Noticias de nuestros miembros

La Fundación de Salud de Massachusetts Central Anuncia las Subvenciones del Fondo de Activación 2024

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Casi $900,000 en fondos apoyan a organizaciones de toda la región central de Massachusetts

El Fundación de Salud del centro de Massachusettsha anunciado que ha otorgado ocho subvenciones por un total de $890,455 a través de su programa «Fondo de Activación» para apoyar a una amplia gama de organizaciones que prestan servicios en la región.

El Fondo de Activación apoya a las organizaciones para que desarrollen su capacidad de manera sostenible mientras trabajan para abordar los problemas de salud identificados por la comunidad. Más del 85% de los beneficiarios del Fondo de Activación de 2024 no habían recibido anteriormente financiamiento de The Health Foundation.

“Recibimos un número récord de solicitudes este año, y nuestro proceso de solicitud fue refinado y optimizado para ser más receptivo a las necesidades de las organizaciones comunitarias que buscan nuestro apoyo”, dijo la Dra. Amie Shei, Presidenta y CEO de The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts. “Estamos entusiasmados de asociarnos con siete organizaciones que reciben subvenciones por primera vez, así como con una entidad beneficiaria que regresa, para apoyar sus diversos proyectos destinados a ayudarlas a alcanzar el siguiente nivel de capacidad o efectividad en la mejora de la salud en la región”.”

Las subvenciones otorgadas son las siguientes:

African Community Education – $125,000 para renovar y equipar mejor la cocina de sus instalaciones en Worcester, ampliando así la capacidad de la organización para servir comidas culturalmente apropiadas a los jóvenes, ofrecer clases de nutrición y proporcionar un espacio para que las familias haitianas recién llegadas puedan preparar sus comidas.

Fundación Center of Hope – $125,000 para modernizar los baños y los sistemas de plomería en un centro de Southbridge donde se lleva a cabo su programa de habilitación diurna, que atiende a casi 120 personas con discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo.

Centro de Defensa de los Niños del Condado de Franklin y North Quabbin – $86,900 para cubrir los costos de construcción relacionados con la creación de una clínica ambulatoria en Orange, lo que permitirá ampliar su capacidad para brindar servicios especializados de salud mental a los niños víctimas de abuso sexual y a sus familias en la región de North Quabbin.

Choices Inc. – $80,250 para la compra de una camioneta de 15 pasajeros, equipo y suministros para el programa «Early Diversion Worcester» de la organización, un sistema integral de atención que desvía, interviene y rompe el ciclo de «de la escuela a la cárcel» en colaboración con socios comunitarios.

Comité de Acción Comunitaria de Gardner – $115,000 para renovar y trasladarse a unas instalaciones de 5,800 pies cuadrados que el Ayuntamiento de Gardner ha puesto a disposición de manera gratuita, lo que mejorará significativamente la capacidad de la organización para brindar distribución de alimentos, asistencia de emergencia y otros servicios a quienes lo necesitan en toda la comunidad del Gran Gardner.

Growing Places – $109,041 para el desarrollo de una solución de TI personalizada que integre plataformas dispares y un nuevo software de gestión de inventario, con el fin de mejorar la eficiencia, ampliar la capacidad de servicio y brindar un mejor apoyo a los consumidores locales de alimentos, los compradores institucionales y los pequeños agricultores del centro-norte de Massachusetts.

Quinsigamond Community College – $124,254 para reemplazar seis sillones dentales y estaciones de equipo obsoletos en su clínica dental con sede en Worcester, la cual capacita en promedio a 40 estudiantes de higiene dental y a 20 de asistente dental cada año, y brinda atención de salud bucal gratuita o con grandes descuentos a las poblaciones vulnerables del condado de Worcester.

Worcester RISE for Health – $125,000 para ampliar y equipar un espacio clínico e implementar un sistema de expedientes médicos electrónicos que permita a la organización brindar servicios de salud materno-infantil a los refugiados e inmigrantes recién llegados a Worcester.

