Worcester Business Journal

66 Giving Guide 2024 Worcester Business Journal www.wbjournal.com FUTURE GOALS 1. Engage community leaders, educators, business leaders, and residents across the region in a Community Needs Assessment, which enables us to focus our funding and efforts on the local needs identified by our community. 2. Mobilize the caring power of our corporate partners and deepen their impact through group volunteer experiences and the expansion of our Volunteer Center. 3. Continue to build strong local coalitions with our partner agencies and stakeholders to address the most critical needs in the region including housing and homelessness, food insecurity, and youth mental and behavioral health. 4. Provide the training and resources that families and individuals in our region need to achieve financial stability through financial education and asset development. 5. Expand access to healthy food for all through the targeted endeavors of our United to Feed North Central MA coalition. 6. Increase local housing and shelter resources through our North County Homelessness Network and reduce housing insecurity in our region. FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES Community Celebration – Annual event to celebrate the good work our community has accomplished over the past year through giving, advocating, and volunteering. Community members and businesses are invited to attend the event, and businesses may sponsor the event. Day of Caring – Largest single day of volunteering across the region involving over 600 volunteers serving at 60+ sites. Community members are invited to volunteer. Businesses may sponsor the event, organize an employee volunteer team, and donate raffle prizes. Fall and Spring Food Drives – Supplying food to our neighbors in need through our partner food pantries across North Central Massachusetts. Businesses may host a collection box onsite and/or sponsor the purchase of fresh vegetables from local farms. Community members are invited to donate food at participating host locations. Winter Reading Challenge – Encourages childhood literacy by logging hours spent reading and rewarding individuals and entire classrooms for their collective success. Both businesses and community members may donate books and school supplies as rewards for participating students, and businesses may sponsor the Challenge. GIVING OPPORTUNITIES At the United Way of North Central Massachusetts, we fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. roughout the year, individuals can unite their giving power with others in one of our three local focus areas – Community Impact, Education & Youth Opportunities, Pathways Out of Poverty – or designate funds towards the special needs that arise in our region (e.g. Leominster Flood Relief ). ere are multiple ways to get involved with giving: -rough a workplace giving campaign, where you can give easily through your payroll. -Online at www.uwncm.org/donate. -rough the mail by responding to a mailed appeal or newsletter. -Donating food, toiletry & hygiene supplies throughout the year or at our fall or spring food drives. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES We believe that a huge part of our caring power is in our ability to volunteer for the causes we are passionate about. erefore, UWNCM maintains an active Volunteer Center website listing current opportunities across our region at nonprofit and community organizations. We also personally connect individuals and corporate groups with special opportunities in line with their social responsibility goals and missions. Time commitments for volunteering can meet your schedule, ranging from a few hours to a full day, from a one-time event to an ongoing weekly commitment to help. ere is an opportunity for every person of every age and every stage of life! e important question is: What do you care about? You can make a difference! United Way of Nor Central Massachuse®s (UWNCM) BOARD MEMBERS Keith Boissoneau, Sterilite Corporation Melissa Fetterhoff, Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce Megan Glidden, Web Industries Angele Goss, MWCC and FSU Facilitator, Self-Employed Michelle Haggstrom, Keller Williams Realty Todd Jackson, Pavion Corporate Kyle Johnson, Johnson Controls Inc. James Javaras, BHR Life/Sentinel Amanda Northrop, State Street Foundation Bruce Platzman, Affordable Interior Systems Tricia Pistone, UMass Memorial HealthAlliance - Clinton Hospital Jean Shaughnessy, Athol Public Library Tim Smith, Workers Credit Union Cheryl Serpe, Enterprise Bank Shaun Suhoski, Athol MA James Vander Hooven, Mount Wachusett Community College Gina Wilson, Pusateri & Wilson, PC Leona Whetzel, Making Opportunity Count Dan Zona, Athol Savings Bank Kory Eng, United Way of North Central Massachusetts "I have been a member of the Board of the United Way for six years. As the president of the region's community college, I can attest to the value of the United Way's efforts to serve the citizens of our region. Our students are a microcosm of the greater community. Many experience food, housing, transportation, and childcare insecurity. e United Way actively works to alleviate these challenges resulting in positive change in lives. Furthermore, the United Way works with the K-12 segment to help kids aspire to future education. In all aspects, our work at Mount Wachusett Community College is enhanced by the efforts of the folks at the United Way of North Central Massachusetts. It's an honor to serve on the board." - James Vander Hooven, Board Chair 649 John Fitch Highway Fitchburg, MA 01420 Phone: (978) 345-1577 www.uwncm.org Full-time Employees: 9 Annual Revenues: $3,390,800 Year founded: 1957 MISSION STATEMENT To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community to advance the common good. SERVICE AREA We serve the North Central Massachusetts region, including these 22 communities: Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Devens Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Petersham, Pepperell, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster, and Winchendon. TOP FUNDING SOURCES 40% Individual donors 35% Foundations 20% Corporations Kory Eng President & CEO James Vander Hooven Board Chair OUR LEADERSHIP

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