FOR​ ​IMMEDIATE​ ​RELEASE Tori​ ​Dumstorf [email protected] 847-826-0890

Greater​ ​Worcester​ ​Community​ ​Foundation​ ​Awards More​ ​Than​ ​$1.4​ ​Million​ ​to​ ​137​ ​Nonprofit​ ​Organizations (​Worcester,​ ​MA​ ​–​ ​November​ ​27,​ ​2017)​​ ​The​ ​Greater​ ​Worcester​ ​Community​ ​Foundation announced​ ​the​ ​137​ ​awardees​ ​of​ ​its​ ​2017​ ​Community​ ​Grants:​ ​a​ ​total​ ​of​ ​$1,444,500.​ ​Community Grants​ ​support​ ​nonprofit​ ​organizations​ ​that​ ​build​ ​healthy​ ​and​ ​vibrant​ ​communities​ ​throughout Central​ ​Massachusetts.​ ​Areas​ ​of​ ​interest​ ​this​ ​year​ ​included​ ​civic/cultural/natural​ ​environment, early​ ​childhood​ ​wellbeing,​ ​youth​ ​development,​ ​economic​ ​security,​ ​and​ ​healthy​ ​communities​ ​in the​ ​region. “As​ ​the​ ​largest​ ​program​ ​we​ ​have,​ ​our​ ​Community​ ​Grants​ ​provide​ ​funds​ ​annually​ ​for​ ​the​ ​general betterment​ ​of​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​Worcester​ ​community​ ​and​ ​beyond,”​ ​said​ ​Ann​ ​T.​ ​Lisi,​ ​president​ ​of GWCF.​ ​“This​ ​year,​ ​we​ ​reached​ ​another​ ​significant​ ​milestone​ ​as​ ​we​ ​increased​ ​the​ ​number​ ​of nonprofits​ ​that​ ​received​ ​grants​ ​from​ ​last​ ​year.​ ​We​ ​are​ ​honored​ ​to​ ​continually​ ​be​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a strong​ ​network​ ​of​ ​thoughtful​ ​and​ ​strategic​ ​donors​ ​committed​ ​to​ ​making​ ​an​ ​impact​ ​in​ ​our communities.” Those​ ​organizations​ ​and​ ​programs​ ​receiving​ ​grants​ ​this​ ​fall​ ​are:

Abby's​ ​House

Shelter,​ ​Housing​ ​&​ ​Advocacy Operations

$18,000.00

Advocates

Worcester​ ​Initiative​ ​for​ ​Supported Reentry​ ​(WISR)

