Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1546059
48 Giving Guide 2026 Worcester Business Journal www.wbjournal.com FUTURE GOALS 1. Continue movement towards "whole person" care. Support people's behavioral health, medical and social determinant needs through comprehensive and collaborative approaches to services, supports, housing, nutrition and more. 2. Continue providing evidence-based supports for people with Intellectual/ Developmental Disabilities, Autism and Brain Injury. 3. Continue to enhance access to our outpatient behavioral services and our Rapid Response HUB for people who have behavioral health challenges and other needs. 4. Continue advocacy and creative efforts to address the acute workforce shortage in our industry. Further enhance and support a culture of engagement, advancement and feedback to ensure we retain our treasured workforce. Open Sky Community Services Inc. Open Sky Community Services Inc. 4 Mann St. Worcester, MA 01602 Phone: (508) 755-0333 www.openskycs.org Employees: 1,300 Annual revenues: $130,888,128 (FY25) Year founded: 1973 MISSION STATEMENT To blend best practices with the power of community, and partner with individuals and families to see beyond and live beyond perceived limitations to pursue fulfilling lives SERVICE AREA All of Worcester County, with additional programs in the Metrowest, Boston, and South Norfolk areas. TOP FUNDING SOURCES 35% Department of Mental Health 34% Department of Developmental Services 7% Mass Health 5. Continue moving on our journey to become anti-racist, trauma- informed and supportive and welcoming to all. 6. Continue to embrace the power of community, arts, culture and inclusion. 7. Collaborate with the community and partners to address gaps in the behavioral health and human services landscape in the Central MA region. FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES Open Sky holds four major fundraising events each year. Each event offers opportunities for sponsorships, in- kind donations toward raffles or silent auctions, and individual donations. e Safe Homes Gala is held in Worcester each spring to benefit the agency's LGBTQIA+ youth drop-in center, Safe Homes. Donors can support through ticket sales, silent auction bids, Fund-A-Need, and corporate sponsorships. Edward's Ride for Mental Health honors the life of Edward Landry with a motorcycle ride and mental health resource fair in Gardner. Held during Mental Health Month in May, it seeks to break the stigma around mental health and provide resources. e Valley Friendship Tour has been held at the Alternatives Whitin Mill in Whitinsville for over 40 years. is run, bike, walk event is a peer-to-peer fundraising event that brings together people of all walks of life for an inclusive day of fun. e Valley Bag Toss is an inclusive cornhole tournament to benefit Open Sky's health and wellness initiatives. e tournament includes a raffle, food truck, cash bar, and live music. GIVING OPPORTUNITIES Open Sky welcomes donations year- round via cash, check or online at openskycs.org/donate. e Annual Appeal is held each fall. Donations can be earmarked for a specific program such as the ValleyCAST arts and culture program, or a particular division such as housing and homelessness. Some programs, including the Safe Homes LGBTQIA+ youth drop-in center, e PLACE for Empowerment young adult access center, and the Community Compass drop-in center for people with justice involvement also welcome in-kind donations of clothing, food, toiletries, art supplies, books and more. Interested donors can contact info@openskycs.org. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Volunteers are oen needed for events such as the annual Family Fun Fishing Day in Uxbridge each May, the ValleyCAST summer concert series, and for fundraising events. Long-term volunteers are needed for the Club 21 program in which a volunteer is paired with someone who receives services from Open Sky. e pairs meet once or twice monthly to enjoy shared interests, as well as with the larger group for whole-Club gatherings. Open Sky also welcomes volunteers interested in teaching skills or sharing knowledge with individuals in programs. Interested volunteers can email volunteering@openskycs.org. "Open Sky is making a difference for so many people in our community facing a variety of serious challenges. The needs are so great, and Open Sky is addressing them in innovative, comprehensive ways. They strive to break down barriers to access for people in need of behavioral health or housing services and continue seeking new ways to address challenges as they arise. The breadth of Open Sky's services means they can support people with immediate needs, while also helping them achieve long-term goals and lasting stability." - Mary Ellen Larkin, Board Chair Kenneth Bates President & CEO Mary Ellen Larkin Solid Benefits Group Board Chair Judith Kirk, Vice Chair Donna Connolly, Clerk Paul Schasel, Treasurer BOARD MEMBERS Peter Bacchiocchi, Girard Financial Group Sara DeCarvalho, Mindoula James DiReda, Lake Avenue Recovery Jill Green Lebow, Fallon Health Kevin Hunt, Worcester Restaurant Group Michael Kilcoyne, Worcester Public Library Kate Gallo Megraw, Webster Five Karen Mirabile, Assumption University Stefany Mendez, Northeastern University David Przesiek, Tactical Risk Solutions Vera Raposo, Stowe & Degon LLC Mark Williams, Fitchburg State University