Special thanks to everyone who helped make the agency's new Webster Head Start Center a reality! What an incredible morning we had on March 1st celebrating with our great community funders, supporters and partners. We are most grateful to our elected officials for their strong advocacy and great leadership - special thanks to Congressman Jim McGovern, Senator Ryan Fattman and Representative Joe McKenna. See photos from the grand opening celebration here.

The project represents the largest capital campaign undertaken in the agency's 54-year history. WCAC gratefully acknowledges the generous private financial support received from the greater community including the Janet Malser Humanities Trust, Webster Five, Randy & Donna Becker, the Remillard Family Foundation, Mary DeFeudis, Wyman Gordon, Steven & Leona Joseph, UNUM, the Berkshire Bank Foundation, Franklin Square House Foundation, Webster-Dudley Food Share, Inc., Dale Allen & Meredith Galena, Strada Educational Network, DCU (Digital Federal Credit Union) and bankHometown. Lamoureaux Pagano Architects provided substantial in-kind support throughout the duration of the construction project which was delivered by Madigan Construction. Take a look back at the construction progress here.

The new center features one 18-slot classroom on the lower level, and two 18-slot classrooms and one 17-slot classroom on the first floor (main level) to serve a total of 71 children. The main level has  two offices, a reception area, two storage areas, and several restrooms. The lower level has one classroom, a multi-purpose room, one office, a conference room, a kitchen, and several restrooms. Outside the main entrance is a 2,700 square foot fenced play area. WCAC hopes to install a play structure and add enhancements to the black-topped play space later this spring.

Established to honor exemplary individuals and organizations who have supported WCAC and its mission over the past year, our 2019 Action Hero honorees will include: Fundacion MAPFRE/MAPFRE Insurance for its financial support of our Head Start nutrition program and significant volunteer commitment to the agency; Lamoureux Pagano Architects and FW Madigan Construction for their generosity and support throughout the construction of WCAC's new Webster Head Start Center; and our Bank On Worcester County partners - Bay State Savings Bank, Berkshire Bank, Cornerstone Bank, DCU, Fidelity Bank and UniBank, for their leadership in addressing the needs of unbanked households in our region. Please join us in honoring these remarkable community action heroes!

This year's keynote speaker will be WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis, who  will be retiring from the agency at the end of May 2019. We look forward to celebrating Jill's remarkable leadership, dedication and spirit of community. 

The Action Hero Awards event enables the agency to raise critical dollars to support WCAC's continued efforts in helping our vulnerable neighbors move to economic self-sufficiency. Sponsorship opportunities for the breakfast are still  available. Individual tickets can be purchased online for $50 per person.

The Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition is celebrating its 17th year of providing free tax preparation and asset building services to low income working taxpayers throughout Central Massachusetts! Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, IRS-certified volunteers prepare taxes and specifically look for tax credits the household may be eligible for, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC) and other credits. Utilizing the free tax preparation services allows families to retain their full refund, avoiding typical preparation fees which can often run into the hundreds of dollars.

WCAC is among the Coalition's city-wide members, a collaboration of businesses, financial institutions and non-profit organizations, who work to promote free income tax credit benefits to low-and-moderate-income working individuals and families. It is an important a strategy to build household assets and increase economic self-sufficiency. WCAC operates one of four VITA sites in the City of Worcester. Thanks to a grant from the United Way of Southbridge, Stubridge, Charlton, WCAC expanded services to include a site in Southbridge, which served 106 clients this year alone! Limited appointments are still available at WCAC's Worcester site  only through April 16th. Check out scheduling options online.