This Month's News & Updates

Story1 Give to the Directors & Corporators Fund

Year after year, the Foundation is energized by the confidence and commitment of local people who believe in the power of creating positive change and bringing forth a stronger community.  Today, we ask for your 2017 gift to the Directors & Corporators Fund to enhance our leadership capacity. The Foundation's ability to respond and lead is made possible by people, like you, who provide critical support, enabling us to sustain necessary programming. Your investment will help to sustain our work - ensuring the longevity of a valued resource to expand philanthropy, bolstering nonprofit effectiveness, and bringing people together to solve problems and create opportunity for all. Give online today!
Story2Leadership Worcester Class at Work

Leadership Worcester offers training and skill development to participants, connecting them with key players in the region. It creates a network of thinkers and doers who can move the city and each other forward. It is a partnership between the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.  On Thursday, November 16, the class had a day focused on public safety which included a tour of the Worcester County House of Corrections, lunch at Cafe Reyes, a tour of the Worcester County District Courthouse, and the Main South Community Development Corporation where they discussed community partnerships working to revitalize  the Main South area of the city. They wrapped up the day learning about the Youth Violence Prevention Plan from Eric Batista, a Leadership Worcester alumnus.  
Story3Ann Lisi Speaks at YouthConnect Breakfast

The 2nd annual YouthConnect Breakfast took place on November 9 where GWCF President & CEO, Ann T. Lisi, addressed the gathering. As an original funder of the YouthConnect Collaborative more than twenty years ago, Ann spoke about the Foundation's long-standing commitment to youth development. YouthConnect is now a program of the United Way of Central MA and is a coalition of several youth development partners serving a large share of the city's youth in meaningful ways. We applaud their success and commend their vision of a community that embraces opportunity for all.
Story4Plan an IRA Charitable Rollover before December 31.

As we approach the end of 2017, it's a great time to start thinking about year-end tax planning. One option is a charitable rollover from an IRA. Taxpayers who are 70 ½ or older are able to transfer up to $100,000 from an IRA directly to a qualifying charity (a charitable rollover) in partial or full satisfaction of their required minimum distribution. This IRA charitable rollover law was passed permanently in 2015, by its inclusion in the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015. If you'd like to discuss a charitable rollover to the Foundation, please contact Kelly Stimson at [email protected] or call 508.755.0980. 

Story5Festival of Lights at Worcester Common

Don't miss one of the most memorable holiday events in Worcester with the annual Festival of Lights! The celebration will be held on the Worcester Common behind City Hall at 455 Main St. on December 2nd from 5:00-9:00pm.  Worcester native and former American Idol contestant Jessica Cabral will be headlining the event. There will also be a tree lighting, a visit from Santa, a performance by the cast of the Hanover Theatre's A Christmas Carol , and much more! Full information can be found here .
 Story6
Volunteer Opportunities During the Holidays

Help spread holiday cheer around Central Massachusetts  by volunteering this season. From helping paint a mural with The Casa Project, holiday decorating at the Worcester Senior Center, or serving meals with the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, there are many great organizations that could use a helping hand. Many of these organizations are also accepting donations for clothes, toys, and other items. For a full list of donation and volunteering opportunities, check out the United Way of Central Massachusetts "Holiday Wish List" here .
Read Our Blog
We use our blog as a way to engage with you to create an ever more vital and prosperous community and region, where opportunity is extended to everyone. Click here to read our latest blog post. 

Questions? Comments? Contact our Director of Donor Services , Kelly Stimson. Call 508.755.0980  or email at [email protected]