By Jerry Filmore
WORCESTER, MA — For many families across Central Massachusetts, summer brings both opportunity and challenge. School is out, but the need for safe places, structured activities, meals, transportation, academic support, and caring adults does not pause.
This summer, United Way of Central Massachusetts says it has helped bring together $700,000 in public funding, employee giving, corporate support, foundation investments, community donations, and its own Community Impact funding to support approximately 4,000 children and teens across the region.
The funding supports summer learning, evening enrichment, youth service, recreation, leadership development, volunteer opportunities, transportation, and other youth-focused programs, according to a July 8 press release from United Way of Central Massachusetts.
“One of the greatest strengths of our community is the willingness of people and organizations to work together,” Tim Garvin, President and CEO of United Way of Central Massachusetts, said in the release. “Every investment, every partnership, and every volunteer helps create opportunities for young people to learn, lead, and thrive.”
According to United Way, the summer investments include support from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s After School and Out-of-School Time initiative, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the City of Worcester Community Development Block Grant Program, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, The Hanover Insurance Group, UMass Memorial Health employees through the Summer Strong Campaign, and United Way’s Community Impact investments.
Through DESE’s ASOST initiative, United Way of Central Massachusetts is supporting 13 summer learning programs focused on academic achievement, social-emotional development, enrichment, and career readiness. Across Central, North Central, and South Central Massachusetts, regional United Ways are administering $465,000 in summer learning funding to support 26 programs.
UMass Memorial Health employees also contributed to the effort through the Summer Strong Campaign. According to United Way, this year’s employee investment totals $132,219 and supports nine youth-serving organizations. The funding is intended to expand access to academic enrichment, recreation, transportation, and camp experiences during the summer.
United Way also committed an additional $55,000 in Community Impact funding to four programs providing intensive academic support and family engagement opportunities for youth with significant needs. One of those programs, the African Community Education Summer Program, expects to serve more than 100 students each day, according to United Way.
In Worcester, YouthConnect Summer Nights is again providing free evening programming for youth ages 11 to 16. The seven-week program is designed to keep young people active, connected, and engaged during the summer.
The program includes recreation, STEM activities, cooking classes, art, sports, swimming, leadership development, workforce exploration, nightly dinner, and coordinated transportation.
YouthConnect Summer Nights is coordinated by United Way and includes the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, Friendly House, Girls Inc. of Worcester, Worcester Youth Center, YMCA of Central Massachusetts, YWCA Central Massachusetts, and United Way of Central Massachusetts.
The program is supported by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Summer Nights Initiative, the City of Worcester Community Development Block Grant Program, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, and the UMass Memorial Health Summer Strong Campaign.
Another part of the summer effort is WooServes Youth Service, a six-week program focused on volunteer service, leadership development, and civic engagement. United Way said 87 students were selected from 100 applicants for this year’s program.
WooServes Youth Service connects young people ages 13 to 18 with volunteer opportunities at 16 nonprofit organizations working in areas including food security, education, health, outdoor recreation, and community resilience.
The program began at Community Harvest Project in North Grafton, where participants harvested fresh produce for local hunger relief organizations before beginning volunteer placements throughout the region. By the end of the summer, each student is expected to complete at least 21 hours of service.
Maryah Muldrow, a longtime WooServes ambassador who has volunteered alongside her twin brother Jordan for the past six years, said the program changed how she thinks about service.
“When you’re a kid, you think, ‘What can I do?’ because the world seems so big,” Muldrow said in the release. “The best thing about your time is using it to help people.”
For Worcester-area families, the coordinated funding means more youth will have access to programs that can help fill summer gaps in learning, supervision, recreation, meals, transportation, and connection to community organizations.
Garvin said the effort shows what can happen when different partners contribute resources, expertise, funding, volunteers, and opportunities.
“Together, we’re creating a summer where thousands of young people can discover new interests, develop new skills, serve their community, and build brighter futures,” Garvin said.
Residents can learn more about United Way of Central Massachusetts and its community programs through the United Way of Central Massachusetts website.
🔎 W.U.W. Verification Box
• Project / Topic: United Way of Central Massachusetts summer youth investments.
• Current Status: United Way of Central Massachusetts announced that $700,000 in coordinated summer investments will support approximately 4,000 children and teens across Central Massachusetts.
• Key Dates or Decisions: The announcement was issued July 8, 2026. YouthConnect Summer Nights begins this week, according to United Way. WooServes Youth Service participants have begun six weeks of volunteer service.
• Estimated Cost: The total announced summer investment is $700,000. United Way also reported $465,000 in regional summer learning funding, $132,219 from UMass Memorial Health employees through the Summer Strong Campaign, and $55,000 in United Way Community Impact funding.
• Timeline: The investments support summer 2026 programming, including seven weeks of YouthConnect Summer Nights and six weeks of WooServes Youth Service.
• Immediate Next Steps: Youth programs funded through these investments are taking place throughout the summer. Residents can learn more through United Way of Central Massachusetts.
• Primary Sources: United Way of Central Massachusetts press release dated July 8, 2026.
• What We Do Not Yet Know: The source material does not provide a full list of all funded organizations, program locations, registration availability, or remaining openings for families.
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