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www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal Giving Guide 2021 5 FROM THE SPONSORS PARTNERING FOR A STRONGER COMMUNITY I t is undeniable that the pandemic strained our community. It continues to stretch our safety nets and reveal great disparities in our society. But it also demonstrates that our capacity to care for one another is boundless. We know that by working together to leverage our varied resources – knowledge, capital, and compassion – we can build a more unified region that is just and equitable. Each year, the Worcester Business Journal spotlights our dedicated nonprofit sector with the Giving Guide. In these pages, you'll find organizations that are rising to meet ongoing challenges, connecting and collaborating to close equity gaps in the community. These organizations, and many others that aren't listed here, merit your consideration. They are part of a nonprofit sector that is essential to a thriving region, one we are proud to champion. Since 1975, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation has worked closely with local donors to turn philanthropic interest into action in the form of grants, scholarships, and capacity-building programs. Today, with nearly $200 million under management, the Foundation is the place where people, knowledge, and resources come together to grow resilient communities. Through our civic leadership we convene stakeholders across sectors and inspire equitable, community-based solutions. Despite the complex challenges of a global pandemic and a national reckoning with racial injustice, we see a vibrant future unfolding for this region. It will take the participation of us all – every single one of us – who call Worcester County home. Know that the Foundation is here to help you connect meaningfully to the causes and communities you care about, to make an impact, and to build a lasting legacy. We're here to be a resource. The Foundation is your partner in philanthropy. n Carolyn Stempler Interim President & CEO Greater Worcester Community Foundation T his past year has been a challenge for so many in our community and we thank you for your support, which enabled us to respond in ways we have never had to before, and in ways that we have many times during the last 101 years. With our community in crisis, United Way of Central Massachusetts was there. We convened. We partnered. We volunteered. We raised and distributed funds. We found solutions. We did what we do best. As the pandemic continues to ravage our community, we continue our mission. We are proud of the vaccine equity work being done in Worcester – bringing clinics into our neighborhoods, with 84,000 people vaccinated with the help of 7,200 volunteers. During the height of the crisis when many students were learning remotely, we funded the Worcester Remote Learning Hub Collaborative, which served 1,300 kids in 95 classrooms at ten partner agencies. These students were being cared for and assisted with remote learning while parents worked, many at jobs that helped to keep our economy running. The pandemic brought to light many inequities in our community, including food insecurity. The Hot Meals Delivery Program that began during the early days of the pandemic is still operating to serve tasty, nutritious, culturally appropriate meals to people and families in quarantine. The program has provided more than 20,000 meals to 500 local households and added a $200,000 boost to our local restaurant economy. We also established our creative food security initiative, the "Farm to Market to Pantry to Table" as well as provided additional food and resources to our local food banks who have been so critically important during this pandemic. This important work was made possible by our many generous donors and dedicated volunteers. It was made possible through collaboration and partnership. As the United Way of Central Massachusetts has always done, we will continue to live by our mission of connecting people and resources to improve the community. We have done so for 101 years, even when our strength and resiliency was tested during this pandemic, and we will continue to do so into our Next Century. n Tim Garvin President & CEO United Way of Central Massachusetts Y ou are reading the 12th edition of our annual Central Massachusetts Giving Guide. The need for support of our nonprofit community has never been greater, as many organizations have suffered from funding shortfalls along with an increased demand for services. The pandemic has also made employee recruitment and retention a huge challenge for most organizations. The goal of this publication is to provide an easy-to-read snapshot of each organization's mission and goals, top volunteer activities, major fundraising events along with a list of board members and senior leadership. While you may be familiar with many of these organizations, we're confident that you'll discover a few new things you didn't know about each one of them in these organizational profiles. Central MA is home to a dynamic nonprofit community, and the best run organizations are always evolving and adapting their services to meet the changing needs of the marketplace - especially during the pandemic that seems to not want to go away. Our business community has a long tradition of giving back, and you'll see the names of many top executives and committed corporate citizens on the boards of each of the nonprofits in this issue. Challenging your staff and leadership to become involved in volunteering reinforces your company values while giving those individuals the chance to make new connections while giving back to those in need. Supporting our nonprofit community is integral to the mission of our long-time partners in the Giving Guide, the United Way and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, and its is great to be teaming up with them to produce this annual directory. If your company is looking for a way to engage in doing good, dig into the Giving Guide and find more out about the exciting work that these great organizations are doing and how you can lend a helping hand. Also note that a digital edition of the Giving Guide will be on our website year round at wbjournal.com,and each non-profit profile is also on the WBJ website under the "Biz Marketplace" tab. n Peter Stanton WBJ Publisher & CEO Peter Stanton Publisher/CEO New England Business Media From the Publisher GUIDE Giving 2021