Mass. Nonprofits Get Grants to Support, Expand Ongoing Work

December 1, 2017 — Walmart gives $70K to Interfaith Social Services in connection with twentieth anniversary...Castle Square Tenants Organization gets $10K from Best Buy to train next generation of IT professionals...A $10K grant from the AG helped Rewarding Work launch an automated job board, with strong first-year results.

Walmart Gives $70K to Interfaith Social Services

Interfaith Social Services, a non-religious, nonprofit multi-service center based in Quincy that provides food and clothing to South Shore residents, this week announced it received a $70,000 donation from Walmart to support the twentieth anniversary of the organization's Feed the Hungry Gala to be held Dec. 8

Rick Doane, Interfaith’s executive director, said, “We were thrilled to receive notice of Walmart’s donation of $70,000 for our 70th. Support from community businesses and individuals is what allows us to sustain our vital family assistance programs. We are so appreciative that Walmart has prioritized working with organizations like ours to fight hunger and better the lives of families on the South Shore.”

“Walmart is proud to support Interfaith Social Services and the incredible work that they do to help families in our communities,” said Chris Buchanan, Director of Public Affairs & State & Local Government Relations for Walmart. “Working with organizations like Interfaith to end hunger is a priority for Walmart, and we look forward to our continued work with this and other deserving organizations.”

Interfaith runs one of Greater Boston’s largest emergency food programs, distributing close to 500,000 meals each year through its food pantry. It also offers mental health counseling. addiction recovery treatment, and homelessness prevention services through budget counseling and emergency assistance.

Castle Square Tenants Organization Gets $10K from Best Buy

The Castle Square Tenants Organization (CSTO) in Boston, which provides access to safe, affordable housing and supportive direct service programs, recently announce it receive a $10,000 grant from Best Buy Foundation Partners to help train the next generation of information technology (IT) professionals.

The grant will support an innovative program that combines positive youth development, technology training. and work based learning to equip local youth with IT and job readiness skills. High school students take classes in PC hardware, networking and computer science taught by certified IT instructors. They also learn business and customer service skills and have access to workshops focused on website design, resume development, job interviews and financial literacy.

Founded in 1987 as a grassroots movement lead by a group of residents, CSTO has been providing direct service programs to the South End neighborhood of Boston since 1996.

“We’ve been very successful and have in many ways redefined the expectations of what a tenant lead organization can do,” said Deborah Backus, co-founder and current executive director.

AG Grant Enables Rewarding Work to Launch Automated Job Board

Rewarding Work, a Brookline nonprofit that helps people with disabilities, the elderly, and their families hire personal care assistants and direct care workers, announced that a $10,000 grant it received from the attorney general's office to help launch an automated job board has generated 2000 job postings in its first year.

Rewarding Work said it had projected 700 postings in its first year.

“The number of jobs posted in the first year is nearly triple our expectations. Word of mouth about our job board is helping us recruit personal care and respite workers, which can be a challenge in a robust economy," said Elenore Parker, founder of Rewarding Work, adding the 2,000 listings attracted nearly 15,000 applications.

Founded as a nonprofit in 2004, Rewarding Work operates the Massachusetts website in conjunction with the MA PCA Workforce Council and MA DDS. The Directory has a database of more than 7,600 workers in Massachusetts who want to work with elders and individuals of all ages with disabilities.