slides: The 25 Most Charitable Cities and Towns in Worcester County
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Monday, January 05, 2015
Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester Contributor
According to a
report by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, there was more than $50 million in charitable deductions made by Worcester residents in 2012, the most recent year studied in the report.
SEE SLIDES: The 25 Most Charitable Cities and Towns in Massachusetts
“It's so important to contribute to local charities because most run solely on donations. These donations allow them to obtain the resources to be able to run and help the community like the Miss Pink program where we raise money for breast cancer research and raise funds to help offset the costs of treatment,” said Heather Erickson, Public Relations Officer for Miss Pink Pageant, a non-profit organization that serves as a community for breast cancer survivors.
Southborough Shines in Worcester County
Residents of Worcester County reported more than $310 million in charitable deductions. The median contribution for the County was $1,859 per individual. Of the cities and towns that reported throughout Worcester County, residents of six of them made charitable deductions over $10 million.
Besides Worcester, the town that deducted the most was Southborough with nearly $22 million in charitable deductions. Southborough’s giving ratio, the percentage of median income given to charity, was 2.51% of a median income of $225,272. The median contribution of Southborough residents was $5,737.
Behind Southborough were the towns of Shrewsbury ($19.2 million), Westborough ($10.9 million), Northborough ($10.2 million), and the city of Leominster ($11.3 million)
“I think sometimes we can take for granted normal everyday luxuries that others may be struggling with. A small contribution whether it be monetary or donating your time to do your part, really helps better the local community. A $10 donation may seem small but if 1,000 people donate $10 you realize the impact each donation really has,” said Erickson.
Worcester County Compared to Rest of State
Andrea Castinetti, host of the Business Gives Back Expo at the Union Station, and one of GoLocal Worcester’s 14 Who Made a Difference in 2014, said “I don't think people realize that there is such a need for donations in Worcester. From food to clothing to basic necessities shelters, schools and individuals are always in need. There are so many amazing organizations out there that do so much to help those in need, I think people just need to realize who they are and what they do.”
Of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, Worcester County lags behind in both charitable deductions and total giving ratio. Worcester is second to last (only in front of Bristol County) in giving ratio at 1.73% of median income of individuals. Worcester County is 5th in the state in charitable deductions behind Middlesex County ($1.5 billion), Norfolk County ($869.4 million), Suffolk County ($824.7 million) and Essex County ($415.2 million).
Here's look at the 25 Most Charitable Cities and Towns in Worcester County:
Related Slideshow: The 25 Most Charitable Cities and Towns in Worcester County
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#1
Southborough
Total Contributions: $21, 952, 000
Median Contribution: $5,737
Percent of Income Given: 2.51%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#2
Whitinsville
Total Contributions: $4,720,000
Median Contribution: $2,347
Percent of Income Given: 2.45%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#3
West Boylston
Total Contributions: $3,669,000
Median Contribution: $2,133
Percent of Income Given: 1.96%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#4
Princeton
Total Contributions: $2,872,000
Median Contribution: $2,259
Percent of Income Given: 1.94%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#5
Lancaster
Total Contributions: $3,609,000
Median Contribution: $2,272
Percent of Income Given: 1.85%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#6
Harvard
Total Contributions: $6,916,000
Median Contribution: $3,579
Percent of Income Given: 1.84%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#7
Fitchburg
Total Contributions: $6,552,000
Median Contribution: $1,768
Percent of Income Given: 1.74%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#8
Clinton
Total Contributions: $3,755,000
Median Contribution: $1,705
Percent of Income Given: 1.70%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#9
Petersham
Total Contributions: $436,000
Median Contribution: $2,022
Percent of Income Given: 1.68%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#10
Leominster
Total Contributions: $11,352,000
Median Contribution: $1,810
Percent of Income Given: 1.65%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#11
Holden
Total Contributions: $8,192,000
Median Contribution: $2,183
Percent of Income Given: 1.65%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#12
Boylston
Total Contributions: $3,155,000
Median Contribution: $1,972
Percent of Income Given: 1.65%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#13
Worcester
Total Contributions: $50,089,000
Median Contribution: $1,842
Percent of Income Given: 1.63%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#14
Paxton
Total Contributions: $2,360,000
Median Contribution: $1,770
Percent of Income Given: 1.63%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#15
Webster
Total Contributions: $3,656,000
Median Contribution: $1,561
Percent of Income Given: 1.58%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#16
North Brookfield
Total Contributions: $1,090,000
Median Contribution: $1,698
Percent of Income Given: 1.57%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#17
Northbridge
Total Contributions: $2,402,000
Median Contribution: $2,097
Percent of Income Given: 1.56%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#18
Ashburnham
Total Contributions: $2,173,000
Median Contribution: $1,598
Percent of Income Given: 1.55%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#19
Auburn
Total Contributions: $5,640,000
Median Contribution: $1,644
Percent of Income Given: 1.54%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#20
Charlton
Total Contributions: $4,797,000
Median Contribution: $1,627
Percent of Income Given: 1.53%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#21
Spencer
Total Contributions: $2,625,000
Median Contribution: $1,620
Percent of Income Given: 1.51%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#22
Berlin
Total Contributions: $1,772,000
Median Contribution: $1,975
Percent of Income Given: 1.51%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#23
Dudley
Total Contributions: $2,913,000
Median Contribution: $1,975
Percent of Income Given: 1.50%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#24
Sturbridge
Total Contributions: $3,093,000
Median Contribution: $2,016
Percent of Income Given: 1.49%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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#25
Southbridge
Total Contributions: $2,539,000
Median Contribution: $1,634
Percent of Income Given: 1.49%
Note: Data is from 2012 tax returns, the latest available at time of study.
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