Recent Awards

Funding to launch the Menstrual Access Advocacy Project, which promotes menstrual equity by increasing access to menstrual hygiene products, breaking down barriers for menstruating people, and raising awareness about ‘Period Poverty’ within the community. 

Funding to bolster outreach and community engagement to increase awareness of services and to strengthen partnerships. This support will focus on reaching communities of color and community with low-income in Worcester’s urban core.

Funding to create a new appointment and registration software system that can provide better access for families who visit the market, and that can improve efficiency, client experience and increase the organization’s overall capacity.

Funding for a Constituent Resource Management (CRM) system that will increase the organization’s capacity to address food insecurity in Western MA. The CRM will allow them to expand their outreach and better engage and manage volunteers and donors.

Funding to create a resource library for male victims of sexual violence. The resources will include listing state-wide first responders, medical, counseling and support agencies. The organization will also use the materials to raise awareness of male sexual violence in community education efforts.

Funding requested to pilot a program to recruit and train more people of color to be lactation specialists in Western MA.

Funding to create a new initiative that brings together young people and senior citizens to learn about how to grow and consume healthy food, understand the importance of healthy eating, and create awareness about the mental and physical health benefits of  positive outdoor recreation.

Funding to conduct an analysis of how the market functions by evaluating internal programming using a health and wellness systems lens, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

Funding for a new marketing and communications strategy that will position the organization as a resource to all communities who are marginalized, attract new community partners, and further expand partnerships and opportunities to serve clients.

Funding to redesign the organization’s website to be more user-friendly and to communicate more effectively about their programs, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging commitment, as well as their improved fundraising platform.

Funding for a consultant to work with program nutritionists to source ingredients and develop more culturally competent and medically tailored menus for seniors.

Funding to train up to 20 local educators, public health professionals, and prevention specialists on the evidence-based program, Familia Adelante. The train the trainer model is a cultural and linguistically appropriate prevention program focused on reducing the risk of substance use and HIV in Latinx youth by focusing on the impacts of trauma and acculturation stress.  

Funding for a comprehensive strategic planning process to build capacity and plan for the future of the organization. The process will include board of directors, diverse partners, and stakeholders.

Funding to create a “Memory Café” in Northampton in collaboration with the Northampton Senior Center, the Northampton Neighbors organization, and Highland Valley Elder Services to serve those with dementia and their family members.

$7500

Funding to support the expansion of teletherapy services through the purchase of new equipment – including laptops and teleworking software for the counseling program.

Funding to build a new ordering platform that will allow customers to have more options about what fruits and vegetables will be in each delivery, and to decrease food waste.

Funding to support the translation and interpretation of patient self-referral portal into various foreign languages with the purpose of being more inclusive of the many cultural and linguistic groups that make up their patient community. 

Funding to explore possibilities of making Everyday Boston’s Curiosity and Connections Workshop into a tool to address medical mistrust and enhance health equity in healthcare settings. This will include funding for development and creation of a planning committee and facilitator to lead the process. 

Funding to develop resources for Spanish speaking people about early intervention and education services for children with disabilities in Lawrence, Springfield and Fall River.

Funding requested for new case management technology to manage and keep files secure and help improve efficiency and organizational capacity.

Funding to launch the EmpowerRide Health Initiative, a program designed to empower and support unhoused individuals on their journey toward healthier, better lives. The initiative provides individuals in need with bicycles and safety equipment, thereby granting them equitable access to transportation to meet their needs for a healthy life. 

Funding for two Instant Language Assistant (ILA) devices as well as software to allow more electronic communications in multiple languages to meet the surge of non-English speaking clients. These devices will provide real-time translation support to serve and provide resources to multilingual clients.

Funding to purchase software to help streamline processes and provide data collection at the food pantry and includes a multilingual client portal.

Funding to develop a fundraising/sustainability plan and build the organization’s fundraising capacity.

Funding to launch an inclusive strategic planning process that will result in  a comprehensive plan to direct the  growth and strengthen the impact of the organization.

Funding for technology needs to facilitate applications for MassHealth and ongoing contact with patients seeking mental health services.

Funding to provide resources to service members, veterans and their families to assist in purchasing food and groceries.

Funding to conduct a racial justice audit of internal policies and practices, and programming. The assessment will include a set of recommendations for changes and improvements. The organization will then implement five practices and/or policies that reflect the organization’s commitment to being more anti-racist.  

Funding for the second phase of a pilot Peer Support Program aimed at providing greater access to care and services for individuals living with HIV through a partnership with the Justice Resource Institute.

