The Milford Youth Center has received a $115,250 grant from The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts. The Center was one of 11 organizations to be awarded funding in 2022 through its Activation Fund program, which aims to support one-year projects that will have a longstanding benefit to the community. This grant is for the final phase of the HVAC Renovation of the Milford Youth Center building project. The Town of Milford previously appropriated just under $800,000 for a HVAC Architectural and Engineering Study, heating and cooling units for the 2nd floor and for an air conditioning and dehumidification system in the gymnasium and basement of the Center. This grant of $115,250 will allow for the replacement of the steam unit heating systems for the gym and basement areas of the facility to address any remaining air quality issues and help increase operating efficiency.
Director of the Center, Jennifer Ward, commented, “Without the support of The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, this final step of the HVAC project would not be able to come to fruition and for that we are very grateful.” She added, ”We would like to thank the Town of Milford for the initial funding, the United Way of Tri-County, our fiscal sponsor, and volunteer grant writer, Francoise Elise, for working with us on the grant proposal.
About Milford Youth Center: The mission of the Milford Youth Center (MYC) is to provide a safe environment that promotes self-esteem, builds character, and fosters the notion of community and the importance of respecting and serving others. The MYC works together with other community organizations to provide resources and opportunities for youth to make healthy decisions. The MYC works to provide local youth with the necessary activities and events that help them develop physically, mentally, socially and emotionally through their childhood years. By providing Milford youth with these types of programs and a safe environment during the after-school hours and during our monthly events, we hope to address adolescent risk factors as well as promoting the partnership among community members to ensure a comprehensive vision and plan for the health of the youth in the town of Milford.
About The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts: The Health Foundation was established in 1999 with the proceeds from the sale of Central Massachusetts Health Care, Inc., a physician-initiated, not-for-profit HMO. The Foundation has assets of approximately $90 million, as of this spring, and has awarded grants totaling over $50 million since it began its grantmaking in 2000. For further information about these grants or about the Foundation’s grantmaking programs and application process, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.hfcm.org or call (508) 438-0009.