August 2024 - Issue #16

The Health Foundation recently awarded eight grants totaling $890,445 through the Activation Fund, which supports organizations in building capacity in sustainable ways as they work to address community-identified health issues, as reported by The Worcester Guardian, Sentinel & Enterprise, and other media outlets.

The eight grant recipients, whose projects are summarized here, represent a diverse mix of organizations located throughout the region. Most of the 2024 Activation Fund grantees had not previously received funding from The Health Foundation.

The Health Foundation's president and CEO Dr. Amie Shei said, “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. 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.”



The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will finally have dedicated funding to explore how best to ensure safe drinking water from private wells as part of the recently approved FY2025 state budget. 

This represents an important step forward in developing a statewide drinking water program for private wells to ensure that all Massachusetts residents have access to safe water, and it is a direct result of advocacy efforts stemming from the Private Well Program to Protect Public Health, a Round 5 Synergy Initiative project led by RCAP Solutions. MassDEP will receive $100,000 to conduct a study and make recommendations for a statewide program to ensure that drinking water from private wells is safe to consume.

Thank you to Senator Jamie Eldridge, Representative Meghan Kilcoyne, Representative Smitty Pignatelli, and Representative Dan Sena, who have been leading champions in the State House, and to all of the partners and advocates who contributed to this victory. 

The Health Foundation has provided nearly $1.8 million in grant funding to date to support this project.

This news was covered by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Sentinel & Enterprise, and WWLP- 22 News.



On June 6, the Health Equity Compact hosted the 2024 Health Equity Trends Summit. Over 1,000 people joined in-person and via livestream for the second annual summit themed “Health Equity in Action.”

Dr. Shei moderated a session entitled "Embedding Equity: State Leaders Collaborating to Advance Health Equity" featuring Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, Robert Goldstein, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Lauren Jones, and Secretary of the Executive Office of Economic Development, Yvonne Hao.

The Health Equity Compact brings together over 80 leaders of color across a diverse set of Massachusetts organizations – including hospitals, health centers, payers, academic institutions and public health – to advance health equity in Massachusetts. 



Racial diversity is lacking in MA

health care leadership

Findings from the Center for Health Information and Analysis' inaugural Massachusetts Health Care Workforce survey show the majority of leadership positions in the Massachusetts health care industry are held by white people. In this recent Worcester Business Journal article, Dr. Shei commented on the conclusions and how the lack of diversity among health care providers can result in negative patient outcomes.

Dr. Shei appointed to Children’s Trust Board

Dr. Shei was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Children's Trust, as reported by MassNonprofit News.

The Children's Trust is a public-private organization working toward a Massachusetts free from child abuse and neglect. The Trust partners with organizations and communities to drive systemic change to address the root causes of abuse and neglect so that all children can grow up in thriving families.



The front page of the May 8, 2003 issue of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

As we look back over The Health Foundation's 25-year history, July marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Massachusetts Smoke-Free Workplace Law.

In 2003, The Health Foundation's founding president and CEO, Dr. Jan Yost, joined other health organizations, individuals, and the Coalition for a Healthy Future in advocating for the passage of a law that would create smoke-free workplaces.

Findings from health experts, including the World Health Organization and the Environmental Protection Agency, demonstrated that exposure to secondhand smoke causes the same serious illnesses as active smoking: cancer, emphysema, heart attacks, and stroke.

The Health Foundation’s efforts included raising public awareness about the health consequences of secondhand smoke. On May 7, 2003, Dr. Yost joined over 30 local advocates in a rally at Worcester City Hall, followed by a public hearing at the State House urging legislators to support the passage of the Senate bill to make all workplaces in Massachusetts 100% smoke-free. 

On June 18, 2004, then-Governor Mitt Romney signed the Massachusetts Smoke-Free Workplace Law, banning smoking in enclosed workplaces, public places, and businesses where the public enters the premises. The ban became effective on July 5, 2004.



Below are resources and information that may be of interest to our nonprofit partners and community.

Philanthropy Massachusetts is a membership organization that serves as a bridge between funders and nonprofits, offering opportunities for learning and networking and access to resources and tools, skill-building, and community-building. Below are two upcoming programs for nonprofits:

• Introduction to Grants Research (click to register)

This introductory program is ideal for grant seekers who are new to the process or who would like to brush up their skills. Philanthropy Massachusetts will provide brief tutorials in the Foundation Directory Pro and other search engines, and cover the beginning, middle and end of the grants research process.

Date: September 17, 2024

Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Location: Virtual

Fees: Members - $35, Non-members - $55

• Getting Started with Grants Using the Common Application Language (click to register)

In this focused 2-hour session, Philanthropy Massachusetts will break down the basics of grant writing with a lens for what funders are really looking for in your proposal narrative. Using Philanthropy Massachusetts’ Common Grant Application framework, this workshop will equip nonprofit professionals with the essential skills and key language for effective grant writing. 

Date: October 1, 2024

Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Location: Virtual

Fees: Members - $35, Non-members - $55

Growing Places, a nonprofit that distributes local produce from 30+ farms in North Central MA, is seeking feedback from the community to inform planning for its new local food processing center in Gardner.

• Are you a resident of North Central MA? Complete and share this 10-minute survey for a chance to win an air fryer or spiralizer. Responses will be collected through the end of September.

Commonwealth Green Low-Income Housing Coalition (CGLIHC) is a Worcester-based coalition working to connect low-income housing and other nonprofits with clean energy tools to lower both costs and carbon output, and help organizations at no cost improve their efficiency and green credentials. Currently, CGLIHC is offering $350 to a limited number of area nonprofits who are willing to participate in Community Based Solar. Community Based Solar is a simple step in which the nonprofit agrees to purchase their power from off-site panels, often at a discount, simply by uploading energy bills to any of a number of solar providers. Participating agencies will receive the $350, and a window and website decal showcasing their 100% solar commitment. 

• Enjoy this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAWenhJxTJ0) featuring a variety of organizations who participate in Community Based Solar.

• Contact Dave McMahon (davemcmahon@dismasisfamily.org) for more information or to participate. 

The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) is currently developing a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, a major deliverable for a $1 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant CMRPC received in 2023.

The grant enables CMRPC to begin developing and implementing plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution across the Central MA and Northeastern CT regions. The next step in the planning process is to submit the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan in June 2025.

• You can take a survey to share YOUR ideas for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 across the Central MA-Northeast CT Region.

© 2024 The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts