(Worcester, MA – May 11, 2023) The Greater Worcester Community Foundation will hold its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 4:30 PM at 1 Mercantile St. Worcester, MA. This event is open to the media. During the meeting, Interim CEO Tim Johnstone will deliver an address highlighting the Foundation's impact on Central Massachusetts during the past year. He will also discuss the Foundation's progress and plans for the future.

"We are committed to strengthening our community by investing in nonprofits and initiatives that make a difference in the lives of Central Massachusetts residents," said Tim Johnstone, Interim CEO of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. "Our work is more important than ever, and we look forward to sharing our accomplishments with the community, as well as welcoming new board members and corporators."

The Foundation will also announce its 19th Renaissance Award. The Renaissance Award is a cash prize of $5,000, awarded annually as an expression of gratitude for the talented, dedicated people serving the community in nonprofit roles. The late John W. Lund, a GWCF founder, established the Renaissance Award through an endowed gift, which continues to make this prize possible today. Recipients are chosen based on their record of dedicated commitment to the nonprofit sector, professional accomplishments, and talent in fostering collaborative relationships. The Renaissance Award winner will be announced on May 16, 2023.

In addition to the Renaissance Award, the Foundation will release its financial reporting for 2022 at the annual meeting: Assets consisting of permanent charitable endowments that are available for local grantmaking exceed $175 million; the foundation awarded $8.5 million in grants and scholarships; and received more than $15 million in contributions. A complete annual report can be found at www.greaterworcester.org.

Phil Buchanan, the president of the Center of Effective Philanthropy, will be the guest speaker. Buchanan is a passionate advocate for the importance of philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. He is the author of Giving Done Right: Effective Philanthropy and Making Every Dollar Count, published in 2019 by PublicAffairs and named the “Best Philanthropy Book of the Year” by Inside Philanthropy. He is co-host of a podcast, also called Giving Done Right. Phil is a frequent blogger for the CEP Blog, author of op eds that have appeared in various publications, and a frequent commentator on philanthropy in the media.

Oliver de la Paz, Worcester’s Poet Laureate will also speak.

Six new members are presented for election to the Foundation’s board of directors, including:

• Linda Cammuso, Estate Preservation Law Offices
• Marybeth Campbell, Worcester Community Action Council
• Dennis Kerrigan, Hanover Insurance Group
• Naomi Sleeper, Imperial Distributors
• Ann Tripp, Opus Investment Management, (retired)
• Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham, Promoting Good
  

As well as Christopher McCarthy, Fidelity Bank being up for election to serve a second term.

The following individuals are up for election as new Corporators for a four-year term:

• Edward Augustus Jr., former City Manager
• Lisa Cohen. Health New England
• James Donahue, Old Sturbridge Village
• Peter Dunn, City of Worcester
• Grace Elton, New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill
• Anne Fine, Seven Hills Behavioral Health
• Liz Hamilton, Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
• Lauren Howe, EmpHowered PR
• Kim Miner, Worcester Red Sox
• Karen Pelletier, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Stephanie Ramey, Worcester Railers
  
• Scott Rossiter, Lampin Corporation (retired)
• Jacob Sanders, Architectural Heritage Foundation
• Naomi Sleeper, Imperial Distributors
• Elizabeth Wambui, Fontaine Bros.