La Fundación para la Salud de Massachusetts Central se dedica a mejorar la salud de quienes viven o trabajan en la región central de Massachusetts, con especial énfasis en las poblaciones vulnerables y las necesidades no atendidas. A través de su enfoque único y de gran impacto en la concesión de subvenciones, la Fundación para la Salud apoya las cuestiones de salud identificadas por la comunidad, entendiendo la salud en un sentido amplio que incluye los determinantes sociales de la salud y con un enfoque en la promoción de la equidad en la salud. Como fundación de conversión en el ámbito de la salud, creada en 1999 tras la venta de la organización sin fines de lucro HMO Central Massachusetts Health Care Inc., las subvenciones de la Fundación para la Salud han sumado más de $57 millones a más de 230 organizaciones distintas a lo largo de su historia. Para obtener más información, visite www.thfcm.org.

United Way del Centro-Norte de Massachusetts distribuye casi $900,000 a agencias locales para programas juveniles y comunitarios

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Fitchburg Summer Camp

The Fitchburg Parks and Rec Summer Playground Program, supported by a DESE grant, offers a variety of fun and educational activities for children ages 6-12.

United Way of North Central Massachusetts (UWNCM) recently distributed $874,325 in grants to 45 agencies across the community. These funds were allocated through two grant programs aimed at tackling regional challenges and providing after-school and out-of-school time opportunities for local children and youth.

In the 2024-25 cycle, UWNCM’s Community Impact Fund awarded $588,335 to 29 agencies, supporting 37 programs in areas such as Early Education, Youth Development, Basic Needs, Economic Opportunity, and Financial Literacy. This funding, distributed in the third year of a four-year cycle, is expected to benefit over 97,000 households, building on a 32% increase in households served from the previous year.

Pathways for Change, Inc received funds for their Sexual Assault Youth Education (SAYE) Program. Kim L. Dawkins, President & CEO, expressed gratitude, stating, “As Benjamin Franklin said, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!’ We are incredibly grateful to the United Way of North Central Massachusetts for funding the Sexual Assault Youth Education (SAYE) Program. The goal of the SAYE Program is to raise adolescents’ awareness of the incidence and myths about sexual violence and to have a role in building and expanding the resiliency factors and strengths of communities. By working in positive ways toward shared goals with the community, we can have an impact on the root causes of sexual violence.”

UWNCM also recently distributed $285,990 to 16 agencies through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) After School and Out-of-School Time (ASOST) Program. Funds were made available through a $1 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.

This seventh round of grants will support summer programming, providing diverse experiences from camp to museum visits for youth. In total, UWNCM has distributed nearly $1.6 million in DESE grants to local non-profit organizations, public school systems and towns and municipalities, with an additional round to come.

The City of Fitchburg received a DESE grant to support their Summer Playground Program. James Bunnell, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Fitchburg, says, “The city of Fitchburg Parks and Recreation department is thrilled to be working with the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and the DESE summer grant opportunity for the second year in a row. The summer playground program allows children to attend events and visit various places like the Worcester Bravehearts baseball game, the EcoTarium, and Southwick’s Zoo. Bunnell adds, “We take pride in offering diverse events and opportunities to the community at a nominal or no cost, made possible by the support from the United Way of North Central Massachusetts and DESE.”

“Judy Tomlinson, UWNCM Director of Community Impact, highlighted the significance of the grant programs, saying, ‘These initiatives allow us to empower agencies addressing vital community issues with both tested and novel approaches. Our heartfelt thanks go to our donors, community partners, and volunteers for their unwavering support in offering immediate assistance to those in need and fostering a better future for everyone.”

United Way de North Central Massachusetts presta servicios a las comunidades de Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton, Pepperell, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster y Winchendon.

Bidding on New Beginnings

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Be part of something meaningful at the North Star Family Services, Inc. Bidding on New Beginnings auction! Bid on incredible items to bring hope to homeless families. Your support creates a significant impact for families in our community.

Thursday July 18 –  Monday July 29
6:00 AM – 11:45 PM
North Star Family Services, Inc., 758 Main St, Leominster, MA 01453

Learn more and get involved: https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/bid/8292

Gardner Food Truck Festival

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Gardner Food Truck Festival 2024

Saturday July 13, 2024
12:00 PM – 7:00 PM EDT
Downtown…Gardner City Hall, 95 Pleasant Street, Gardner MA 01440
Admission to this event is FREE!

