Grants Distributed to 44 agencies through Community Impact Fund and After School and Out-Of-School Time Program

FITCHBURG, MA: August 16, 2022 — United Way of North Central Massachusetts (UWNCM) has distributed $1,151,063 in funds to 44 local agencies through two grant programs. The grants will support programs that target pressing community needs and offer after school and out-of-school time activities for children and youth.

Through its Community Impact Fund for 2022-23, UWNCM awarded $599,663 to 30 organizations, funding 40 programs. The Community Impact Fund is a long-standing UWNCM initiative that supports programs that address the region’s highest priorities in the areas of Early Education and Youth Development, Basic Needs and Economic Opportunity/Financial Literacy.

This year’s grants are expected to create positive impacts for nearly 70,000 people, spanning the entire North Central Massachusetts region. Recipients range from Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Devens to the Wendell Clark YMCA in Winchendon. Donna Bulger, Vice President of grant recipient Clear Path for Veterans New England, says she appreciates the grant as well as on-going assistance from UWNCM.

“Clear Path is pleased to have the support of UWNCM, which includes funding that helps us extend the impact we have in the community, serving a population that includes elders, disabled veterans, children and families,” says Bulger. “What has meant the most to us is the spirit of collaboration we have with UWNCM staff. They reach out frequently with opportunities to supplement our materials, partner with other nonprofits and just to check in with us.”

UWNCM also recently distributed $551,400 to 17 agencies through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) After School and Out-of-School Time (ASOST) program. Funds were made available through a $4.5 million grant awarded by DESE to a regional effort of United Ways located in Central, North Central and South-Central Massachusetts with the goal of helping after school and out-of-school time programs rebound from impacts of COVID-19.

Through the program, UWNCM previously distributed $398,800 in funding to 18 local agencies for 2022 spring and summer programs at non-profit organizations, public school systems and towns and municipalities. The latest round funds 2022 school-year programs ranging from camping opportunities for disabled youth to teaching young people about film making and media production.

Kelli Feigley, Founder and Managing Director/Executive Producer of grant recipient Fresh Films, says, “Thanks to this grant, Fresh Films is able to continue helping transform the lives of underserved diverse youth at Fitchburg High School and the Boys and Girls Clubs in Fitchburg and Leominster. This amazing grant funds our weekly after school film program that teaches filmmaking fundamentals as part of our year-round career pathway for training youth to enter the fast-growing and very lucrative media and entertainment industry. Our expanded learning programs are critical while students are still in high school, so they can have equal access to college and career opportunities.”

Speaking about both recent grant distributions, UWNCM President Kory Eng adds, “We appreciate the opportunity to support these critical programs through our Community Impact Fund. We are further appreciative of our expanded partnerships with DESE and Central Massachusetts United Way, which have enabled us to nearly double our investments in community programs when the demand for services is at an all-time high. We thank our volunteers, donors, and community partners for their dedication and look forward to our continued work together to support those most in need.”

United Way of North Central Massachusetts serves the communities of Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton, Pepperell, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon.

Community Impact Fund Recipients

Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts
Athol Area YMCA
Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg & Leominster
Boys & Girls Club of Lunenburg
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester
Clear Path for Veterans New England
Community Health Connections, Inc.
Gardner Community Action Committee
Ginny’s Helping Hands, Inc.
Girls Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts
Growing Places Garden Project, Inc.
House of Peace & Education, Inc.
L.U.K. Crisis Center, Inc.
Literacy Volunteers of Athol – Orange
Literacy Volunteers of the Montachusett Area
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
Making Opportunities Count, Inc.
Mass 2-1-1
New Vue Communities
North Star Family Services
Our Father’s House
Pathways to Change
Spanish American Center, Inc.
The Arc of Opportunity, Inc.
The Salvation Army of Athol
The Salvation Army of Fitchburg
United Way of North Central Mass – Footsteps2Brilliance
Wendell P. Clark YMCA
YMCA of Central Massachusetts
YWCA of Central Massachusetts

After School and Out-Of-School Time Program

Boy Scouts of America
City of Leominster
Fresh Films
Girl Scouts of Central & Western Mass
Girls On The Run
Growing Places Garden Project
Innovation Learning Center
Just Understand My Potential, Inc.
LUK Crisis Center, Inc.
Mass Audubon Society, Inc.
Montachusett Opportunity Council, Inc.
Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation, Inc.
Spanish American Center, Inc.
St. Bernard’s High School
The Shine Initiative, Inc.
Town of Littleton Parks, Recreation and Community Education
Townsend Recreation Dept.

