News & Event
The Foundation has announced the awarding of $1.56 million to 132 nonprofits through its 2019 Community Grants program. Community Grants support organizations that build healthy, vibrant communities throughout Worcester County and are made possible by generous individuals and families who have set up discretionary funds with the Foundation. This type of fund enables the Foundation to grant resources where community needs are greatest.
Community Grants reflect the Foundation’s commitment to improving the region and providing opportunities for people to benefit from Worcester’s momentum,” said Barbara Fields, GWCF President and CEO. “As this is my first year, I am excited to see the scope of the Community Grants. It is essential that our community’s nonprofits receive the resources they need to continue their work. We’re privileged to be an investor in so many life-changing organizations,” she added.
The Community Grant program is one of the region’s broadest funding opportunities, opening the door for nonprofits of varying sizes and missions to seek support. Areas of interest to the Foundation span a spectrum that includes civic life, the arts and the environment, early childhood development, economic security, healthy communities, and youth development and education.
This year, the Foundation made a significant investment in youth development with 30% of grant dollars going to programs that offer youth leadership, mentorship, summer learning opportunities, and other year-round programming. Another 26% of this year’s funding will support early childhood development programs. Additionally, grants totaling over $150K are going to programs targeting affordable housing and homelessness prevention.
“It’s our mission to continue aiding those whose work creates a stronger, healthier Worcester County for residents, starting with our community’s youngest and most vulnerable,” said Carolyn Stempler, Chair of the GWCF Board. “We look forward to seeing the impact of these grants in the coming year and are eager to continue our work serving Worcester in perpetuity.”
Nonprofits receiving funds this year are:
Abby's House
Shelter, Housing, and Advocacy Operations
$ 18,000.00
Advocates
Recovery Aftercare
$ 5,000.00
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 Delivery
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 (YOP) Worcester Summit Site 2020
Apple Tree Arts*
Head Start Preschool Music Outreach Program
$ 7,000.00
ArtsWorcester
Member Exhibitions
$ 8,000.00
Ascentria Community Services, Inc.
Immigration Legal Assistance Program (ILAP)
$ 17,500.00
Auburn Youth & Family Services
Youth and Family Support Programs and Services
$ 7,500.00
Audio Journal, Inc.
Audio Journal
$ 5,500.00
Bancroft School*
Worcester Partnership (WP)
$ 15,000.00
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest, Inc.
Worcester Area Mentoring Program
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County
After School Mentorship Program in Athol
Blackstone Valley Boys and Girls Club
2020 Summer Program Camperships
Boys & Girls Club of Webster-Dudley
General Operations
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
Youth Development Programs
$ 25,000.00
Building Futures, Inc. (fs Worcester Housing Authority)
Camp Lakeside
$ 10,000.00
Camp Putnam, Inc.
Overnight Camp Experiences
Center for Health Impact*
Enhancing the Future of Children through Cultural and Linguistic Navigation (EFC)
Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Inc.
Public Education & Advocacy (PE&A)
Children's Friend
Gender Wellness Initiative (GWI)
City of Worcester Department of Health & Human Services
Narcan Distribution Harm Reduction Initiative
Clark University
Adam Achiever Program
Clinton Adult Learning Center
Core Programs for Adult Learners
Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester (fs YWCA of Central MA)
Strengthening and Diversifying Community Engagement in the CHIP
Community Harvest Project
Volunteer Farming Program
$ 12,000.00
Community Healthlink (fs UMass Memorial Healthcare)*
Together For Kids
$ 12,500.00
Community Legal Aid, Inc.
Greater Worcester Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project
Community Servings
Nutrition Program for Residents Affected by Critical & Chronic Illnesses
$ 9,000.00
Creative Hub Worcester
After School Program
Crocodile River Music/African Arts in Education (fs Fractured Atlas)
Community Enrichment through African Music & Arts
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
Vocational Programs for Youth with Developmental, Behavioral, Emotional and Learning Challenges
Discovery Museum
Discovery Science: Worcester
$ 4,000.00
Dismas House of Massachusetts, Inc.
Prisoner Reentry Program
Dress for Success Worcester Inc
More Than A Suit
EcoTarium (Worcester Natural History Society)*
2020 Countdown to Kindergarten Program
Edward Street Child Services*
Early Childhood Matters
$25,000.00
Master Teacher Consultation Program
$58,000.00
Elder Services of Worcester Area, Inc.
Nutrition Program
Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc.
Dental Care for Un/Underinsured Low-Income Individuals
Health Care for Homeless Families Program
Positive Directions Summer Jump Start
Family Health Center of Worcester*
Baby Café
$15,000.00
Centering Pregnancy
$12,000.00
Fathering Fathers Inc.
REAL MENtors
Fresh Start Furniture Bank, Inc.
Furniture Distribution Center
Friendly House, Inc.
Frances Perkins Transitional Housing Program
Youth Program
Friends of St Luke's, Inc
St. Luke's Guesthouse
Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library
English Conversation Circle
Memory Cafe
Genesis Club House, Inc.
Supported Education with Young Adult Focus
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts
It's A Girl's World
Girls Incorporated of Worcester
Eureka! Program
Greater Worcester Land Trust
Community Based Environmental Conservation
Growing Places Garden Project
Equitable Healthy Food Access in North Central MA
$ 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)
Horizons for Homeless Children
Worcester Playspace Program
House of Peace & Education*
HOPE for Kids
Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Worcester (fs Friendly House)
Program Support
Jeremiah's Inn
Nutrition Center
Joy of Music Program, Inc.