$5,000.00

African​ ​Community​ ​Education Program

Family​ ​Outreach​ ​&​ ​Education Programming

$21,000.00

African​ ​Community​ ​Education Program

Youth​ ​Academic​ ​&​ ​Social-Emotional Programming

$24,000.00

Alzheimer's​ ​Association,​ ​MA/NH Chapter

Expansion​ ​of​ ​Alzheimer's​ ​Care​ ​and Support

$5,000.00

American​ ​Red​ ​Cross

Disaster​ ​Relief​ ​&​ ​Recovery​ ​Program

$9,000.00

Angels​ ​Net​ ​Foundation

Educational​ ​&​ ​Social​ ​Programs​ ​for Immigrant​ ​&​ ​Refugee​ ​Youth

$5,000.00

Appalachian​ ​Mountain​ ​Club

Youth​ ​Opportunities​ ​Program​ ​Worcester​ ​Summit​ ​Site

$5,000.00

Apple​ ​Tree​ ​Arts

Head​ ​Start​ ​Preschool​ ​Music​ ​Outreach Program

$15,000.00

ArtsWorcester

Aurora​ ​Gallery​ ​Programs

$10,000.00

Ascentria​ ​Community​ ​Services

Immigration​ ​&​ ​Legal​ ​Assistance Program

$25,000.00

Auburn​ ​Youth​ ​&​ ​Family​ ​Services

Operating​ ​Support

$10,000.00

Audio​ ​Journal

General​ ​Operating​ ​Support

$5,000.00

Bancroft​ ​School

Worcester​ ​Partnership

$20,000.00

Best​ ​Buddies​ ​Massachusetts

School​ ​Friendship​ ​Programs​ ​in Worcester

$4,000.00

Big​ ​Brothers​ ​Big​ ​Sisters​ ​of​ ​Central MA/Metrowest

Worcester​ ​County​ ​Mentoring​ ​Program

$20,000.00

Blackstone​ ​Valley​ ​Boys​ ​and​ ​Girls Club

2018​ ​Summer​ ​Program​ ​Camperships

$7,500.00

Bottom​ ​Line

Worcester​ ​Access/Success​ ​Programs

$10,000.00

Boys​ ​&​ ​Girls​ ​Club​ ​of​ ​Webster/Dudley

Boys​ ​&​ ​Girls​ ​Club​ ​Junior​ ​Staff Development​ ​Program

$7,000.00

Boys​ ​&​ ​Girls​ ​Club​ ​of​ ​Worcester

General​ ​Program​ ​Support

$25,000.00

Camp​ ​Putnam

Camp​ ​Scholarships

$10,000.00

Catholic​ ​Charities​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Diocese​ ​of Worcester

Citizenship​ ​Services​ ​and​ ​Education​ ​for Families

$12,000.00

Center​ ​for​ ​Health​ ​Impact

Intercultural​ ​Communication​ ​for​ ​the

$15,000.00

Wellbeing​ ​of​ ​Children Center​ ​for​ ​Nonviolent​ ​Solutions

Peer​ ​Mediation​ ​and​ ​Peacebuilding Program

$5,000.00

Center​ ​of​ ​Hope​ ​Foundation

Employment​ ​Services​ ​Marketing Technical​ ​Assistance

$7,500.00

Central​ ​Massachusetts​ ​Housing Alliance

Public​ ​Education​ ​&​ ​Advocacy

$12,000.00

CENTRO

Community​ ​Based​ ​Services

$5,000.00

Children's​ ​Friend

Community​ ​Outreach​ ​Project​ ​for​ ​The Carriage​ ​House

$5,000.00

Clark​ ​University

Adam​ ​Achiever​ ​Program/Main​ ​South College​ ​Success​ ​Program

$10,000.00

Community​ ​Harvest​ ​Project

Volunteer​ ​Farming​ ​Program

$15,000.00

Community​ ​Healthlink

Together​ ​For​ ​Kids

$12,000.00

Community​ ​Legal​ ​Aid

Immigrant​ ​Victims​ ​Legal​ ​Advocacy Project

$15,000.00

Community​ ​Servings

Nutrition​ ​Program​ ​for​ ​Critically​ ​Ill Individuals​ ​&​ ​Families

$9,000.00

Dismas​ ​House​ ​of​ ​Massachusetts

Prisoner​ ​Reentry​ ​Program

$15,000.00

EcoTarium

EBT​ ​Access​ ​Program

$10,000.00

Edward​ ​M.​ ​Kennedy​ ​Community Health​ ​Center

Substance​ ​Abuse​ ​Assessment​ ​and Intervention

$17,500.00

Elder​ ​Services​ ​of​ ​Worcester​ ​Area

Nutrition​ ​Program

$7,500.00

Ex-Prisoners​ ​and​ ​Prisoners Organizing​ ​for​ ​Community Advancement

Putting​ ​UNITY​ ​Back​ ​into​ ​CommUNITY

$5,000.00

Family​ ​Health​ ​Center​ ​of​ ​Worcester

Dental​ ​Care​ ​for​ ​Un/Underinsured Low-Income​ ​Adults​ ​&​ ​Children

$25,000.00

Family​ ​Health​ ​Center​ ​of​ ​Worcester

Healthcare​ ​for​ ​Homeless​ ​Families Program

$10,000.00

Family​ ​Health​ ​Center​ ​of​ ​Worcester

Positive​ ​Directions​ ​Summer​ ​Jump​ ​Start

$7,500.00

Fresh​ ​Start​ ​Furniture​ ​Bank

Furniture​ ​Distribution​ ​Center

$5,000.00

Friendly​ ​House

Frances​ ​Perkins​ ​Transitional​ ​Program

$21,000.00

Friends​ ​of​ ​St​ ​Luke's

St.​ ​Luke's​ ​Guesthouse

$7,500.00

Friends​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Shrewsbury​ ​Public Library

English​ ​Conversation​ ​Circle

$5,000.00

Genesis​ ​Club

Educational​ ​Supports​ ​and​ ​Young Adults​ ​Initiative

$20,000.00

Girl​ ​Scouts​ ​of​ ​Central​ ​and​ ​Western Massachusetts

It's​ ​A​ ​Girl's​ ​World

$7,500.00

Girls​ ​Incorporated​ ​of​ ​Worcester

Eureka!