 

MART to install new bus shelters throughout the City as a result

After joint lobbying efforts from Mayor Michael Nicholson and Ward 5 City Councilor Aleksander Dernalowicz, Gardner is welcoming a new fixture to its public transportation system in the form of a recently installed bus shelter in front of the old Prospect Street School. Working with the Montachusett Regional Transportation Authority (MART), the new bus shelter is the first of several to be added in Gardner.

Bruno Fisher, Administrator of MART, which serves the greater North Central Massachusetts area, said “The addition of this bus shelter to the fixed route bus service in the City of Gardner is an important first step to improving the overall services to our customers. We look forward to working with the City of Gardner on locating additional shelters for the benefit of our riders.”

“The impetus behind this bus shelter was South Gardner resident Bonnie Marabello.  She saw a need in the area and reached out to see what could be done,” said Ward 5 City Councilor Alek Dernalowicz. “The real work was done by the City’s DPW crew and the team at MART who worked together to investigate, plan, and install the shelter.  I can’t thank them enough for their hard work.”

The glass and metal structure provides a much-needed amenity for public transit riders in the South Gardner area as a safe place to wait for the bus, as well as protection from inclement weather. Additionally, it is hoped that the structure’s presence may help to further advertise the public bus route that serves the area. The shelter structure was provided by MART and the concrete foundation was installed by the Gardner Department of Public Works (“DPW”).

“I’m very excited to see how we can grow the services MART has to offer to the residents of our City,” said Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson, who was also recently elected to serve as the Chair of MART’s Advisory Board. “Throughout the City, people rely on public transportation to be able to get to where they need to go and initiatives like these help connect the work we are doing to grow and develop Gardner as a whole, not just for the benefit of one specific area.”

“Access to transportation is essential for our community,” said City Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas. “ We are fortunate to have a reliable partner like MART right here in Gardner.  The new bus stops will support our current residents and visitors, and the expected growth from residential and commercial development happening throughout the City.”

MART was recently awarded $180,000 by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation under their Shared Streets and Spaces Grant program, and will use the funds to install an additional twenty shelters on their lines in 2022 and 2023, 4 to 10 of which will be placed in Gardner.

“I’m very happy the City of Gardner and MART are able to team up and make these investments to use these funds,” said State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik. “Public transport is very challenging in rural areas but is nevertheless very important and investments like this will help improve those services.”

Echoing these sentiments, State Senator Anne Gobi stated, “Increasing ridership on MART requires, in part, ease of access. The new bus stops in the City of Gardner, including areas that have not had one before, are a welcome addition.  Congratulations to MART and the City on obtaining this funding.”

The MART Advisory Board is comprised of one representative of the government of every municipality served by the MART system. Mayor Nicholson was elected by the representatives of the representatives of the 22 member communities to serve as the Board’s Chair in May of 2022, replacing Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale.

USA Luge announced the appointment of Lauren M. Howe to communications manager. In this role, she will serve as the liaison between the USA Luge organization and the media, providing noteworthy news and information about the sport’s athletes, programs and competitions. Howe is taking over for Sandy Caligiore who recently announced he will be moving on from his work with USA Luge.

For the past ten years, Howe has been a strong supporter of USA Luge and also calls Lake Placid her second home. Her first exposure to the sport was during her time working at Saint-Gobain, where she served as Manager of Communications and Community Relations for Norton, the company’s brand of abrasives. Norton Abrasives is the primary sponsor of USA Luge and has been a supporter for over 40 years. At Saint-Gobain, Howe played a critical role in strengthening the relationship between USA Luge and Saint-Gobain, resulting in award-winning work within the company, and increased exposure about the relationship both in the public and with employees.

“Lauren is a true professional and driven to make organizations succeed with her guidance, knowledge and expertise of the public relations industry,” said Gordy Sheer, director of marketing and sponsorship for USA Luge. “As we wish Sandy our best and thank him for his decades of service, we are excited to welcome Lauren to USA Luge after our many years working collaboratively together to elevate our brand to new heights.”

