Reliant Foundation Awards More Than $705,000 in Grants to 50 Area Non-Profits, Bringing Total Annual Giving to $800,000

Foundation Has Nearly Doubled Its Annual Giving Since 2018;
Funds Continue to Support Mental and Behavioral Health and Recovery Programs

 
Reliant Foundation, the Worcester-based charity which provides support to mental and behavioral health and recovery programs, announced that it has awarded 50 grants totaling more than $705,000 in its latest round of community funding. Coupled with the $95,000 in emergency grants provided throughout the year, Reliant Foundation has awarded a total of $800,000 to more than 50 nonprofits across Central and MetroWest Massachusetts in 2021.

“Despite the challenges we’ve all faced over the last couple years, our donors and event sponsors have remained steadfast in their support of our mission,” said Kelsa Zereski, Reliant Foundation president. “It’s incredible to think that we’ve been able to nearly double the amount we’ve granted to our community nonprofits in just the last few years.”

This marks the third consecutive year Reliant Foundation has delivered more than $700,000 in grants – 23 of which were for $15,000 or more – to 501(c)(3) organizations whose programs align with the Foundation’s top-two focus areas of addressing mental and behavioral health services for children and youth and substance use disorder. In 2020, the Foundation provided more than $700,000 in grants to 56 organizations.

“The organizations that rely on our support have had to make so many adjustments, and in some cases completely reinvent themselves, to remain viable over the last couple of years,” said Marianne Felice, M.D., Reliant Foundation Board Chair. “They’ve worked tirelessly to continue delivering critical resources to some of the most vulnerable members of our community, so we’re incredibly proud to support their efforts in delivering those life-saving services.”

The following organizations are receiving grants from the Foundation through its most recent 2021 grant cycle:

• Abby’s House: Advocacy and Supportive Services for Homeless Women and the Addition of a New Shelter Advocate

 

• Adolescent Consultation Services: Mental Health Services for Youth Involved with Framingham Juvenile Court

 

• Anna Maria College: Addiction and Youth Service Preparedness for the Early Careers Project

 

• Bancroft School – Worcester Partnership Program: “Mindful Matter and Stress Relief” Component of the Worcester Partnership Program for Low-Income Children

 

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MA/Metro West: Keeping Kids Connected Mentorship Program, Providing Mental Health and Isolation Support

 

• Boys and Girls Club of MetroWest: Trauma-Informed Care Training for Youth Development Staff

 

• Boys and Girls Club of Webster-Dudley: Post-COVID Mental and Behavioral Health Program for Youth

 

• Boys and Girls Club of Worcester: Post-COVID Mental and Behavioral Health Program for Youth

 

• Catholic Charities Worcester County: Building Renovations and Upgrades for the Expansion of the Men’s Recovery Program, Crozier House

 

• Central MA Agency on Aging: Grandparent Service Coordinator for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program

 

• Children’s Friend: Grief Support Program for Children and Youth

 

• Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester: 2022 Community Health Improvement Plan

 

• Community Harvest Project: Nutritious Foods for Worcester’s Residential Recovery

Programs

 

• Community Health Link: Play Therapy for Traumatized Mothers and their Children

 

• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): Shining the Light Program – Highlighting
  Necessary Services for Children Removed from their Homes due to Parental Substance Abuse

 

• Dismas House: Substance Abuse Prevention Initiative

 

• Doc Wayne Youth Service, Inc.: “Chalk Talk” Group Therapy Program for Youth

 

• Doctor Franklin Perkins School: Behavioral Health Services to Children Project

 

• Genesis Club House Inc.: Young Adult Mental Health Program

 

• Girls Inc.: Mental Health and Family Support Services for Female Youth

 

• Growing Places: Local Food Works – Meet Me at the Table Project for Underserved Youth

 

• Home2Homes: Providing Physical, Clean, and New Material Goods to MetroWest Shelters and Recovery Homes

 

• Jeremiah’s Inn: Jeremiah’s House Substance Use Recovery Residence

 

• LUK Inc.: Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention Training in North Central Massachusetts

 

• Latin American Health Alliance (LAHA), Hector Reyes House: Electronic Medical Record (EMR) System to Develop the Supportive House Program

 

• Living in Freedom Together (LIFT): Outpatient Clinic for Mental and Behavioral Health at HARBOR

 

• Lovin’ Spoonfuls: MetroWest Food Rescue & Distribution Operation for Recovery Programs

 

• Montachusett Recovery Foundation Corp: Substance Use Recovery Center and Self-Help Group Meetings

 

• Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center, Inc.: Mental Health Wellness Program for Veterans

 

• Nativity School of Worcester: Student Support Team and Social Emotional Learning Program

 

• Net of Compassion: A Year-Round Recovery Coach Position at the Shelter and Shower Programs

 

• Our Bright Future: Empowering Youth Program

 

• Perkins School: Perkins Behavioral Health Services for Children Project

 

• Pernet Family Health Services: Youth Program and Parent Ambassador Pilot Program, Providing Youth Mental Health First Aid Training to Parents

 

• Programs for People, Inc.: Intensive Mental Health Services for Low-Income Adults and Families

 

• Rainbow Child Development Center: Creative Arts Health and Wellness Program for Youth

 

• Restoration Recovery: Addiction Workforce Training Series

 

• Revive of the USA: Fitness and Substance Use Recovery Programs, Providing Services to the Beryls’ House, Adding Two Additional Worcester Service Locations, and Hiring/Training an Additional Coach to Assist with the Increasing Volume of Services

 

• Rise Above: Activities for Youth in Foster Care

 

• Riverside Community Care: ACT for Higher Education on Suicide Prevention

 

• Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services: School-Based Services Program, Providing Trauma-Focused Mental Health Services to Students and School Districts

 

• South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC): A Wheelchair Accessible Ramp Replacement at Sage House Family Residence Recovery Home in Framingham

 

• SPARK Kindness, Inc.: Resilient Community Program, Providing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Education Through a Community Series

 

• UMass Chan Medical School: FaCES Clinic Education Navigator Position for Children in Foster Care

 

• UMass Memorial Health: Worcester Addresses Childhood Trauma (Worcester ACTs)

 

• United Way of North Central MA: Healthy Minds: Well-Being for Well Doing Virtual Youth Conference

 

• Wayside Youth & Family Support Network: Investing in Youth Sobriety Program, Expanding Substance Use Initiatives to Sites in Milford and Charlton

 

• Westborough Connects: Mental Health and Behavioral Health Community Awareness and Trainings

 

• Worcester Youth Center: Opioid/Narcan Training Program with Vaping Education Prevention

 

• Y.O.U., Inc: Healthy Options for Prevention and Education Mental Health Program

 

• YWCA: Social-Emotional Well-Being Program for Young Children

About Reliant Foundation

Established in 1988 as a public charity, the Reliant Foundation is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to improving 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 offers grants to non-profit organizations within its service area for the purpose of supporting programs that battle critical public health issues such as substance use disorder and mental and behavioral health. For more information, please visit www.reliantfoundation.org.