June 22, 2021 Press Releases

Over $818K in Grants Distributed by Community Foundation in Latest COVID-19 Response Rounds

Grants target summer youth programs, vaccine education, and populations most negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Springfield, MA— The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts has announced that it has awarded $818,500 in grants from its COVID-19 Response Fund. These latest rounds target summer youth programs, vaccine education, and immigrant and non-English speaking individuals experiencing severe economic hardship due to the pandemic in areas most impacted by COVID-19 positive levels.

Grants were awarded to 37 local nonprofits in two rounds during May and June. Seventeen awardees received $370,000 to support programs offering in-person summer youth programs running in July and August. The other 20 awardees received $448,500 in a second round of emergency grants providing direct financial assistance and support to immigrant and non-English speaking individuals and families experiencing severe economic hardship, as well as funding for vaccine education in Springfield.

According to Vice President for Community Impact and Partnerships Denise Hurst, “COVID-19 grantmaking continues for the Foundation and this is in no doubt due to the wonderfully generous neighbors in our region who care deeply about our communities. We are fortunate that donors continue to give to the fund to assist with the challenges our region continues to face.”

The COVID-19 Response Fund was established to provide grants to community nonprofit organizations serving the needs of the most vulnerable populations affected by the pandemic in western Massachusetts. Since launching in March of 2020, the Foundation has granted over $12M to more than 180 nonprofits in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties.

The 37 nonprofits that received grants from the COVID-19 Response Fund are:

Chicopee Boys and Girls Club, Inc.
Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.
Holyoke YMCA, Inc.
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke, Inc.
West Springfield Boys & Girls Club, Inc.
YMCA of Greater Springfield
Springfield Jewish Community Center, Inc.
South End Community Center, Inc.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services, Inc.
Springfield Boys & Girls Club, Inc.
Boys & Girls Club Family Center, Inc.
New North Citizens’ Council
Gray House, Inc.
Forest Park Zoological Society, Inc.
Young Men’s Christian Association of Greenfield, MA
Hampshire Regional Young Men’s Christian Association
Girls Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, Inc.
Workshop 13, Inc.
Black Men of Greater Springfield, Inc.
Arise, Inc.
Catholic Charities Agency
Center for New Americans
Enlace de Familias de Holyoke
Holyoke/Chicopee/Springfield Head Start, Inc.
Home City Development, Inc.
Caring Health Center, Inc.
Community Upliftment Program, Inc.
International Language Institute of Massachusetts, Inc.
Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts, Inc.
Montague Catholic Social Ministries, Inc.
Pioneer Valley Workers Center, Inc.
Rivera & Rivera Act Against Foreclosure, Inc.
Somali Bantu Community of Springfield, Inc.
The Literacy Project, Inc.
Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.
Community Music School of Springfield, Inc.
Urban League of Springfield, Inc.


The Community Foundation welcomes additional donations to the COVID-19 Response Fund. 100% of donations go to community needs. Gifts can be made online at: www.communityfoundation.org/covid19

About Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts

Founded in 1991, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts seeks to enrich the quality of life for the people of our region. With assets totaling $200 million, CFWM serves the three counties bordering the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts (Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties) by serving as a resource, catalyst, and coordinator for charitable activities. To learn more, visit http://communityfoundation.org/.