$6,500.00

Girls​ ​Incorporated​ ​of​ ​Worcester

General​ ​Operations

$17,500.00

Greater​ ​Worcester​ ​Land​ ​Trust

Increasing​ ​Public​ ​Engagement​ ​with​ ​the Forests,​ ​Trails,​ ​Waters,​ ​and​ ​Agriculture

$7,000.00

Growing​ ​Places​ ​Garden​ ​Project

Growing​ ​Healthy​ ​People​ ​and Community

$4,000.00

Habitat​ ​for​ ​Humanity MetroWest/Greater​ ​Worcester

General​ ​Program​ ​Support

$7,500.00

Hope​ ​Coalition

HOPE​ ​Coalition​ ​Peer​ ​Leadership Program

$12,500.00

Interfaith​ ​Hospitality​ ​Network​ ​of Greater​ ​Worcester

Program​ ​Support

$10,000.00

Jeremiah's​ ​Inn

Nutrition​ ​Programs

$7,500.00

Joy​ ​of​ ​Music​ ​Program

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

Mentoring​ ​Program

$5,000.00

Latino​ ​Education​ ​Institute​ ​of Worcester​ ​State​ ​University

ENLACE​ ​-​ ​Encouraging​ ​Latinos​ ​to Achieve​ ​Excellence

$12,000.00

Let's​ ​Get​ ​Ready

Worcester​ ​College​ ​Access​ ​Program

$10,000.00

LGBT​ ​Asylum​ ​Support​ ​Task​ ​Force

Operating​ ​Support

$5,000.00

Literacy​ ​Volunteers​ ​of​ ​Greater Worcester

English​ ​Language​ ​Literacy​ ​for Immigrant​ ​and​ ​Refugee​ ​Parents Helping​ ​Schoolchildren

$5,000.00

Literacy​ ​Volunteers​ ​of​ ​Greater Worcester

English​ ​Language​ ​Proficiency​ ​for​ ​Job Seekers​ ​&​ ​Other​ ​Adult​ ​Immigrants​ ​& Refugees

$20,000.00

Literacy​ ​Volunteers​ ​of​ ​the Tri-Community

ESOL​ ​Tutoring​ ​Programs

$7,500.00

Massachusetts​ ​Audubon​ ​Society

Nature​ ​Education​ ​and​ ​Recreation Programs​ ​for​ ​Worcester​ ​Youth

$18,000.00

Massachusetts​ ​Education​ ​&​ ​Career Opportunities

Collegiate​ ​Success​ ​Institute

$10,000.00

Massachusetts​ ​Education​ ​&​ ​Career Opportunities

On​ ​Our​ ​Way

$12,500.00

Matthew​ ​25

9​ ​Mt.​ ​Pleasant​ ​Street​ ​Housing​ ​Initiative

$7,500.00

Montachusett​ ​Opportunity​ ​Council

Homework​ ​Help​ ​Center​ ​at​ ​Green​ ​Acres

$8,000.00

Music​ ​Worcester

In​ ​Harmony:​ ​Music​ ​Worcester​ ​Comes to​ ​Worcester

$10,000.00

National​ ​Education​ ​for​ ​Assistance Dog​ ​Service

Service​ ​Dog​ ​Training

$9,500.00

Nativity​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Worcester

Graduate​ ​Support​ ​Program

$7,500.00

New​ ​Hope

MJ​ ​Ledenham​ ​Center

$10,000.00

NewVue​ ​Communities

North​ ​of​ ​Main​ ​(NoM)​ ​Neighborhood Initiative

$20,000.00

North​ ​Brookfield​ ​Youth​ ​Center

Youth​ ​Programs

$10,000.00

North​ ​Quabbin​ ​Citizen​ ​Advocacy

Operating​ ​Support

$7,000.00

Notre​ ​Dame​ ​Health​ ​Care

Educational​ ​Bridge​ ​Center

$5,000.00

Oak​ ​Hill​ ​Community​ ​Development Corporation

Operating​ ​Support​ ​for​ ​Neighborhood Development

$10,000.00

Our​ ​Father's​ ​House

Ensuring​ ​Health​ ​&​ ​Wellness​ ​in Homeless​ ​Children

$15,000.00

Pakachoag​ ​Music​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Greater Worcester

