Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | January 24, 2022 | Worcester Business Journal 9 Healthy communities $6.64 million Civic life, the arts & the environment $3.85 million Youth development & education $3.06 million Economic opportunity $800,000 Total college scholarships $700,000 Early childhood development $450,000 GWCF grant dispersement areas in 2020 Source: Greater Worcester Community Foundation 2020 annual report Regional Real Estate? Regional Real Estate? Our World of Knowledge Our World of Knowledge Can Bridge the Gap Can Bridge the Gap Between a Great Idea Between a Great Idea and a Grand Opening. and a Grand Opening. Knowing the ins and outs of commercial real estate requires not only know-how but also knowing who. Our knowledge of local and regional markets allows us to assist you with the how and the why, the when and where, always with an eye on the time, regardless of the size of your project. Because when you have all of the right information, you're assured of making an enlightened decision. Call Mark Donahue 508.459.8029 or Todd Brodeur 508.459.8038. Real Knowledge in Real Estate COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE | SPECIAL PERMITS SITE PLAN APPROVAL | MEPA FletcherTilton.com WO RC E ST E R | F R A M I N G H A M | B OSTO N | C A P E CO D Burns Bridge in Shrewsbury, MA. Photo by Jerry Callaghan W O R C E S T E R • F R A M I N G H A M • B O S TO N • C A P E C O D • P R O V I D E N C E those who aren't. We see it as our job to look at who has the potential of being le behind, who historically may have been underserved, and to try to adjust so opportunity is available for all. Is there any project or part of the foundation you're particularly excited to work on and make your own as you take over leadership? We're doing a lot of work around the arts. So, supporting the creative sector in all of its different forms. Are you a patron of the arts or an artist yourself? I am a musician, not a particularly accomplished musician, but I play music, and I believe that vibrancy is an important part of community. So, our job at the foundation isn't just to address critical needs, but to figure out how our communities can be as vibrant as possible to all the different people who live in the communities. And so within arts work here, equity is a big component, as well, to make sure artists from non-traditional backgrounds, artists of color, and low-income artists have the ability to be engaged, to make a living and share their gis with the rest of the community. Different parts of the community like to engage in arts in different ways, and we want to make sure there's opportu- nities for all of them, as well as opportu- nities to discover art forms and venues we might not come across in our own circles. What should the business community know about you? I'm a new person to the community, and I'm thrilled to be sitting here, in Worcester. But I'm going to need to learn the community. I'm going to need to get to know more people. I'm going to need to reach out. And I'm so excited to do that with business leaders. I'm excited to do both from the per- spective of them as employers, and their perspective as being key stakeholders who are committed to this community. It's been really exciting to see, just in my first few weeks of living here, how engaged so many companies are and how interested they are in this concept of working together. is interview was conducted and edited for length and clarity by WBJ Senior Staff Writer Monica Benevides. W GWCF endowment growth Source: Greater Worcester Community Foundation 2020 annual report Year Endowment $1.74 million 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 $178.22 million $120.95 million $85.81 million $24.3 million

• Cover