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.”
Those organizations receiving funds this year are:
|
Abby's House |
Shelter, Housing, and Advocacy Operations |
$18,000.00 |
|
African Community Education Program (ACE) |
Family Outreach & Education Programming |
$18,000.00 |
|
African Community Education Program (ACE) |
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 |
$5,000.00 |
|
Anna Maria College |
OpporTUNEity® Music Connections |
$2,500.00 |
|
Appalachian Mountain Club |
Youth Opportunities Program Worcester Summit Site 2019 |
$5,000.00 |
|
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 |
$10,000.00 |
|
Audio Journal, Inc. |
General Operating Support |
$5,500.00 |
|
Bancroft School |
Worcester Partnership |
$20,000.00 |
|
Best Buddies Massachusetts |
Worcester County Friendship Program |
$4,000.00 |
|
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest, Inc. |
Worcester Area Mentoring Program |
$20,000.00 |
|
Blackstone Valley Boys and Girls Club |
2019 Summer Program Camperships |
$7,500.00 |
|
Boys & Girls Club of Lunenburg |
After-School Program |
$5,000.00 |
|
Boys & Girls Club of Webster - Dudley |
Junior Staff Development Program |
$5,000.00 |
|
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester |
Youth Development Programs |
$25,000.00 |
|
Building Futures, Inc. (fs Worcester Housing Authority) |
Lakeside Summer Camp |
$18,000.00 |
|
Camp Putnam, Inc. |
Summer Camperships |
$10,000.00 |
|
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 |
$18,000.00 |
|
Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Inc. |
Public Education & Advocacy |
$12,000.00 |
|
Clark University |
Adam Achiever Program |
$10,000.00 |
|
Clinton Adult Learning Center |
Clinton Adult Learning Center |
$7,500.00 |
|
Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester (fs YWCA of Central MA) |
Strengthening and Diversifying Community Engagement in the CHIP |
$5,000.00 |
|
Community Harvest Project |
CRAVE (Class Room Agriculture and Vegetable Education) |
$2,500.00 |
|
Community Harvest Project |
Volunteer Farming Program |
$15,000.00 |
|
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 |
$9,000.00 |
|
Creative Hub Worcester |
SPARK Arts |
$2,500.00 |
|
Discovery Museum |
Discovery Science: Worcester |
$5,000.00 |
|
Dismas House of Massachusetts, Inc. |
Prisoner Reentry Program |
$15,000.00 |
|
Dress for Success Worcester Inc |
More Than a Suit |
$5,000.00 |
|
EcoTarium (Worcester Natural History Society) |
EBT Access Program |
$10,000.00 |
|
EcoTarium (Worcester Natural History Society)* |
Countdown to Kindergarten 2018/2019 |
$15,000.00 |
|
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center |
Linguistically and Culturally Competent Care for Arabic-Speaking Patients |
$10,000.00 |
|
Edward Street Child Services* |
Early Childhood Matters |
$20,000.00 |
|
Edward Street Child Services* |
Master Teacher Consultation Program |
$55,000.00 |
|
Elder Services of Worcester Area, Inc. |
Nutrition Program |
$7,500.00 |
|
Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc. |
Summer Jump Start 2019 |
$7,500.00 |
|
Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc. |
Healthcare for Homeless Families Program |
$10,000.00 |
|
Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc. |
Dental Care for Un/Underinsured Low-income Individuals |
$25,000.00 |
|
Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc.* |
Baby Cafe |
$15,000.00 |
|
Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc.* |
Centering Pregnancy |
$10,000.00 |
|
Fathering Fathers Inc. |
REAL MENtors |
$2,500.00 |
|
Fresh Start Furniture Bank, Inc. |
Furniture Distribution Center |
$5,000.00 |
|
Friendly House, Inc. |
Frances Perkins Transitional Program |
$21,000.00 |
|
Friends of St Luke's, Inc |
St. Luke's Guesthouse |
$7,500.00 |
|
Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library |
Memory Cafe |
$2,500.00 |
|
Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library |
English Conversation Circle |
$5,000.00 |
|
Genesis Club, Inc. |
Supported Education with Young Adults Focus |
$20,000.00 |
|
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts |
It's A Girl's World |
$7,500.00 |
|
Girls Incorporated of Worcester |
Eureka! Program |
$6,500.00 |
|
Girls Incorporated of Worcester |
Support for General Operations |
$17,500.00 |
|
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 |
$7,500.00 |
|
Hope Coalition (fs UMass Memorial) |
Peer Leadership Program |
$12,500.00 |
|
Hope Coalition (fs UMass Memorial)* |
Worcester ACTs (Addresses Childhood Trauma) |
$20,000.00 |
|
Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Worcester (fs Friendly House) |
Program Support |
$10,000.00 |
|
Jeremiah's Inn |
Nutrition Center |
$8,000.00 |
|
Joy of Music Program, Inc. |
Financial Aid Program |
$10,000.00 |
|
Kennedy-Donovan Center* |
Fostering Early Connections - Building Parenting Confidence and Competence |
$12,000.00 |
|
L.U.K. Crisis Center, Inc. |
Mentoring Program |
$5,000.00 |
|
Latin American Health Alliance of Central Mass. Inc. |
Pilot Program |
$10,000.00 |
|
Latino Education Institute (fs Worcester State Foundation) |
ENLACE (Encouraging Latinos to Achieve Excellence) |
$18,000.00 |
|
Latino Education Institute (fs Worcester State Foundation)* |
Early Connections Program |
$25,000.00 |
|
Let's Get Ready |
Worcester Access to Success Program |
$10,000.00 |
|
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 |
$5,000.00 |
|
Literacy Volunteers of South Central Massachusetts |
ESOL Tutoring Programs |
$8,500.00 |
|
Main South Community Development Corporation |
Youth-Police Dialogue Program |
$8,500.00 |
|
Massachusetts Audubon Society Inc. |
Nature Education and Recreation Programs for Worcester Youth |
$18,000.00 |
|
Massachusetts Education & Career Opportunities, Inc. |
Collegiate Success Institute (CSI) |
$10,000.00 |
|
Massachusetts Education & Career Opportunities, Inc. (MassEdCO) |
On Ou |