The Gardner Food Truck Festival is an annual community oriented summer kick off celebration. Now in it’s 7th year, this festival includes a multitude of your favorite food trucks, craft beer, live music and carnival style games. Dozens of area artists and makers will be displaying their wares right downtown by the historic City Hall and Post Office buildings. This year the festival is back and bigger than ever. Bring along a folding chair or spread a picnic blanket and enjoy the afternoon’s festivities.

WooTrucks, the trusted name in food truck booking, is a food truck commissary, commercial kitchen, and base of operations for food trucks, caterers, bakers, and food entrepreneurs located at 67 Main Street, Boylston MA. Our fully permitted and approved facility to prepare food was established to foster a transparent, self-policing community of food trucks and food entrepreneurs practicing only the highest standards of customer service while maintaining strict adherence to health, sanitation and food codes. WooTrucks operates food truck festivals throughout the region and supplies food trucks to corporate clients, private businesses, breweries, academic institutions, city and town governments.

For more information visit – Gardner Food Festival

So What’s Your Story?

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NXT Level Studios - MattLandryAttend NXT Level Studios for a night of storytelling with local author, Matt Landry, Author of: Keep Moving Forward.

FREE PRESENTATION & BOOK SALE

“The healing connection between nature and mental health. How hiking can teach us the lessons we need to learn in order to enjoy the journey, achieve our goals, create structure and discipline, slow down our brains, and to keep moving forward, one small step at a time..”

Date: Tuesday, 7/09/2024
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm EDT
Location: NXT Level Studios
44 Old Princeton Road Suite 101, Fitchburg, MA 01420

Please RSVP Here – NXT Level Studios – So, What’s Your Story

 

Small Business Association is Here to Help

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ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS
Was your business impacted by the flooding on September 11, 2023?

The Small Business Association (SBA) is in the city of Leominster providing resources for business owners.

SBA and FEMA have representatives available at the Disaster Recovery Center located at City Hall to help answer your questions Monday-Saturday from 9am-7pm until July 15.

The SBA also has a Business Recovery Center located at the Emergency Management Office at 37 Carter Street with someone available to assist you Monday-Friday from 9am-5:30pm.

Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.

More than 1,000 Berkshire Bank employees volunteer on ‘Xtraordinary Day’

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A Bed for Every Child Berkshire Bank – Lynn MAA Bed for Every Child Berkshire Bank – Lynn MA
Berkshire Botanical Gardens Berkshire BankBerkshire Botanical Gardens Berkshire Bank
ReGreen Springfield Berkshire BankReGreen Springfield Berkshire Bank
Habitat of Metro West Greater Worcester Berkshire BankHabitat of Metro West Greater Worcester Berkshire Bank
More than 1,000 Berkshire Bank employees rolled up their sleeves on June 13 and helped make the communities where they live and work stronger and more resilient by volunteering at more than 45 local nonprofits across the bank’s markets as part of Xtraordinary Day (X Day), the bank’s annual day of service.

Every year, Berkshire closes all of its financial centers and offices at 12 p.m. to host X Day, which supports nonprofits that address hunger, homelessness and affordable housing and aim to create a more equitable, just and sustainable future.

In all, employees participated in more than 50 X Day projects in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont and Rhode Island, as well as one in Pennsylvania that was supported by colleagues at Berkshire’s nationwide SBA lending division 44 Business Capital.

In Massachusetts, Berkshire participated in projects that benefitted:

Berkshire Botanical Gardens and Construct in Stockbridge;
Berkshire HorseWorks in Richmond;
Bina Farm in Lexington;
Veterans Inc., Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, Habitat for Humanity of Metro West Greater Worcester and Hope for Worcester in Worcester;
Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and the Gladys Allen Brigham Center’s Girls Inc. camp in Pittsfield;
Child Care of the Berkshires in North Adams;
Cradles to Crayons in Newton;
Girls Inc. of Worcester in Holden;
Lee Youth Commission in Lee;
Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless in Lynn and Westfield;
Milford Veterans Services in Milford;
ReGreen Springfield in Springfield;
Ron Burton Training Village in Hubbardston;
United Way of Tri-County in Clinton;
West Stockbridge Historical Society in West Stockbridge.