Funding to expand the organization’s digital presence to generate creative and economic opportunities for youth, including new ways to connect young people to one another by sharing their stories and art. This will also include a web-based charity subscription platform that supports both the members of the Recovery Theatre community, as well as the Theatre itself.

Funding to build the organization’s capacity to expand the reach of their programs in partnership with school districts primarily south of Boston.

Funding to improve and enhance technology capabilities, increase staff capacity to use electronic medical records, and share and capture information during client visits at various locations.

Funding to develop and operationalize new assessment tools that will help connect families with low-incomes to more service supports like referrals to health care professionals, elder care services, and other supports for  families’ overall health and well-being.

Funding to build the organization’s fundraising capacity to support the long-term growth of the organization to support hope and healing in a supportive community for grieving children, teens, families, and individuals. 

Funding to support a strategic planning process for the Medical-Legal Partnership, specifically focused on how to work with clients via tele-health and tele-lawyering models and to expand community partnerships.

Funding for six leadership staff, peers and volunteers to attend the International Harm Reduction Coalition to enhance their skills and training.

Funding to support integration and implementation of new software to improve client services.  

Funding to redesign the organization’s website to improve the fundraising platform and expand future programs, including the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).

Funding for software engineer to design and code additional features focused on health education for its educational menstrual wellness app, Our Flow. 

Funding for technology to enable clients to join telehealth appointments, explore healthcare options, conduct job searches, and participate in continuing education and skills training.

Funding to produce Spanish and English recovery-based reentry yoga videos specifically to reach men in Lawrence. The Mandela Yoga Project will adapt and record its signature integrative health program to address the unique and specific needs of Black and Latino men who are at risk of fatal overdose upon release from incarceration.

Funding for new technology equipment that will be used in expanded office space to serve the growing need of mental health services for youth 5-18 years old.  

Funding to increase statewide outreach, with a priority focus on Gateway cities. Mass Farmers Market will develop and distribute multi-lingual guides in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Haitian Creole as well as implement year-round education and outreach to improve use of SNAP nutrition incentives.

Funding to increase organizational capacity to better serve the LGBTQIA+ community by training MEDA staff to better serve this community and to develop materials that addresses LGBTQIA+ eating disorders and mental health.

Funding to develop a strategic plan that will guide the organization's growth and direction for the next two to five years. 

Funding to purchase equipment that will improve efficiency and expand service capacity to provide donated breast milk to babies in fragile health in Massachusetts. 

Funding to create materials, both printed and digital, about NF in languages other than English to better inform and reach non-English speaking communities.

Funding to redesign the organization’s website to better showcase the care provided in their rest homes dedicated to the Deaf and Deafblind elders throughout the region.

Funding requested to support website updates to meet needs of more diverse community members – including making the site more accessible for people with disabilities.

Funding to implement feedback from a community assessment to create a stronger therapeutic recreational program continuum focused on individuals with disabilities.

Funding to launch the Chop and Connect program – a weekly meal and event for the elderly African immigrant community in Boston to reduce the impact of social isolation.

Funding to start a trauma-informed support group for Ukrainian refugees facing post-traumatic stress disorders. 

Funding requested to elevate the organization’s digital and social media presence to effectively communicate with the community and break the stigma surrounding mental health conversations for families raising youth with mental health needs by ensuring they have access to care, community, and resources.

Funding for the organization to work with UpMetrics to build better programmatic outcomes by collecting and using data to measure, improve, and report on their impact.

Funding requested for laptops, software, and IT support to improve cyber security and virtual work to increase the capacity of the organization.

Funding to improve RIA’s website that will allow better browsing on mobile devices, customized user experiences, and website analytics tracking. Overall, these website changes will greatly improve survivors’ ability to identify and learn about RIA’s services and contact RIA for assistance.

Funding for laptops and Verizon Jetpack internet service to improve the dependability of internet and data security for mobile service delivery programs. These programs are focused on multilingual, multicultural individuals and families to access the educational, economic and social services they need to become healthy. 

Funding to purchase a food labeling system and equipment that increase efficiency, and helps provide clients with more information about ingredients, allergens, and safe food handling.

Funding to develop the “Keeping it Real:” Self-Esteem, Nutrition & Wellness for Women & Families in Recovery eLearning Aftercare Program. The program will support women to stay in recovery after they leave transitional recovery programs. 

Funding to broaden capacity to provide a continuum of treatment for inpatient children and youth clients by training additional clinicians across its treatment teams.

Funding to purchase health care equipment to improve the care and service of clients with a focus on safety and equity.  

Funding to build a sensory room and expand the Sherill House Expressive Therapy program to meet the complex healthcare needs of residents and patients, especially those with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Funding for a development consultant to create a grants management system and identify potential supporters. This will help the organization build capacity in the area of fundraising and prepare the organization to hire staff in this area.

