Reliant Foundation Trustees
Members of the Reliant Foundation Board of Trustees met with Foundation staff in early November to review and discuss requests for funding; $800,000 was disbursed in support of 45 area nonprofits. The meeting was held at the JMAC BrickBox Theater in Worcester.

Total Grant Support for 2022 Totals $850,000

Reliant Foundation has announced its 2022 Fall Community Grant Awards, totaling $800,000, in support of 45 area nonprofits. The Foundation’s mission-driven grant funding is focused on nonprofit organizations throughout Central and MetroWest MA that strengthen mental health and/or behavioral health supports for children and youth; help individuals of all ages reach recovery from substance use disorder; address the workforce shortage in mental health, behavioral health, and recovery coaching; and offer programs and initiatives to reduce stigma around mental health and substance use disorder.

Earlier in the year, Reliant Foundation awarded 5 emergency, off-cycle grants, bringing its total grants distribution for 2022 to $850,000. Over the past 5 years, the Foundation has provided more than $3.5 million in funding to area nonprofits.

“Reliant Foundation is proud to increase our community support again this year” said Kelsa Zereski, Reliant Foundation president. “It’s a testament to all of our donors and volunteers for their generous support, and to our Board of Trustees for their commitment to bolstering critical programs.”

“There are children and adults in our community who desperately need access to the kind of life-saving supports our grantees deliver,” said Marianne Felice, MD, Reliant Foundation Board Chair. “These organizations must have adequate funding so they can maintain the level of resources necessary to meet the overwhelming demand.”

The following area nonprofits, located throughout Central, North Central, South Central and MetroWest MA, are receiving grants from the Foundation through the 2022 Fall Community Grants:

Abby’s House – Advocacy and Supportive Services Program 

Adolescent Consultation Services (ACS) – Mental Health and Behavioral Health Services 

Anna Maria College – Mental Health Awareness and Intervention for Early Career Professionals, Behavioral and Mental Health Institute 

Bancroft School – Worcester Partnership Program 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MA & MetroWest – Keeping Kids Connected 

Boys & Girls Club of MetroWest – SMART Girls in Action 

Boys & Girls Club of Webster-Dudley – Mental Health and Behavioral Health Programs 

Boys & Girls Club of Worcester – Mental Health and Behavioral Health Programs 

CASA Project – Shine the Light Initiative 

Central MA Agency on Aging – Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Opioid, and Mental Health Initiative 

Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester – CHIP Greater Worcester 

Community Harvest Project – Produce and Volunteer Programming for Recovery Homes 

Community Healthlink – Women Enhancing Recovery through Fitness and Empowerment 

Dismas House – Substance Abuse Prevention Initiative  

Doc Wayne Youth Services – Chalk Talk® Group Therapy Program 

GAAMHA – R.O.O.T.S. (Resilient, Open-Minded, Optimistic, Thriving, Serene) Program 

Genesis Club – Zero Stigma Project 

Girls, Inc. – Health and Family Services Initiative 

Growing Places – HEALing Mental Health Among Youth (HEAL MH)

HeartWell Institute – Healing Families: Fostering Emotional Regulation and Resilience for Parents and Adolescents 

Jeremiah’s Inn – Renovations of the Jeremiah’s House Recovery Residence 

Living in Freedom Together (LIFT) – Integration of Case Management Software throughout all LIFT Programs

Lovin’ Spoonfuls – MetroWest Food Rescue and Distribution to Addiction Recovery Shelters 

LUK, Inc. – Community Based Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention Trainings 

Mandela Yoga Project – Recovery-Based Reentry Yoga and Peer Leader Training Program 

Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center (MVOC) – Wellness and Self Sufficiency Programming for Veterans 

Open Sky Community Services – Clinical and Leadership Cohort Model 

Pernet Family Health Services – Youth Program 

Rainbow Child Development Center – Counseling and Instilling Calm: Children’s Superpower to Mental Health Program 

Regional Environmental Council – YouthGROW Program 

Revive of the USA – Jump Start Revive Services at New Recovery Homes and a Youth Treatment Program 

RFK Community Alliance – Comprehensive Behavioral Healthcare for Children 

Rise Above – Activities for Local Youth in Foster Care 

Riverside Community Care – Increasing Access to Community Behavioral Healthcare for Low-Income Adolescents and Children 

The Shine Initiative – Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Mindmatters Project 

Shrewsbury Youth & Family Services – Group Support Services Program 

South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) – Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Program 

SPARK Kindness – Addressing the Emotional Health and Resilience of Children and Youth 

St. Peter Central Catholic Elementary School – Opening our Minds to Better Mental Health 

United Way of North Central Massachusetts – Healthy Minds Youth Conference 

Westborough Connects – Foundational Support for a Thriving, Kind and Connected Community Where Everyone Belongs 

Worcester Youth Center – Opioid/Narcan Training Program 

YOU, Inc. (Seven Hills Foundation) – The Carriage House Grief Support Center 

YWCA Central Massachusetts – Social-Emotional Health Program



For more information about Reliant Foundation, or about how you can make a difference in the lives and health of our community, visit: www.reliantfoundation.org.

About Reliant Foundation

Established in 1988, Reliant Foundation is an independent public charity, not affiliated with any health care facility or medical group, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of individuals of all ages in the Central and MetroWest regions of Massachusetts. As a 501(c)3 charity, the Foundation raises funds on a year-round basis to bring our mission to life through community grant making. Grants support non-profit organizations with programs that battle critical public health issues such as substance use disorder, and children’s and adolescent mental health. Our charity partners provide life-saving Recovery Coaching, Mental health, Behavioral health, Grief Counseling, and more to thousands of individuals in our community. For more information, please visit reliantfoundation.org.