THEN: Alice Sibley died in 1968 at the age of 92, seven years after the death of her husband, J. Otis Sibley, a prominent lawyer. Alice took neither her eyesight nor her family’s good fortune for granted during her long life. She herself had retina surgery and she funded a neighbor’s eye operation.

In her will, Alice created a charitable trust to provide medical eye care to Worcester residents who cannot pay for such treatment. In 2004, after the death of her son and sole heir, her bequest created an endowed fund that will fulfill her wishes in perpetuity.

NOW: Over the past two decades, this fund has invested more than $475,000 to support those who need financial assistance for corrective eye treatment, care and visual aid. 

As a designated fund, grants are awarded annually to Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (formerly Great Brook Valley Health Center)'s Optometry Services and to the MAB Community Services' Vision Rehabilitation Program.

THEN: As Foundation scholarship coordinator from 1988 to 1996, Cynthia Taylor (1927-2016) drew upon her rich career as she helped donors create scholarships true to their values.

While raising two children, Cynthia and her husband Harrison (1921-2010) were vigorous civic leaders in Worcester, where they were born and lived throughout their 59-year marriage.

The Taylors valued life-long learning and growth, and in 1997, they established a bequest to fund this scholarship, which will support adult students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Through their scholarship, the Taylors will contribute to Worcester in perpetuity.

NOW: Since its creation in 1997, this scholarship has awarded almost $43,000 to Worcester County students pursuing a bachelor's degree.

 In 2025, Suehey Santiago received this scholarship award giving her $1,550 each year, totaling to $6,200 over the next four years. Suehey is currently working towards a degree in Business Management at Worcester State University.

THEN: As children, Frances M. (Dresser) Herron, and her siblings lived in the Elm Street mansion built by their great-great-grandfather, Levi Lincoln Jr., a governor of Massachusetts and the first mayor of Worcester. 

A descendant of other early Worcester families, Frannie wrote and lectured on Worcester history and joined many community organizations. She was a president of the Worcester Garden Club and the Edward Street Day Care Center, as well as being the first female moderator of the First Unitarian Church and among the first volunteers at Planned Parenthood. Equally ardent in civic life, her husband, John, helped found Preservation Worcester. 

In 1997, two years after his mother died, their eldest son Jock started a donor advised fund in her honor. 

NOW: This donor advised fund is used to support Worcester institutions, including the American Antiquarian Society. 

Organizations supported by this DAF are primarily ones devoted to humanities and the arts, honoring Frances' viewpoint on Worcester's civic responsibility: "It's not spending money...on showy parties or houses...It's a worthwhile expenditure on children's education, schools and museums."