WORCESTER, MA - The Worcester Together fund recently announced over $2.3 Million in Recovery Grants to 54 nonprofits as a part of the fund's Phase Two response. A joint effort between the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the United Way of Central Massachusetts, in close partnership with the City of Worcester, the fund was created in March to support Worcester County nonprofits as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As the community continues to forge ahead, these recovery grants will ensure our local nonprofits can continue to serve those in our community hit hardest by the virus,” said GWCF President and CEO Barbara Fields.

The selected organizations are providing critical support to immigrant and refugee communities, as well as food, housing, health services, childcare, arts, culture, and more. The grants, totaling $2,350,000 are intended to support organizations' general operations for 3-6 months as they work through their planning for the future. In addition, grantees will have access to a range of technical assistance opportunities to help sharpen their planning.

“The initial shock of the pandemic may be behind us, but the threat of a resurgence will linger for some time,” said United Way of Central Massachusetts CEO Tim Garvin. “Facing this threat requires a strong non-profit sector with the resources they need for a sustained response to the pandemic.”

The grantee organizations are:

  • Abby's House
  • African Community Education
  • Ansaar of Worcester
  • ArtsWorcester
  • Ascentria Community Services
  • Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
  • Catholic Charities of the Dioceses of Worcester
  • Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance
  • Community Harvest Project
  • Community Healthlink
  • Community Legal Aid
  • Crocodile River Music
  • Dismas House of Massachusetts
  • EcoTarium
  • Friendly House
  • Genesis Club House
  • Girls Incorporated of Worcester
  • Habitat for Humanity Metrowest/Greater Worcester
  • Joy of Music Program
  • Latin American Health Alliance
  • Latino Education Institute
  • Legendary Legacies
  • Listening, The Barre Integrated Health Center
  • Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester
  • Muslim Community Link
  • Net of Compassion
  • NewVue Communities
  • North Star Family Services
  • Open Sky Community Services
  • Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester
  • Pathways for Change
  • Pernet Family Health Service
  • Project New Hope
  • Rainbow Child Development Center
  • Regatta Point Community Sailing
  • Regional Environmental Council
  • Main IDEA Youth Arts
  • Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts
  • The CASA Project
  • Tower Hill Botanic Garden
  • WCLOC Theater Company
  • Webster Square Daycare
  • Whitin Community Center
  • Winchendon Community Action Committee
  • Worcester Anti Foreclosure Team
  • Hanover Theatre (Worcester Center for Performing Arts)
  • Worcester Chamber Music Society
  • Worcester Common Ground
  • Worcester Historical Museum
  • Worcester Jewish Community Center
  • Worcester Youth Center
  • YMCA of Central Massachusetts
  • Youth Opportunities Upheld (YOU), Inc.
  • YWCA of Central Massachusetts

The Worcester Together: Central Mass COVID-19 Fund is a joint effort between the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the United Way of Central Massachusetts, in close partnership with the City of Worcester. The fund supports organizations in Worcester County working with communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

GWCF and UWCM invite institutions, companies, individuals and other funders to contribute to the Worcester Together fund at greaterworcester.org and unitedwaycm.org. The Worcester Together fund is also working with the City of Worcester, local officials throughout the County and other funders to give the Fund maximum reach and effectiveness. In addition to offering an opportunity to contribute to the Fund, the partners in the fund also urge donors to directly support the critical needs of nonprofits by making general operating support grants to organizations they wish to help.