The Women’s Foundation of Boston’s Grants team hit the road in May to see some of our grantee partners’ economically empowering programs in action.
“There is no better day for the grants team than when we get to watch the grants come to life, like we saw in Worcester. The programming staff at all three organizations were amazing and the women and girls in their programs were confident, capable, and inspiring.” – Annie Tallas, Director of Grants Management
Check out our recap to experience some highlights from our day with women’s and girls’ nonprofits in the Worcester area!
Stop 1: Girls on the Run Worcester County
We kicked off Central MA Day with a running start at Girls on the Run Worcester County, who is inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. At the end of each season, girls cross the finish line at a celebratory 5K – an empowering moment capturing the confidence and strength they’ve built over the last 10 weeks.
During our visit to the Goddard School of Science and Technology team, girls reflected on what they’ve learned about themselves and the skills they’ve developed as they geared up for their big race the following week. At the end of the practice, girls wanted to keep the momentum going and were eager to learn how to stay involved after the race – asking if Girls on the Run has a team at their future middle school and how long they could be part of the program. The room was filled with excitement after the girls discovered that they can come back as Junior Coaches when they’re in high school.
As we were saying goodbye to the group, it was clear that GOTR Worcester County is planting the seeds for lifelong confidence – helping girls find their voice and their strength.
“The visit to the Goddard School of Science and Technology, alongside the Women’s Foundation, was a powerful affirmation of our mission. Witnessing the girls build confidence, support one another, and fully engage in the program highlighted the transformative impact of Girls on the Run. We are deeply grateful to the Women’s Foundation for their partnership and commitment to empowering young girls across Worcester County.” – Karen Spencer, Executive Director, Girls on the Run Worcester County
Stop 2: YWCA Central Massachusetts
Next up, we joined YWCA Central MA for Girls CHOICE Money Smart, a weekly financial literacy program that runs throughout the school year! During our visit, girls reviewed what they’ve learned over the past few months, including wants vs needs, the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, comparing debit and credit cards, and calculating monthly income. During the school year, girls also learned about entrepreneurship – exploring how to start a business and the importance of networking, as well as hearing insightful perspectives from a panel of small-owned businesses.
To wrap up the session, girls worked on their Capstone Project: a student-led fundraiser to raise money for a celebratory trip to Six Flags amusement park. From filming and editing a promo video to designing BINGO and trivia games and preparing speeches to share the program’s impact, every detail of the event was planned and executed by the participants themselves.
The engagement and energy in the room was contagious – fostering a dynamic learning environment where the girls were empowered to explore financial concepts and apply them with creativity and confidence.
“With less than 2% of all philanthropic funding in the U.S. directed toward programs for women and girls, the support of the Women’s Foundation of Boston is not only impactful—it’s essential. Their investment helps ensure that girls in our community have access to the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to grow into confident, capable leaders.” – Deb Hall, Chief Executive Officer
Stop 3: Girls Inc. of Worcester
We saved the tassels for last, ending our Central MA Day at Girls Inc. of Worcester’s Eureka! Class of 2025 graduation – a celebration of a year-round, five-year STEM intensive program that engages and empowers 8th-12th grade girls.
The Class of 2025 cohort was an impressive group of young leaders in the Worcester community. One graduate received a Posse Scholarship – a merit-based, full-tuition scholarship awarded to high school students with extraordinary leadership potential – and will be attending Rutgers University in the fall. During the ceremony, graduates reflected on the impact of the program – highlighting themes of growth, empowerment, confidence, female leadership, and career exploration in the STEM field. One aspiring nurse shared that watching her peers grow stronger, smarter, and bolder together was an empowering experience.
The graduation served as a powerful reminder of what happens when girls and women are supported and encouraged to pursue big dreams.