Financial​ ​Aid​ ​Program

$4,000.00

Parent/Professional​ ​Advocacy League

Strengthening​ ​Family​ ​Voice

$5,000.00

Pathways​ ​for​ ​Change

Sexual​ ​Assault​ ​Prevention​ ​&​ ​Survivor Services

$10,000.00

Pernet​ ​Family​ ​Health​ ​Service

Early​ ​Childhood​ ​Development​ ​Program

$20,000.00

Preservation​ ​Worcester

Operating​ ​Support

$9,000.00

Quinsigamond​ ​Community​ ​College Foundation

Brothers​ ​&​ ​Keepers​ ​Summer​ ​Bridge Academy

$5,000.00

Quinsigamond​ ​Community​ ​College Foundation

Women​ ​in​ ​Technology​ ​Program

$15,000.00

Rachel's​ ​Table

Program​ ​Support

$12,000.00

Reach​ ​Out​ ​and​ ​Read

Worcester​ ​Rx​ ​for​ ​Success!

$5,000.00

Refugee​ ​and​ ​Immigrant​ ​Assistance Center

Comprehensive​ ​Case​ ​Management

$10,000.00

Refugee​ ​and​ ​Immigrant​ ​Assistance Center

ESOL​ ​System​ ​Navigator​ ​-​ ​Collaborative Project

$10,000.00

Regatta​ ​Point​ ​Community​ ​Sailing

Boating​ ​Scholarships​ ​for​ ​Youth

$5,000.00

Regional​ ​Environmental​ ​Council

General​ ​Operations

$20,000.00

Rise​ ​Above​ ​Foundation

Activities​ ​for​ ​Foster​ ​Youth

$5,000.00

South​ ​Middlesex​ ​Opportunity​ ​Council

Greater​ ​Worcester​ ​Housing​ ​Connection

$15,000.00

Southeast​ ​Asian​ ​Coalition​ ​of​ ​Central Massachusetts

Building​ ​Healthy​ ​Asian​ ​and​ ​Arabic Speaking​ ​Communities

$25,000.00

Spanish​ ​American​ ​Center

Nos​ ​Estamos​ ​Ayudando​ ​(Helping

$6,000.00

Ourselves) StandUp​ ​For​ ​Kids​ ​-​ ​Worcester

Operating​ ​Support

$5,000.00

Straight​ ​Ahead​ ​Ministries

Youth​ ​Re-entry​ ​Project​ ​and Straight2Work​ ​Program

$15,000.00

Tenacity

Summer​ ​Tennis​ ​&​ ​Reading​ ​Program

$7,500.00

The​ ​Barton​ ​Center​ ​for​ ​Diabetes Education

Campership​ ​Program

$5,000.00

The​ ​Bridge​ ​of​ ​Central​ ​MA

Safe​ ​Homes

$18,000.00

The​ ​Bridge​ ​of​ ​Central​ ​MA

The​ ​South​ ​County​ ​Housing​ ​Assistance Program

$12,500.00

The​ ​CASA​ ​Project

Transitional​ ​Age​ ​Youth​ ​Bridge​ ​Program

$7,500.00

The​ ​Discovery​ ​Museums

Discovery​ ​Science​ ​Worcester

$5,000.00

The​ ​Salvation​ ​Army​ ​-​ ​Worcester Citadel​ ​Corps

Sally's​ ​Place

$7,500.00

Tower​ ​Hill​ ​Botanic​ ​Garden

Worcester​ ​Refugee​ ​Assistance​ ​Project (WRAP)​ ​Partnership​ ​Program

$5,000.00

Tri-Valley,​ ​Inc.

Nutrition​ ​Programs​ ​for​ ​Seniors

$10,000.00

Valley​ ​Residents​ ​for​ ​Improvement

Lakeside​ ​Summer​ ​Camp

$18,000.00

Veterans​ ​Inc.

Supportive​ ​Services​ ​for​ ​Veterans​ ​and Families

$12,500.00

Visitation​ ​House

Outreach​ ​Coordinator

$5,000.00

VSA​ ​Massachusetts

Open​ ​Door​ ​Gallery​ ​at​ ​Worcester​ ​Art Museum

$5,000.00

WCUW​ ​Inc.

