The Worcester Guardian, the city’s nonprofit news organization dedicated to providing independent and fact-based journalism, is celebrating its first anniversary with an exciting milestone – membership in the prestigious Institute for Nonprofit News.
The partnership with INN furthers The Worcester Guardian’s commitment to providing trusted, accessible news to the community.
The INN is a network of 450 nonprofit and nonpartisan newsrooms dedicated to public service and building a more informed society.
“Joining the Institute for Nonprofit News is a pivotal moment for The Worcester Guardian and the Worcester community,” said Dave Nordman, lead consultant for The Worcester Guardian. “Membership allows us to tap into a network of like-minded news organizations dedicated to trustworthy, independent journalism. It strengthens our commitment to providing Worcester residents with fact-based reporting on the issues that matter most.”
Since its inception, The Worcester Guardian has become a vital source of news, publishing more than 900 stories about local government, education, community events and more. The news organization has 25,000 newsletter subscribers and 2,500 followers on social media.
In February, The Worcester Guardian received nonprofit 501(c)(3) exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service, allowing it to receive tax-deductible donations and gifts from supporters.
“Celebrating our first year is a testament to the tremendous support from our community and philanthropic partners who believe in the power of independent journalism,” said Timothy Loew, chair of The Worcester Guardian Board of Directors. “This past year, we’ve made remarkable strides, but to continue meeting Worcester’s needs for trusted local news, we need even more support. We’re calling on all who value a well-informed community to join us in sustaining this mission for years to come.”
The Worcester Guardian’s network of sponsors and community partners include UMass Memorial Health, Fallon Health, Dewey Square Group, Worcester State University, Kelleher and Sadowsky, The Hanover Insurance Group, UniBank, Worcester Bravehearts, Anna Maria College, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Masis Staffing, Synergy, the Better Business Bureau of Central New England, the Schwartz Foundation, and Enterprise Cleaning Corp.
First anniversary celebration
To mark its first anniversary, The Worcester Guardian will host a special celebration at The White Room at Crompton Collective from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required.
Readers, donors and sponsors are invited to join in celebrating the power of local journalism. The gathering will include a panel discussion with New England nonprofit news leaders, who will provide insights into the importance of community-driven media.
Hank Stolz, host of “Talk of the Commonwealth,” will emcee the event. Panelists will include Andy Tomolonis of The New Bedford Light, Jesse Floyd of The Belmont Voice, Sam Mintz of Brookline.News and Christine Quirk of The Concord Bridge.
The anniversary celebration is made possible thanks to the support of the Better Business Bureau of Central New England, Workplace Resource, Webster Five, The Hanover Insurance Group, and James and Dixie Brigham.
Board of Directors expands
As part of its continued growth, The Worcester Guardian also recently welcomed three new members to its board of directors:
- Luke M. Vaillancourt, president of Vaillancourt Folk Art in Sutton, brings expertise in publishing, the arts and regional community engagement. A co-founder of Mass Foodies and the Worcester Wine Festival, Vaillancourt has served on several local boards and is a current board member of the Millbury Federal Credit Union and Discover Central Massachusetts.
- Abby Salois, a Worcester-based attorney specializing in child custody cases, is also a writer and mental health advocate. Her work on stigma reduction has appeared in outlets like WBUR’s Cognoscenti and CommonWealth Beacon. She is a dedicated community leader and advocate.
- Don Doyle, president and CEO of Webster Five, brings nearly four decades of banking industry experience and has held board roles at the Worcester Regional Research Bureau and Open Sky Community Services. Known for his commitment to Worcester’s diverse community, Doyle brings valuable expertise in financial management and community service.
Vaillancourt, Salois and Doyle join founding members of the Board of Directors: Timothy Loew, John Rodriguez, Giovanni Blue, Christina Andreoli, Joseph Kahoro, Carl Herrin, Mary Beth Burke, Timothy Murray and Emily Trevallion.
