40 Under Forty 2021: Ronald Bernard Waddell Jr.
Photo | Erika Sidor
Ronald Bernard Waddell Jr.
Photo | Erika Sidor
40 Under Forty, Class of 2021 members (from left) Breanna DiBella, Ronald Bernard Waddell Jr., Jessica-Lee Sabine and Emily Swalec, LCSW at the POW! WOW! Worcester mural in Great Brook Valley in Worcester (Special thanks to Che Anderson and Alex Corrales)
- Title Executive director
- Company Legendary Legacies Inc., in Worcester
- Residence Worcester
- Birthplace Chester, Pa.
- College Boston University
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Ronald Bernard Waddell Jr. co-founded the nonprofit Legendary Legacies three years ago and has grown the organization, which is dedicated to equipping young men with the tools they need to succeed in life, from two employees in 2020 to five in 2021. Along the way, he’s grown the budget exponentially, from a startup with $60,000 in June 2020 to a $900,000 nonprofit with multi-year government funding just one year later.
Impressive in its own right, this comes on the heels of Waddell’s own challenges, having moved to Worcester at the age of 17 as a self-described homeless orphan struggling with substance use disorder. A regular resource for City Hall, the Worcester Police Department, and Worcester Public Schools for combating gang problems in the city, Waddell’s team has been an essential component in challenging what success means and looks like for underserved populations. As a side business and lesson for his children, Waddell cofounded the social enterprise venture Lemonade Bros., with his two sons where they sell lemonade next to their home to support various causes. Operating at the intersection of religion, nonprofit management, the community, and politics, Waddell’s commitment to shaking up the nonprofit world and promoting boots-on-the-ground change in Worcester is as clear as day.
What Olympic sport would you be the best at? 3-on-3 basketball. First appearance in Toyko this year.
What is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you? Jesus Christ. He loved me while I was his enemy.
What Central Mass. community is best? Worcester, because of the diversity
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