The Foundation today announced the awardees of its Creative Community Engagement Grant Program. The program is intended to direct both financial and knowledge resources to select Worcester's non-profit cultural organizations. These resources are aimed to empower non-profits to develop innovative ways to increase engagement with diverse communities that represent Worcester's changing demographics.

In its second year, this program is just one element of the Foundation's Creative Worcester Initiative, which the Foundation has launched in partnership with the Barr Foundation and its Creative Commonwealth Initiative. Those organizations receiving funds this year are:

● EcoTarium (Worcester Natural History Society) for focus on visitor experience data to identify and close local service gaps.

● Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester for personnel expansion to facilitate increased recruitment and greater community engagement.

● Worcester County Poetry Association for support of greater communal engagement through new marketing approach and more advanced organizational structure.

● Worcester Historical Museum for support of a new marketing approach and personnel expansion to promote greater community engagement.

● Worcester County Light Opera Company for support of a new engagement strategy that will lead to an audience more representative of the community.