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56 Worcester Business Journal • Giving Guide 2014 www.wbjournal.com Worcester Community Action Council Inc. Future Goals • Provide alternative educational opportunities to help at-risk young adults prepare for and secure stable employ- ment and livable wages through HiSET (formerly GED) and higher education assistance, pre-employment and financial literacy trainings. • Provide income-eligible households with home-heating assistance, weatherization and energy -efficiency services. • Continue to expand strategic business partnerships, a diverse funding base and opportunities for community outreach and advocacy. • Strengthen services to South County programs, including Head Start, Healthy Families of Southern Worcester County and HiSET/ESOL. • Expand asset development and financial literacy programs. • Continue to work with legislative officials to ensure stabil- ity in publicly funded programs. Fundraising Events/Opportunities Action Heroes Award event takes place each May during National Community Action Month, whereby organizations, businesses and individuals are highlighted for their monetary donations, in-kind goods and services, and advocacy work. Honorees at WCAC's 2014 awards were Satya Mitra, Worcester Rotary Club; Brian Thompson and Michael Roy, Commerce Bank; the Knit for Fun Club, Worcester Senior Center; the Critical Care Operations Committee, UMass Memorial; and Congressman James P. McGovern. In 2015, WCAC will celebrate its 50th Anniversary as an agency committed to fighting the root causes of poverty and supporting people to move to self-sufficiency. To celebrate its rich history, the Action Heroes event in 2015 will serve as both a retrospective of who the organization has been in its first 50 years, and a look into the future as it transforms to meet the current needs in the community. Sponsorships for this unique and popular community event are always sought and appreciated! Volunteer Opportunities Giving Opportunities • Ongoing Annual Appeal Campaign secures funding to sustain programs and services; donate securely online. • Support WCAC's Job and Education Center in a variety of ways: - WCAC seeks new business/community organization partners to provide summer and full-time job opportunities and internships for young adults. - Most of the young adults coming to the agency are hungry; many are homeless, unemployed, or teen parents. Breakfast, lunch and healthy snack options or gift cards for food are always needed for program participants. - Donations to the Senator Edward M. Kennedy Scholarship program support selected WCAC young adult participants pursuing a college degree or specialized certificate training. - JEC students are required to participate in community service projects. Businesses and organizations are encouraged to call WCAC for help with various short-term tasks. • The LIHEAP Fuel Assistance Program serves more than 16,000 income-eligible households annually. Private funds help more income-limited people who are in no-heat emergency situations with fuel assistance during cold winter months. • WCAC's Head Start/Early Head Start and Healthy Families Program of Southern Worcester County continues to need school supplies, educational and outdoor toys and books for children ages 3-5. • Each winter, WCAC's Annual Clothe-A-Child Coat Drive receives donations of more than 300 children's new winter coats, hats, mittens and scarves, which are distributed to children enrolled in the agency's Head Start, Early Head Start, Healthy Families of Southern Worcester County programs, as well as to children of young parents in the Job and Education Center. Board of Directors William Van Dam, Northeast Utilities, Board Chairperson Jill C. Dagilis, Executive Director MISSION STATEMENT Service area: The City of Worcester and 44 surrounding towns in Central and Southern Massachusetts. To help people move to economic self-sufficiency through programs, partnerships and advocacy. Federal Funding ........... 73% Earned Revenue ........... 17% State/Local Government ................. 10% Top funding sources: Steven G. Joseph, Unum, Vice Chairman Michael Keegan, Gosling's Rum, Treasurer Donald Xenos, Rep. for District Attorney Joseph Early Jr., Assistant Treasurer Barbara G. Haller, Rep. for Mayor Joseph Petty, Clerk Joanne Gravell, Family Services of Central MA, Assistant Clerk Dale Allen, Quinsigamond Community College, Rep. for Senator Michael O. Moore Steven Desmarais, Polar Beverages, Rep. for Senator Harriette Chandler TaChalla Gibeau, Community Representative Mark Gustafson, Community Representative Yary Jaen, Main South Community Development Corporation Robert Jennings, Worcester Public Schools Kathleen G. Johnson, Assistant Worcester City Manager Noreen Johnson-Smith, Family Health Center of Worcester Howard Letendre, FLEXcon, Rep. for Representative Anne Gobi Susan Mais, National Grid Ryan Marshall, AllCom Credit Union Peter J. Martin, Bowditch & Dewey Gladys Rodriguez-Parker, Rep. for Congressman James P. McGovern Brian Westerlind, Webster Five Cents Savings Bank Worcester Community Action Council Inc. 484 Main Street, 2nd Floor Worcester, MA 01608 Phone: 508-754-1176 www.wcac.net Full-time employees: 90; 30 part-time Annual revenues: $19,603,205.81 Year founded: 1965 Volunteer tax preparers help income-eligible Worcester customers prepare and file their taxes at no cost from February through April for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program. Training for the IRS certification occurs in January. WCAC's Job and Education Center seeks volunteers to provide specialized business presentations to at-risk young adults who are preparing for higher education and/or employment. Tutors for HiSET (formerly GED) students are always needed. Those interested in internships may contact WCAC's Human Resources Department at HR@WCAC.net.