To purchase four computers that would help with client intake, enrollment and case management and furniture for the organization’s conference room.

Funding to purchase two defibrillators for Greater Worcester Housing Connection homeless shelters.

Funding to purchase equipment that will enhance participant’s experience at virtual trainings, resulting in better understanding of the needs of clients as well as increasing the capacity and skill of staff.  

Funding to better connect providers, patients and organization’s members to support and care programs in the area.

Funding for an electric examination table for the health clinic, which serves women experiencing homelessness.

Funding to research and identify recommendations for technology solutions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

To purchase personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, health screeners, and supporting education administration.

Funding to build a sensory room and expand the Sherill House Expressive Therapy program to meet the complex healthcare needs of residents and patients, especially those with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Funding to secure a grant writing consultant to increase capacity and financial support to expand the Centre’s Food Justice Program. The program promotes food security and community engagement focused on access to healthy food resources, preparation, and equity.  

To provide supplies for households with young children that are home all day, including diapers, wipes, books, and educational toys and activities due to the closure of early education programs as a result of COVID-19.

This grant was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To fund a tele-dentistry tool to reach youth who, due to the pandemic, have not had access to dental treatment.

This grant was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding to improve security measures that includes additional surveillance equipment to ensure the organization can safely provide food and other services to the community.

To support immediate health and safety issues facing vulnerable young adults with housing instability during the pandemic, offering basic needs items, along with increased mental and physical health supports. They anticipate continued negative effects on clients’ mental health and are actively building relationships with appropriate providers as well as encouraging active learning and personal growth during this time.

This grant was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding to purchase modular furniture to promote community meal services to help their young clients enhance their social and developmental skills during mealtimes.

To support communications enhancements for the website, social media, newsletters, text, and Zoom, supporting staff to better meet increased demand remotely.

This grant was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding for a new “Food Security for the City of Worcester” website. The website will centralize city food resources – including information about food pantries, farmers markets, summer school meal locations, SNAP information, and more.

Funding to develop and operationalize new assessment tools that will help connect families with low-incomes to more service supports like referrals to health care professionals, elder care services, and other supports for  families’ overall health and well-being.

Funding for an online food delivery system and fulfillment center that will enhance capacity to meet increased need due to the pandemic. This effort will connect more people to healthy foods of their choosing through safe, socially distanced curbside pick-up or home delivery.

This grant was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding to purchase equipment to print and distribute materials to increase organization’s efficiency and efforts to address food insecurity.

To support the organization's COVID-19 Safe Thrive Together initiative with the purchase of food and essentials, staff training as well as programmatic activities for the multi-generational, supportive community to succeed while social distancing.

This grant was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding for marketing and communications efforts to increase the counseling center’s visibility to youth workers that are facing hardships and streamline new client registration projects that can allow them to have access to mental health services.

Funding for new computer equipment to expand organizational capacity and infrastructure.

Funding to engage a consultant to help the organization proceed through a successful leadership transition, including implementation of  a new leadership model for the organization.

Funding to purchase new portable dental equipment to deliver thorough, comfortable, and dignified dental treatments for patients served by the mobile dental unit.

Funding for two computers with software packages to allow for those experiencing domestic violence to attend virtual support groups and connect to additional services and supports. This will allow the organization to also reach more areas than is presently possible

Funding to hire a consultant to conduct an assessment of its clinic space to determine its current and future space requirements, including the potential for growth in the longer term.

Funding to create a strategic plan to help prepare the organization to grow and expand their capacity to meet the needs of their clients. 

Funding to expand geographical reach and to purchase yoga equipment for free programs that serve veterans, service members and their families to improve their overall health and well-being. 

Funding to purchase new software that can help manage client data and improve system analytics with the purpose of helping improve capacity and the provision of services.

Funding to address senior isolation by providing wellness/service visits, accessing and advocating for their technology needs, and providing a conference line for seniors to participate in social activities.

This grant was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding for new equipment to improve the food pantry and make it more welcoming for guests.

Funding to support and train staff to address mental and emotional health and the wellbeing of children in the WSYMCA’s programs. The funding will also support a toolkit of resources for staff.

Funding to bring air filtration units to high-risk shelters, congregate housing programs, and other shared living spaces for low-income Worcester residents in need of additional protections from COVID-19.

Funding to implement electronic Emergency Medical Records to provide high quality care to clients – allowing the organization to fully integrate their medical records with a large hospital system which also serves its clients. 

Funding to conduct focus groups to better understand vaccine acceptance and non-acceptance in the African communities of Worcester.

This grant was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.