United Way of Central Massachusetts on Tuesday announced it will distribute more than $1 million across 14 organizations using funding from a $5-million grant received from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott late last year.
The organizations pitched their programming, which had to be related to diversity, equity and inclusion, early education and/or poverty, through 90-second video applications. More than 100 videos were submitted, according to United Way. Of those, 20 were asked to present their pitches before judges at a contest held in November.
Judges were comprised of a variety of Central Massachusetts leaders, including Jay Ash, Eric Batista, Tim Garvin, Joe Hamilton, AiVi Nguyen, Luis Pedraja, Gina Plata-Nino, Alex Richardson, Naomi Sleeper, and Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham.
Recipient organizations include:
- American Antiquarian Society, Worcester
- Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester, Worcester County
- Crocodile River Music, Worcester
- Family Services of Central Massachusetts, Worcester
- Latino Education Institute at Worcester State University – Readers’ Theatre, Worcester
- Muslim Community Link: Black Seed Farmers Market, Worcester
- OurStory Edutainment, Central Massachusetts
- Regional Environmental Council, Worcester
- Saint John’s High School, Shrewsbury
- Technocopia, Worcester
- The Community Builders (TCB), Boston
- Urban Parks Education Program, Central Massachusetts
- Worcester Community Action Council, Inc., Worcester
- Yes credit is everything, Worcester
