester Impact on Sexual Health (WISH) (fs Center for Health Impact)
Education Program
Worcester Interfaith
Putting Worcester to Work
Worcester Jewish Community Center*
Scholarships for Afterschool and Summer Childcare Programs
Worcester Public Library*
2018 Summer Reading Program
Worcester Public Schools (fs City of Worcester)
Building Student Leadership through Youth Philanthropy
Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Inc.
Worcester Youth Center
Support for Core Programs
Worcester Youth Orchestras
Financial Aid & Scholarship Program
Yes We Care, Inc.
Homework Center
$3,000.00
YMCA of Central Massachusetts
Minority Achievers Program
Summer PLAY
$11,000.00
Youth Opportunities Upheld (YOU), Inc.
Dynamy Youth Academy
YWCA of Central Massachusetts
Racial Equity Program
Girls CHOICE
Domestic Violence Services
* Indicates Early Childhood grant
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