Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | January 27, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 21 Two types of philanthropy BY TIM GARVIN Special to WBJ A cryptic e-mail arrived in my inbox in early November of 2020: "I support the efforts of a philanthropist who is interested in contributing to the United Way of Central Massachusetts. I was hoping to schedule a quick follow-up call to discuss next steps." Next steps? I was unaware that we had taken any steps. So began our MacKenzie Scott story; that mysterious e-mail, the notice that we had already been chosen, and a $5-million unrestrict- ed contribution in December 2020. e Center for Effective Philan- thropy is in the middle of con- ducting a study into the substantial impact of Scott's giving. At our United Way, I have taken to referring to her contributions as transformational philanthropy. Her gi to our United Way transformed us; it brought attention and credibility to our organization beyond our greatest hopes, it infused a large amount of capital into our operations, and it changed how we saw ourselves and how the community viewed us. It enabled us to change how we made grants and to what and to whom we made community investments. Simply, it was transformational. In December, we were out on the fundraising trail – giving presentations to local businesses, meeting with individuals, writing proposals for funding. Much as we are working on the next Scott-like contribution, we're also focused on the 7,000+ everyday philanthropists in our community who contribute through our organization. Just a week before the holidays, I stood on the shop floor of a national food services company as corporate leadership chatted with employees. ey each presented about the partnership between their company, our United Way, and the community. ey announced a corporate match to both inspire personal giving and to amplify the good they could accomplish. One said it best to me, I paraphrase: "A strong and healthy community is good for our business. It also enriches my life to do good for others." MacKenzie Scott's gi to us was announced in her blog post "384 Ways to Help," in which she shared this story: "In March, a 19-year-old girl in Chicago sent a group text to her friends suggesting they buy supplies for people in their neighborhood who had lost their jobs. She posted two Google forms — one for people who needed help and another for people with help to give — and by two days later they'd raised $7,000. 'We're really excited,' she said. Me too." e most important sentiment in her essay are those final words: "Me too". What I have seen, what I have learned, what I believe is this: Each of us, we can all be everyday philanthropists, and everyday philanthropists create transformational philanthropy. May we all choose to be everyday philanthropists today, this year, and into the future. Tim Garvin is the CEO and president of the United Way of Central Massachusetts in Worcester. e strong business community of North Central Mass. Tim Garvin T he Central Massachusetts economy is full of dynamic industries led by hard-work- ing, innovative leaders who understand the importance of both business and community. With more than $52 billion in total economic activity, the region's more than 80 communities are interlaced with each other, making a significant contribution to the state's economy. Yet, each of Central Massachusetts' subregions has its own assets and personality, giving them unique identities. In North Central Massachusetts, that iden- tity is shaped around its strong sense of community. e region spans the Route 2 corridor, as far west as the Franklin County border; includes the twin cities of Leominster and Fitchburg; more remote communities like Hubbardston, Winchendon, and Orange; and Worcester County's oldest town: Lancaster. Anchored by the more traditional manufacturing sectors, North Central is home to large independent farms, a number of top tourist attractions, and the booming innovation hub of Devens, where nuclear fusion reactors and cutting edge pharmaceuticals are being produced. Commonwealth Fusion Systems might be one of the most innovative companies in the world. e billion-dollar firm is seeking to build the first com- mercially viable nuclear fusion reactor, capable of generating an enormous amount of electricity with minimal impacts on the environment. While CFS is a much newer company, more traditional manufacturers like Sterlite in Townsend have been producing every- day goods like storage containers for nearly a century. On the more fun side, North Central Massachusetts has destinations like Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Princeton, Davis Farmland in Sterling, Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, and Red Apple Farm in Phillipton. In WBJ's Focus on North Central Massachusetts starting on page 12, we highlight the ongoing revital- ization of Downtown Fitchburg in the story "Passing the torch" now that two key leaders have come aboard in the decades-long effort. In the other North Central feature story "Enrollment surge" on page 14, we dive into how Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner is seeking to capitalize on a decade-high enrollment spike by expanding its student support services. e region is knit together by the very active North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, and its president and CEO, Roy Nascimento. e chamber, which was named the national Chamber of the Year in 2023, helps bring together diverse industries and business leaders to collaborate, while advocating for issues like quality education and business-friendly government policies. e strong Community Founda- tion of North Central Massachusetts and United Way of North Central MA all add glue and strategic vision to that regional focus. While the Greater Worcester area remains the eco- nomic center for Central Massachusetts, and MetroW- est is full of Fortune 500 companies and communities bordering the greater Boston belt, you'd be hard- pressed to find a business community as fiercely loyal as North Central Massachusetts. The Worcester Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Please send submissions to Brad Kane, editor, at bkane@wbjournal.com. W W

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