“At Berkshire, giving back to our communities is a top priority,” said Lori Gazzillo Kiely, Managing Director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. “We know that building stronger

communities requires a better approach to banking and our employees work tirelessly every day to deliver on that promise.”

Named for the X in its logo, Berkshire’s award-winning XTEAM Employee Volunteer and Giving Program is a central element of its workplace culture, providing employees with an easy way to put its corporate values into action and help each of our communities realize its full potential.

In 2023, Berkshire employees logged more than 21,000 hours of volunteer service. In addition to the hours contributed through X Day, all Berkshire employees are eligible for up to 16 hours of paid time off annually to volunteer with nonprofits of their choice.

Warmer Winters Night

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Warmer Winters NightCalling all families & friends of Warmer Winters!

Join us at Polar Park on Friday June 21st, 2024 as the Worcester Red Sox take on the Columbus Clippers! Tickets purchased through this link will also support the Warmer Winters non-profit out of Leominster MA (https://www.warmerwinters.net/about-us).

Each ticket will include:

  • A fixed seat in our 3rd Base Field Box of the seating bowl
  • $2 of Loaded Value*
  • $5 fundraiser that goes back to Warmer Winters

And don’t forget to stick around after the conclusion of the game for UniBank Fireworks! Take in the spectacular firework display that has become synonymous with Friday nights in Worcester!

*Loaded Value is ballpark credit on your ticket that is redeemable at concession stands and the Team Store; Just scan your ticket barcode at the register and take $2 off your purchase*

Please contact Joe Foley, , (508) 204-5384 with any questions.

Más información

Jay Champion Named Chief Executive Officer and President of Workers Credit Union

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Jay Champion Workers Credit Union Jay Champion CEO and PresidentWorkers Credit Union has named Jay Champion as its CEO and President. He brings over 35 years of experience developing high performing and engaged teams at financial institutions. Since July of 2023, Champion has served as the credit union’s Interim CEO and President after the retirement of Doug Petersen, who was with the credit union for 27 years.

“Jay is a seasoned financial leader and has the skills needed to maintain our team’s delivery of top-notch member service,” says Nilesh Gunda, Board Chair of Workers Credit Union. “In less than a year, Jay has made a positive impact on Workers Credit Union and our mission to empower our members to achieve financial wellness. We’re confident in Jay’s ability to continue advancing our goals while being an innovative leader to help the credit union continue to thrive.”

Since joining Workers Credit Union, Champion has established a vision for financial growth and stability that focuses on member choice and innovation, empowering his team to think creatively about the future while honoring the past.

“Workers Credit Union is an institution that has made an indelible impact on North Central Massachusetts since its founding 110 years ago by helping people and businesses save, spend, invest, borrow, and plan. Our team is passionate about being the community economic engine that people and businesses in our markets can count on.” says Champion. “I am honored to lead our team in our mission to continue improving the daily lives of our members.”

Champion most recently served as President and CEO of Westerra Credit Union in Denver, Colorado. Prior to that, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Elevations Credit Union in Boulder, Colorado. Throughout his experience serving in multiple C-suite roles for various financial institutions over the past 30+ years, Champion has become highly skilled in building healthy and engaged team cultures, enhancing business process management, and driving organizational performance.

Champion obtained his Master of Business Administration with Finance and Management concentrations from Texas A&M University – Commerce and his Bachelor of Science in Economics from East Texas State University. He is also a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.

About Workers Credit Union
Workers Credit Union, a member-owned and member-focused $2.4 billion credit union, is building the financial wellness of its nearly 122,000 members through coaching, products and support that empowers them to build a better life for themselves and their families. Headquartered in Littleton, MA, Workers Credit Union has been serving communities in Massachusetts for more than 110 years. Workers Credit Union is a Community Development Financial Institution and Low-Income Designated Credit Union.