“There is something profoundly moving about witnessing young women stand in their power—especially after five years of growth, in a rigorous STEM and leadership program. Having the Women’s Foundation of Boston visit the Eureka! College and Career Shower affirmed how critical it is to have funders who show up as true partners—invested not only in outcomes, but in the brilliance of the girls themselves. The visit was more than symbolic—it demonstrated the Women’s Foundation’s role as a funder, researcher, and collaborator deeply committed to driving lasting change through partnership rooted in trust, transparency, and shared vision.” – Tiffany Lillie, Chief Executive Officer
Linda Henry is the CEO of the Boston Globe Media Partners. She is a co-founder of HUBweek, a civic collaboration between the Boston Globe, Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and MIT that explores the future being built at the intersection of art, science and technology. Linda is also an early-stage impact investor, an Emmy-Award winning television producer with two shows currently airing, and a community activist. She serves as a director of the Red Sox Foundation, is a trustee of the Liverpool Football Club Foundation, chair of the Boston Globe Foundation, and chairman of the John W. Henry Family Foundation. In addition, she is a founder of the Boston Public Market, serves on the advisory board of MassChallenge, and is on the board of the Engine at MIT. She earned a BS from Babson College and her MS from MIT.
Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, was named President and CEO of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 2016. She is also Director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Previously, she was the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean and Professor of Medicine of Weill Cornell Medicine and Provost for Medical Affairs of Cornell University. Dr. Glimcher is a distinguished immunologist, widely renowned for her work in one of the most promising areas of cancer research.
Bekah Salwasser joined the Red Sox Foundation as the Executive Director in January of 2018. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Brown University and has extensive experience in philanthropy and both professional and semi-professional sports. After four years working as Community Relations Director for the Boston Celtics, Bekah went on to lead Scholar Athletes as its Executive Director, a program that supports public high school athletes with both their athletic and academic achievements. Earlier in her career, Bekah served as a professional soccer player for the Boston Breakers and as Executive Director of the Charlestown Lacrosse and Learning Center.
Kimberly Fay Boucher is a business executive who has driven high performance organizations in technology, consumer products and social enterprise/nonprofit industries over the past 25 years. She is currently the Technology Commercialization Business Leader for the CTO at Analog Devices, where she is responsible for driving new technologies from incubation stages to successful businesses. Kim is also a Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, where she teaches Disciplined Entrepreneurship in the Martin Trust Center. She holds a BS in Management Industrial Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is a NCAA Academic All-American Women’s Basketball player and has been inducted into the WPI Hall of Fame.
Ami Kuan Danoff (Co-Founder and CFO) is a private investor and the trustee of a foundation. She is a Harvard Quantum Founder and a member of the Harvard FAS Dean’s Council. Ami earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in Visual and Environmental Studies and holds a dual master’s degree in Applied Economics and International Finance from the Sloan School of Management at MIT. She was a portfolio manager in global equities at Putnam Investments and co-manager of the Putnam International New Opportunities Fund, and also worked as an international equities analyst at Fidelity Investments.
Christina Heenan Suh holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in English and Marketing and a master’s from Columbia University. A former management consultant, her work focused on strategy and implementation projects for Fortune 100 clients. She was also an account executive at Hill+Knowlton (WPP) marketing consumer packaged goods. As an Executive Board Member of the Brookline Education Foundation, which funds professional development in the Brookline Public Schools, Christina led their Grant and Oversight Committees. She currently sits on the board of the Brookline Library Foundation and teaches ESL at Rosie’s Place in Boston.
Christina Gordon (Co-Founder and CEO) holds a dual master’s degree in International Finance and Applied Economics from MIT’s Sloan School of Management. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Boston University and also studied for a joint master’s degree in Women’s Studies and Sociology at Brandeis with a focus on women in the workplace. Christina is a former assistant fund manager and technology industry equity analyst at Wellington Management. She also worked as a stock analyst at Fidelity Investments. She is a trustee of a private foundation, a member of Women Moving Millions and currently sits on the board of Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women in Boston.