During the Foundation's 41ST annual meeting held at Mechanics Hall, the grant-making organization released its 2015 financial result and presented its 12th annual Renaissance Award, which recognizes the organization's nonprofit leader of the year.
Alex Zequeira, President of Nativity School of Worcester since 2011, is a 1994 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and has held teaching, coaching, and development posts at private high schools in Hartford and Miami. He also served a one-year term as the Nativity School's first principal in 2003. The tuition-free, private, middle school for boys is increasingly recognized as a model for youth who are financially needy and may otherwise be at real risk of becoming “lost boys.” Zequeira is a sought-after speaker on the topic of education for disenfranchised populations. He chairs the Latino Education Institute at Worcester State College, and is a board member of the United Way of Central Massachusetts and the Worcester Education Collaborative. Zequeira was recently appointed Headmaster at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury effective July 1, 2016.The Renaissance Award was established as an endowed prize through a gift by the late John W. Lund to show the community's appreciation to those who serve in nonprofit roles. The award comes with a $5,000 cash prize given to the individual, not the agency, and is intended to be used for personal renewal. Selection is based on a record of dedicated commitment to the nonprofit sector, five or more years of professional accomplishments, and talent in fostering collaborative relationships.
“Alex is a thoughtful and fearless leader, who has set high standards of excellence and leveraged the Nativity School's mission by enabling others in the community to better understand the needs of children and families striving to advance with limited financial resources,” said Ann T. Lisi, GWCF President and CEO. “We're proud to present him with this award as appreciation from us all.”
The annual meeting also publicly released the foundation's financial reporting for 2015. With total assets exceeding $135.6 million comprised of permanent charitable endowments that are available for local grant making; the foundation awarded $5.7 million in grants and scholarships and received more than $6 million in new contributions. A complete annual report can be found at greaterworcester.org.
Elected as new Directors to the Board for four-year terms:
● Jennifer Davis Carey, executive director, Worcester Education Collaborative
● Satya Mitra, president, Guru Tax & Financial Services, Inc.
● Hilda Ramirez, associate director, Worcester Latino Education Institute
Elected as Officers:
● Chair: Gerald Gates
● Vice Chair: Warner Fletcher
● Treasurer: Timothy Jarry
● Clerk: Carolyn Stempler
Elected as New Corporators were:
Mark A. Borenstein, Seder & Chandler
Richard Burke, Fallon Health
Karen Chapman, Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce
Kathryn Crockett, Lamoureux-Pagano Associates
Geoffrey K. Dancey, Cutler Capital Management
Sandy Dunn, SMG/DCU Center
Peter Gardner, Curry Printing
Steven G. Joseph, Unum
Barry M. Maloney, Worcester State University
Naureen Meraj, NTT Data
Julie Orozco, Community Healthlink
Rev. Linda F. Parham, UNITEYCDC
Deborah L. Plummer, UMass Medical School
Mary Lou Retelle, Anna Maria College
Ana Rodriguez, UMass Memorial Health Care
Kimberly M. Salmon, Fallon Health
Victoria Waterman, Girls Inc. of Worcester
Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham, Community Legal Aid