Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | August 16, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 33 4 0 U N D E R F O R T Y Waddell co-founded the nonprofit Legendary Legacies three years ago and has grown the organization, which is dedicated to equipping young men with the tools they need to succeed in life, from two employees in 2020 to five in 2021. Along the way, he's grown the budget exponentially, from a startup with $60,000 in June 2020 to a $900,000 nonprofit with multi-year government funding just one year later. Impressive in its own right, this comes on the heels of Waddell's own challenges, having moved to Worcester at the age of 17 as a self-described homeless orphan struggling with substance use disorder. A regular resource for City Hall, the Worcester Police Department, and Worcester Public Schools for combating gang problems in the city, Waddell's team has been an essential component in challenging what success means and looks like for underserved populations. As a side business and lesson for his children, Waddell cofounded the social enterprise venture Lemonade Bros., with his two sons where they sell lemonade next to their home to support various causes. Operating at the intersection of religion, nonprofit management, the community, and politics, Waddell's commitment to shaking up the nonprofit world and promoting boots-on-the-ground change in Worcester is as clear as day. - M.B. What Olympic sport would you be the best at? 3-on-3 basketball. First appearance in Toyko this year. What is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you? Jesus Christ. He loved me while I was his enemy. What Central Mass. community is best? Worcester, because of the diversity Ronald Bernard Waddell Jr., 39 Executive director Legendary Legacies Inc., in Worcester Residence: Worcester Birthplace: Chester, Pa. College: Boston University Swalec thrives in adversity while supporting others to do the same. As the leader of typically the busiest of the state's 27 family resource centers, she has mounted two major emergency response operations, to support Puerto Ricans resettling in Worcester after Hurricane Maria in 2018 and, more recently, to create COVID-19 aid. She became instrumental in supporting the region's COVID-19 victims, serving thousands of hot meals and free Lyft rides to more than 4,500 individuals and families during the pandemic, including 585 households with active COVID cases. Her work implementing the Hot Meals Program won her the United Way of Central Massachusetts' Orville Harold Award this year. Even before the pandemic, Swalec reduced write-offs for services unable to be reimbursed by insurance by more than $250,000. She offered technical support and training to more than 600 staff in Worcester County to transition to a new electronic health records system. Despite her packed schedule, she invests time in projects overseeing the vaccine rollout, creating alternatives to detention in the juvenile justice system, and bettering the lives of youth and families in the community. Worcester's culture and arts are near and dear to Swalec, who calls herself an unofficial Worcester tourism broker. - K.H. What world record would you like to have? Most brunches attended in a lifetime What did you learn from the pandemic? COVID taught me how to, as Pema Chödrön writes, "Relax and have a genuine, passionate relationship with the fundamental uncertainty, the groundlessness, of being human." What Central Mass. activity should everyone try? Visit Tower Hill in every season and watch our natural world change! Emily Swalec, LCSW, 29 Program director of the Worcester Family Resource Center YOU, Inc., an affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation Residence: Worcester Birthplace: Worcester Colleges: Smith College School for Social Work, Wheaton College Banking LifeDesign ® 800.581.5363 fidelitybankonline.com Congrats John on your 40 under Forty recogni on! Living our Values Thank you John for supporting our culture and living our values every day! At Fidelity Bank, we are here to serve our clients, our communi es, and our colleagues. We do this by commi ng to a shared mission, vision, and set of values, and delivering the clarity and confidence they need to get where they want to be.

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