Photo | Courtesy of The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts
Amie Shei, president and CEO of The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts
July 30, 2025
After record-breaking number of applications, Health Foundation grants $1M to 10 nonprofits
PHOTO | Isabel Tehan
The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center at 605 Lincoln St. in Worcester
Ten Worcester County nonprofits have received nearly $1 million in combined funding from The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, based in Worcester, for their sustainable approaches to addressing community health concerns.
Funding for the grants is provided through The Health Foundation’s 2025 Activation Fund, which offers grants for one-year projects that fall within one or more of four strategies to mitigate health concerns and challenges: creating novel approaches; developing new partnerships; exploring emerging issues; and upgrading and expanding facilities, according to the nonprofit’s website.
“We received a record-breaking number of applications this year, and we are pleased that the grantees selected by the board represent a broad set of organizations, issues and geographic areas,” Amie Shei, president and CEO of The Health Foundation, said in a Wednesday press release. “In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to help organizations build capacity and resiliency.”
This year, the Activation Fund provided $998,000 in funding to projects expanding nonprofits’ organizational reach and client base, enhance their delivery of services, create new programming, and tackle social determinants of health.
The 2025 Activation Fund recipients are:
AIDS Project Worcester received $125,000 to update the organization’s technological infrastructure, including transitioning to a cloud-based system.
Cultivate Care Farms in Bolton received $125,000 to renovate an historic shed on its property into an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant place to offer year-round therapeutic individual and group sessions.
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center received $125,000 to buy a digital X-ray system for a new urgent care facility in Worcester.
South Middlesex Opportunity Council received $125,000 to repair the organization’s single adult emergency shelter on Queen Street in Worcester.
Winchendon Community Action Committee received $120,000 to finish ADA-accessible renovations to classroom spaces within its community action center The Hub.
Worcester State Foundation received $105,000 to purchase specialized, portable equipment to provide community hearing screening services at the university’s Speech-Language-Hearing Center.
Guild of St. Agnes in Worcester received $91,000 to provide staff certification through the Playmaker Project, a trauma-informed training program for early childhood educators offered by the Life is Good company.
Girls Inc. of Worcester received $75,000 for Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care licensure training and to support renovations and equipment needs.
Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts in Leominster received $65,000 to purchase a truck for its Critical Home Repair Program.
Center For Health Impact in Worcester received $42,000 for a language access recording studio to be used to offer audio translations of health information into several languages.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
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