WESTFIELD – Last week the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) awarded $198,000 to 18 area organizations throughout Connecticut and western Massachusetts in the form of grants, providing funding for initiatives such as new digitized speech processing equipment for hearing-impaired students, technology items for a youth development program, and behavioral therapy equipment for a specialized care center.
Edward Abraham, president of RMHC of Connecticut and western Massachusetts, is excited to be able to assist communities in the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley.
“RMHC is thrilled to be supporting so many diverse community organizations,” he said. “RMHC was created to better the lives of children and their families in our community and we are delighted to be able to continue our work through these selected organizations.”
Of the almost $200,000 in donation funds, $1,500 has been awarded to the Kinship Fund, a Westfield-based organization, for beds and bedding materials.
Six years ago, Westfield High School and Volunteers in Public Schools of Westfield, Inc. joined forces to establish the Kinship Fund. The Kinship Fund provides housing, education, and medical services to high school students that experience homelessness and other severe family issues. Since many of these students have “aged out” of the DCF system, the fund provides these students with resources for basic needs so that they may continue their schooling and go on to higher education at a college or university.
The guidance department, school administration, and volunteers work cohesively to supervise these students and coordinate additional fundraisers to benefit them.
