Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts Announces 2024 Activation Fund Grants

WORCESTER — The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts announced it has awarded eight grants totaling $890,455 through its Activation Fund program to support a wide range of organizations serving the region.

The Activation Fund supports organizations in building capacity in sustainable ways as they work to address community-identified health issues. More than 85% of the 2024 Activation Fund grantees had not previously received funding from the Health Foundation.

“We received a record number of applications this year, and our application process was refined and streamlined to be more responsive to the needs of community organizations seeking our support,” said Amie Shei, president and CEO of the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts. “We are excited to partner with seven organizations receiving grants for the first time, as well as one returning grantee, in support of their varied projects aimed to help them move to the next level of capacity or effectiveness in improving health in the region.”

One grant went to an organization serving communities in Western Mass.: Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and North Quabbin, which received $86,900 for construction costs associated with establishing an outpatient clinic in Orange, thereby expanding its capacity to provide specialized mental-health services for child victims of sexual abuse and their families in the North Quabbin region.

Other grants were awarded to African Community Education ($125,000), Center of Hope Foundation ($125,000), Choices Inc. ($80,250), Gardner Community Action Committee ($115,000), Growing Places ($109,041), Quinsigamond Community College ($124,254), and Worcester RISE for Health ($125,000).