The​ ​Voices​ ​of​ ​Worcester

$10,000.00

Whitin​ ​Community​ ​Center

Youth​ ​Outreach​ ​Programs

$10,000.00

Worcester​ ​Academy

Summer​ ​Scholars​ ​Program

$5,000.00

Worcester​ ​Anti-Foreclosure​ ​Team

Program​ ​Support

$7,500.00

Worcester​ ​Center​ ​for​ ​Crafts

Youth​ ​Craft​ ​&​ ​Creativity

$5,000.00

Worcester​ ​Center​ ​for​ ​Performing​ ​Arts

Adopt-a-School​ ​-​ ​WPS​ ​Partnership

$5,000.00

Worcester​ ​Chamber​ ​Music​ ​Society

Operating​ ​Support

$10,000.00

Worcester​ ​Common​ ​Ground

Community​ ​Building​ ​and​ ​Affordable Housing

$10,000.00

Worcester​ ​Community​ ​Action​ ​Council

YouthWorks​ ​-​ ​Year-Round​ ​Program

$10,000.00

Worcester​ ​Community​ ​Housing Resources

Quality​ ​Housing​ ​in​ ​Liveable Neighborhoods

$10,000.00

Worcester​ ​County​ ​Food​ ​Bank

Food​ ​Sourcing​ ​and​ ​Distribution

$5,000.00

Worcester​ ​Cultural​ ​Coalition

Creativity​ ​Sparks​ ​Community

$15,000.00

Worcester​ ​Education​ ​Collaborative

Operating​ ​Support

$12,500.00

Worcester​ ​Interfaith

Summer​ ​Jobs​ ​for​ ​Youth/Youth​ ​Jobs Pipeline​ ​Initiative

$10,000.00

Worcester​ ​Jewish​ ​Community​ ​Center

Scholarships​ ​for​ ​Afterschool​ ​and Summer​ ​Childcare​ ​Programs

$10,000.00

Worcester​ ​Public​ ​Schools

Youth​ ​Leadership​ ​through​ ​Philanthropy at​ ​South​ ​High

$12,000.00

Worcester​ ​Regional​ ​Research Bureau

Operating​ ​Support

$6,000.00

Worcester​ ​Youth​ ​Center

Support​ ​for​ ​Core​ ​Programs

$15,000.00

Worcester​ ​Youth​ ​Orchestras

Financial​ ​Aid​ ​&​ ​Scholarship​ ​Program

$5,000.00

YMCA​ ​of​ ​Central​ ​Massachusetts

Minority​ ​Achievers​ ​Program

$10,000.00

YMCA​ ​of​ ​Central​ ​Massachusetts

Summer​ ​PLAY

$11,000.00

Youth​ ​Opportunities​ ​Upheld​ ​(YOU), Inc.

Dynamy​ ​Youth​ ​Academy

$10,000.00

YouthConnect

Summer​ ​2017

$18,000.00

YWCA​ ​of​ ​Central​ ​Massachusetts

Domestic​ ​Violence​ ​Services

$20,000.00

YWCA​ ​of​ ​Central​ ​Massachusetts

Girls​ ​CHOICE

$10,000.00

YWCA​ ​of​ ​Central​ ​Massachusetts

Racial​ ​Equity​ ​Program

$7,500.00

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About​ ​the​ ​Greater​ ​Worcester​ ​Community​ ​Foundation Greater​ ​Worcester​ ​Community​ ​Foundation​ ​unites​ ​people​ ​from​ ​diverse​ ​sectors​ ​to​ ​create​ ​positive​ ​change​ ​within​ ​our region.​ ​ ​Created​ ​and​ ​built​ ​by​ ​local​ ​individuals,​ ​this​ ​permanent​ ​endowment​ ​is​ ​used​ ​to​ ​create​ ​personal​ ​and​ ​lasting legacies​ ​that​ ​improve​ ​lives​ ​and​ ​conditions​ ​within​ ​the​ ​community.​ ​ ​Established​ ​in​ ​1975,​ ​the​ ​Foundation​ ​has awarded​ ​more​ ​than​ ​$100​ ​million​ ​to​ ​cultural​ ​educational,​ ​human​ ​service​ ​and​ ​civic​ ​organizations.​ ​ ​Today,​ ​the Foundation​ ​stewards​ ​a​ ​charitable​ ​endowment​ ​exceeding​ ​$140​ ​million​ ​in​ ​over​ ​600​ ​named​ ​funds,​ ​all​ ​created​ ​by​ ​local citizens.​ ​For​ ​more​ ​information,​ ​visit​ ​www.greaterworcester.org​.