Photo | Courtesy of Greater Worcester Community Foundation
Pete Dunn, president and CEO of Greater Worcester Community Foundation
August 24, 2023
Table Talk matriarch’s estate donates $4M to GWCF
Photo | Courtesy of Greater Worcester Community Foundation
Mary Cocaine, the late matriarch of Table Talk Pies
By Isabel Tehan
Greater Worcester Community Foundation has received a $4-million donation from the estate of the late matriarch of Worcester dessert manufacturer Table Talk Pies.
The gift from the estate of Mary Cocaine, who died in 2021 at age 94, will allow for the creation of three new endowed charitable funds at GWCF, according to a Thursday announcement from the foundation.
The new funds will focus on education, economic security, and support for immigrant and refugee populations, according to the announcement.
“The creation of these new funds will allow us to work with partners and community members to identify and address the most pressing needs in Worcester and the surrounding towns, ensuring everyone has access to the resources and support they need to thrive,” Peter Dunn, the new president and CEO of GWCF said in the Thursday press release.
The funds will be distributed through the foundation's grant programs on an annual basis in support of nonprofits, scholarships, and strategic initiatives that aim to elevate Central Massachusetts.
Cocaine was born in Worcester in 1927 and was the daughter of one of Table Talk Pies’ founders, Theodore Tonna. As a daughter, wife, and mother, she supported three generations of leadership of Table Talk and took over as head of the company in her later years.
“My mother’s generous gift through the Mary T. Cocaine Trust is a testament to her deep love and gratitude for the city of Worcester,” Harry Kokkinis, executive chairman of Table Talk Pies and son of Cocaine, said in the press release. “She firmly believed in providing opportunities for others to achieve the American Dream, and these funds will make a significant impact in supporting education, economic security, and assistance to immigrants and refugees in our community.”
GWCF had a total revenue of $22.8 million in 2021, the most recently available year according to GuideStar. The foundation has $175 million in assets.
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