Financial Aid Program
Kennedy-Donovan Center*
Fostering Early Connections - Building Parent Confidence and Competency
Latino Education Institute (fs Worcester State Foundation)
ENLACE (Encouraging Latinos to Achieve Excellence) Program
Latino Education Institute (fs Worcester State Foundation)*
Early Connections Program
Let's Get Ready
Worcester College Access Programs
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester
English Language Literacy for Economic Security: Job Seekers and other Adult Immigrants and Refugees
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester*
English Language Literacy for Immigrants and Refugee Parents Helping Schoolchildren
Literacy Volunteers of South Central Massachusetts
ESOL Tutoring Programs
Living In Freedom Together (LIFT), Inc.
Drop-In Center
Main South Community Development Corporation
Grand Street Commons: Affordable Housing Development
Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange, Inc.
Finding Adoptive Homes for Children and Teens in Foster Care in Worcester County
Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc.
Nature Education and Recreation Programs for Worcester Youth
Massachusetts Education & Career Opportunities, Inc. (MassEdCO)
Collegiate Success Institute (CSI)
On Our Way
Matthew 25, Inc.
Pleasant Street Affordable Housing Project
Montachusett Opportunity Council, Inc.
Homework Help Center
Music Worcester, Inc.
Perspectives: Exploring & Expanding Programmatic Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives
Nativity School of Worcester
Graduate Support Program
NEADS Inc.
Service / Assistance Dog Training
Net of Compassion
Main Street Saturday Program
New Hope, Inc.
MJ Ledenham Center Visitation Services
NewVue Communities
Community Stewards Program
North Brookfield Youth Center
After-School and Summer Programs
North Star Family Services, Inc.
Family Pathways Project
Notre Dame Health Care
Educational Bridge Center
Open Sky Community Services
Safe Homes
South County Homeless Assistance Program (SCHAP)
Our Father's House, Inc.
Ensuring Health & Wellness in Homeless Children
Pathways for Change
Sexual Assault Prevention & Survivor Services
Pernet Family Health Service, Inc.*
Mental Health Collaborative
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
Sex Education and Outreach to Worcester's Latinx Community and Others
Preservation Worcester
Operating Support
$ 9,500.00
Project New Hope
Rebuilding with Honor – Easing the Transition to Civilian Life for Veterans and Their Families
Quinsigamond Community College Foundation
Women in Technology STEM Program
Rachel's Table (fs Jewish Federation of Central MA)
Support for Food Programs
Rainbow Child Development Center*
Early Education Programs
$23,000.00
Reach Out and Read*
Worcester Rx for Success
Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center (RIAC)
Comprehensive Case Management
Regional Environmental Council, Inc.
Render Creative Inc/Main IDEA
Rise Above Foundation
Activities for Foster Youth
South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC)
Greater Worcester Housing Connection: Triage Center Winter Emergency Resources
Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts
Building Healthy Asian and Arabic Speaking Communities
Spanish American Center, Inc.
Nos Ayudamos Mutuamente (Helping Ourselves)
$ 6,000.00
Straight Ahead Ministries Inc
Worcester Youth Re-Entry Program
Tasks for Transit, Inc.
WRTA Single-Day Bus Pass Program
Tenacity, Inc.
Summer Tennis & Reading Program
The CASA Project*
Early Childhood Support Services
The Shine Initiative (fs Community Foundation of North Central MA)
Mindmatters Teams
Together for Kids Coalition (fs Edward Street Child Services)*
Early Childhood Strategic Plan Implementation
$ 22,000.00
Tri-Valley, Inc.
United Way of Central MA*
Summer Literacy Initiative - Funders Collaborative
$60,000.00
United Way of Central Massachusetts
YouthConnect Worcester 2020
United Way of Tri-County
Wheat Community Connections
Visitation House
Bridging Back to Economic Resiliency
VSA Massachusetts
Open Door Gallery at the Worcester Art Museum
WCUW Inc.
The Voices of Worcester Sharing Passion, Heritage and Love of Community
Whitin Community Center
Youth Outreach Program
Worcester Academy
Summer Scholars
Worcester Anti-Foreclosure Team (fs Worcester Common Ground)
Moratorium Now
Worcester Area Mission Society (WAMS)
Summer CUBS (Comprehension and Understanding Bring Success)
Worcester Center for Performing Arts (Hanover Theatre)
Adopt-A-School WPS Partnership
Worcester Chamber Music Society
Neighborhood Strings
Worcester Common Ground, Inc.
Community Building and Affordable Housing
Worcester Community Action Council Inc.
Worcester Youth Leadership Institute
Worcester Community Housing Resources, Inc.
Community Housing & Economic Stability
Worcester Community Skateshop (fs Worcester Roots Project)
Youth Skate Program Spring/Summer 2020
Worcester Cultural Coalition
Implementing the Evolution of Worcester: the Creative City
Worcester Earn a Bike Inc.
Youth Program Support
Worcester Education Collaborative (fs United Way of Central MA)
Worcester Interfaith
A Worcester That Works for Everyone
Worcester Jewish Community Center*
Access to Quality Programming for All
Worcester Public Library Foundation*
2020 Summer Reading Program
2019 Summer Reading Program
$5,000.00
Worcester Public Schools (fs City of Worcester)
Building Youth Leadership Through Philanthropy
Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Inc.
Worcester Youth Center
Support for Core Programs
Worcester Youth Orchestras
Financial Aid & Scholarship Program
YMCA of Central Massachusetts
Minority Achievers Program
Summer Play
$ 11,000.00
Youth Opportunities Upheld (YOU), Inc.
Dynamy Youth Academy
YWCA of Central Massachusetts
Domestic Violence Services
Girls CHOICE (Choosing Hope, Opportunity and Independence through Careers and Education)
Racial Equity Program
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