Howe founded empHowered PR in 2020 following an esteemed 23-year career in a variety of communications roles in the health care, manufacturing and non-profit industries.  She currently serves a variety of clients around the region, the country and the world.

“The opportunity to lead communications for USA Luge is a dream come true,” said Howe. “There is much excitement as we gear up for the upcoming season, along with the 2026 Winter Games. I look forward to working in concert with USA Luge athletes and staff to share the journey leading up to Milan-Cortina with the media, supporters and dedicated fans.”

Howe holds both a master’s degree in Organizational and Professional Communication and a graduate certificate in Health Care Leadership Communications from Regis College. She received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an associate degree in Liberal Arts from Mount Wachusett Community College.

As a result of her work and strong connections to the community, Howe was recognized as a member of the Worcester Business Journal 40 under Forty class of 2014 and is also a 2017 graduate of the Leadership Worcester program.

She currently serves as Chair of the Public Relations Society of America Independent Practitioner’s Alliance and is a member of the board at the American Red Cross of Central and Western Massachusetts. She also serves as the regular host of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce “Good Morning North Central,” the region’s most popular morning gathering featuring high-profile guests discussing topics of interest with business, civic and community leaders. In June 2022, she was recognized by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce as its Ambassador of the Year.

She resides in north central Massachusetts with her husband, daughter and stepdaughter, and will make frequent trips to Lake Placid in her new role.

Mount Wachusett Community College welcomed Senior Director of External Affairs, Marketing and Development at UMass Memorial Health – Health Alliance – Clinton Hospital, Patricia Pistone to its Board of Trustees after her appointment by Governor Charlie Baker.

“I am excited to welcome Tricia to the Board,” noted MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “I have worked closely with her over the last few years. She has been a committed liaison between her organization and our medical and health-related programs.”

Pistone joined UMass Memorial Health – Health Alliance – Clinton Hospital in April 2021, after a fourteen-year career in leadership roles at Making Opportunity Count, Inc. (MOC) in Fitchburg. Her history with MWCC dates to her time as Economic Development Director for Congressman John Olver, who was integral in sustaining grant funding for the construction of the colleges’ wind turbines.

“I am honored to join MWCC’s Board of Trustees,” stated Pistone. “I have had the privilege to work with MWCC in various capacities throughout my career and have always held the college in the highest regard as both an institution for higher education institution as well as an anchor organization in our region.  I look forward to working closely with the Administration and Board of Trustees to continue that strong legacy into the future.”

“Ms. Pistone has been a great supporter of the college through her career, and it is a pleasure to have her with us,” stated Chairman of the Board of Trustees Robert Antonioni.

In addition to Chairman Antonioni, Pistone joins MWCC alumna Irene Hernandez Guzman, Leominster City Councilor Clair M. Freda, Weston Public Schools Director of Health Services Jamy Gaynor, Professor Emerita, Western New England University, Denise Kindschi Gosselin, CEO of GAAMHA, Inc. Tracy L. Hutchinson, President and CEO of Workers Credit Union Douglas Petersen, ACT, Inc. President Kenneth Tomasetti, and student trustee Cody Nathanson.

Workers Credit Union donated more than $400,000 to 175 charitable organizations in 2021. This year they are launching a new program called “Workers Kindness,” which gives its members a voice in how some of that money is allocated each quarter. “There is no one better to determine where we should donate than our members living in the communities we serve,” says Workers Credit Union President and CEO Doug Petersen. “This program ensures our giving is aligned with the causes that are important to them.”

Under the Workers Kindness program, each quarter members receive a voting call to action via email, online/mobile banking, and web alerts. By clicking on the survey link, members can “vote their kindness” from a slate of pre-selected charities and nominate organizations for inclusion on future ballots. Early reaction to the program has been strong with thousands of members responding. Donations will be made to the organizations that are proportional to the support they receive from members.

This program reflects Workers Credit Union’s overall commitment to charitable giving and improving the lives of both its members and their communities. Workers Credit Union staff devoted more than 2,000 hours to volunteering in 2021. The credit union also returned $2.2 million to its members through its Workers GiveBack program, now in its ninth year and having returned more than $25 million to members.