Local Organizations Receive Over $80,000 in Grants

Friday, March 01, 2013

GolocalWorcester News Team

Local organizations including a school and community non-profits got an extra funding boost in 2012 to the tune of $80,000, thanks to the Harvard Pilgrim Foundation, which announced last year’s total grants awarded to Central and Western Mass nonprofits.

Employee participation in company-sponsored service and giving opportunities reached a record 98 percent in 2012.

“As Harvard Pilgrim continues to grow in the Central and Western regions of the state, we are proud to support organizations that make life better in the communities where our employees and customers live, work and play,” said Karen Voci, Executive Director of the Harvard Pilgrim Foundation.

Grant recipients support the Foundation’s efforts to combat childhood obesity; address health disparities affecting diverse populations; and, support healthy, strong communities through grant contribution and community service. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $125 million in funds throughout the region.

The Harvard Pilgrim Foundation 2012 grant recipients included many programs in Worcester.

Worcester’s Veggie Mobile received a grant from the Harvard Pilgrim allowing hundreds of low-income and elderly residents throughout the city to eat healthy, fresh food brought to their neighborhood by the Regional Environmental Council’s Mobile Farmers Market.

The Harvard Pilgrim Community Spirit 9/11 Mini-Grants Program awarded $46,500 that was distributed through almost 100 mini-grants to employee-chosen nonprofit organizations. Employees chose to give their mini-grant to a wide variety of organizations including the Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Worcester, the Millbury Senior Center, and the Northborough Food Pantry.

Chandler Elementary School Worcester also received funding to aid the more than 400 students to have an improved space to learn and play in thanks to new murals, book cases and benches, and an organized library courtesy of volunteers from Harvard Pilgrim.

The Foundation’s operating program, Culture InSight, awarded a grant to provide technical assistance and training to Mass in Motion, supporting Worcester’s efforts to build healthy communities for all of its many diverse residents.