40 Under Forty alumni: Kelsa Zereski, Class of 2004 - now leads a high-profile foundation
Kelsa Zereski in 2004 and 2024
Photo | Jaime Flores
The 40 Under Forty winner and alumni who visited the Central Rock Gym in Worcester were (from left) Ed Hardy (Class of 2012), Casey Cormier (Class of 2015), Kelsa Zereski (Class of 2004), and Dominic Arsenault (Class of 2024).
- Class of 2004
- Then Director of institutional advancement and alumni relations at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Worcester
- Now President of Reliant Foundation in Worcester
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At Reliant Foundation, Zereski leads fundraising efforts, allowing the organization to provide funding to nonprofits serving 70 towns throughout Central Massachusetts.
Under Zereski’s leadership, in 2023 Reliant Foundation awarded $850,000 in grants to 54 nonprofit organizations working to address critical mental health and behavioral health issues in their communities. Also in 2023, the Reliant Foundation drew more than 225 registered participants to its annual Reliant Foundation 5K, one of the largest turnouts since the organization’s first hosted the run in 2012, raising more than $31,000. Zereski volunteers for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Nativity School of Worcester, Seven Hills Foundation, and Stoneleigh-Burnham School. She acts as corporator for the EcoTarium in Worcester, GWCF, and the YMCA of Central Massachusetts while serving as trustee of the George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation. An equestrian for more than 40 years, in 2017 Zereski and her business partner took over ownership of Triple Crown Tack Shop, a West Boylston equestrian retail store.
What did getting the 40u40 award mean to you at the time? Receiving the 40 under Forty award meant my work contributions were being taken seriously. Receiving that recognition affirmed I was on the right career path within the nonprofit sector and gave me confidence to seek out leadership roles.
What does it mean to you now? Twenty years later, I’m proud to be part of a great group of leaders who were recognized through WBJ’s 40 Under Forty program. I have met a number of talented individuals through this program, and it has helped me continue to build a network full of people who care about the community and get things done.
What advice do you have for this year's 40u40 winners? Take this opportunity to reinvest in yourself and your career, knowing you are on the path to greater success in the future. This is just the beginning!
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