Page 44 - January Report 2025

Page 42 January Report
Discussion turned to Nancy’s dreams/plans for the future. A primary focus for her is on adding a
mental health component. She expressed that she and the whole Program team grieve the recent
death of Program alumni Matthew Narcisse and the fact that they didn’t know he was suffering.
She is looking to retain some strong, proactive, readily available mental health resources, especially
for the college students.
The Take Stock/Johnson Scholars Program team stayed for personal sharing during lunch, then
were thanked and excused.
c. Nativity School of Worcester
Bobby introduced Elizabeth Deliberto, Sr. Vice President of Advancement and Graduate Support,
and Nate Ingalls, Leadership Gifts Officer. An application requesting $150,000 over 3 years had
been circulated along with a financial summary, notes from a July 16, 2024 videoconference and a
report from a site visit on October 15, 2024.
This 5th through 8th grade school which started in 2003 is a part of the Nativity Prep Network
of schools and runs on the same model as JSF current grantee Nativity Prep Boston. Theirs is
an extended school day that includes After-School programs to develop students academically,
physically and socially. In addition to concentration on instruction during the students’ years at
Nativity School of Worcester, they provide strong support to the students as they transition into
local high schools and even into and through college. They maintain contact with their graduates,
welcome them back to the school after hours for tutoring or just a safe place to study, and have
several programs to assist with tuition costs at the high school and college levels. Elizabeth said
the national college graduation rate for their students’ peer group is 11%. Their students have a
college graduation rate of 50%.
Like most of the Nativity Prep Network, they have been an all-boys school since inception. They,
however, have acknowledged that there are not any good options for girls from low-income
families in the Worcester area. 2024 saw their first 5th and 6th grade classes for 29 girls. Other
than morning programs and some after school activities, theirs are single sex classrooms.
They are in a campaign to purchase a new-to-them school to facilitate physical expansion, increase
teacher pay and add an endowed teaching position. Their request to the Foundation is to provide
$25,000/year scholarships for 2 students to assist in the expansion of the school. The reason they
asked for 1 boy and 1 girl was simply to assure they expand equally.
At the conclusion of their presentation and answering questions, Elizabeth and Nate were thanked
and excused.
This appears to be an opportunity for the Foundation to help during the school’s transition period.
The Committee approved a grant to Nativity School of Worcester of $150,000 over 3 years to
support one boy and one girl student for each of three years. The matching requirement
is 1:1.
The Committee discussed the similarities and differences in these 3 programs, all focused on reaching
middle and high school students and guiding them to college success. (Staff is also currently in discussion
with The Bottom Line, an organization with similar goals.) The Foundation has a long history with the
Take Stock/Johnson Scholars Program and has seen tremendous growth over the years as the Program
has grown and made modifications as it learned what does and does not work.
GRANT PROGRAM COMMITTEE MINUTES (DRAFT) (6)