Local nonprofits to benefit from ‘Match-My-DAF’ initiative
AMHERST — There’s less than two weeks left for donors to nominate their donor-advised fund gifts to nonprofits in Franklin, Hampshire or Hampden counties to be matched dollar-for-dollar through Resilient Valley’s “Match-My-DAF” initiative.
Resilient Valley is a new initiative born from the idea that nonprofits are stronger when they collaborate rather than compete for dwindling resources.
In February, Resilient Valley gave away nearly $75,000 in matching funds through its “Match-My-DAF” campaign. The nonprofit recipients work in areas that include environmental conservation, farms, food justice, education, the arts and social services.
All remaining matching funds will be distributed to nonprofits that are randomly selected for dollar-for-dollar matches of up to $5,000, with the next random selection taking place on May 1. These matches encourage people to support local organizations through their donor-advised funds and nominate those gifts for a match. Any gift of $250 or more given to a Pioneer Valley organization from Dec. 2, 2025, through May 1, 2026 is eligible.
More than $150,000 has already been raised for the matching funds thanks to individual donors and businesses like Greenfield Savings Bank, Franklin First Federal Credit Union, PeoplesBank, Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Co. and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.
The coalition includes All Farmers, the Amherst Survival Center, Cancer Connection, the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), the Conway School of Landscape Design, Grow Food Northampton, Hilltown Land Trust, the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, Kestrel Land Trust, the Northampton Survival Center, Nuestras Raices, the Peace Development Fund, Stone Soup Café and community members.
For more information, visit resilientvalleyma.org.
Volunteers welcome during 20th annual Park Serve Day
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration is inviting people to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Park Serve Day by signing up for one of 41 volunteer events across the state.
Kicking off during Earth Week on April 25 and continuing through June 6, volunteers can help DCR prepare for the spring and summer seasons through restoration, cleanup, planting and other stewardship projects along DCR coastlines, trails, watersheds and parklands. The majority of volunteer opportunities will be held on Saturday, May 2.
“The work that volunteers do on Park Serve Day matters for our natural spaces. Last year, I spent the day helping pull garlic mustard, and by the end, we had filled bags of the invasive species. Standing there looking at what we had cleared, you could already see the difference,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said in a statement. “I encourage everyone to take an active role in these efforts — whether it’s picking up trash or planting native plants, these efforts help preserve and protect our green spaces.”
“For 20 years, volunteers have been essential partners in helping us care for our parks,” DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle said in a statement. “This partnership supports the work of our staff, strengthens our ability to steward these spaces, and helps ensure our public lands remain welcoming, accessible and resilient. I’m grateful for the thousands of volunteers who continue to pick a park, give a day and make a difference.”
Volunteer opportunities in Franklin County will be held at the Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation in South Deerfield on Saturday, May 2, from 10 to 11 a.m.; at the Erving State Forest and Mount Grace State Forest on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to noon; and at the Wendell State Forest on Saturday, May 16, from 12:30 to 4 p.m.
For more information, including a full list of locations statewide, visit mass.gov/info-details/dcr-park-serve-day.
Big Brothers Big Sisters holding bowling fundraisers
PITTSFIELD — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts supporters took to the alleys of K&M Bowling in Pittsfield on Saturday, April 11, to celebrate the volunteer fundraisers who support the agency’s programming.
The April 11 event marked the first of three Bowl for Kids’ Sake events. Two more are scheduled for Saturday, May 2, at the French King Bowling Center in Erving at 10 a.m., and Wednesday, May 6, at Bowlero Chicopee from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Those who are interested in registering or donating should visit beacons.ai/bbbswm.
“Our team is excited to participate in our second BFKS fundraiser to expand awareness of the work of BBBSWM and the life-changing impact mentoring can have on youth and their families,” Stacy Parsons, the newest member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts’ board of directors and captain of the Jury’s Still Out fundraising team, said in a statement. “Folks have created raffles, hosted trivia events, and reached out to their friends and family to raise funds that go back into our communities.”
The money raised will support Big Brothers Big Sisters’ youth programming across western Massachusetts.
“I am thankful to the volunteers, fundraisers, community members, donors, staff and our board members for playing their part in this event. We’d also like to thank our presenting sponsor Country Bank for making any of this possible at all,” Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts CEO David Beturne said in a statement. “It isn’t always the right time to volunteer as a mentor. Events like Bowl for Kids’ Sake are a great way to volunteer with us until you feel ready to support a kid in the community.”
Apply for the Tech Launch program by July 20
SPRINGFIELD — Tech Foundry has announced that applications for its flagship information technology (IT) support training program, Tech Launch, are open for the fall 2026 cohort. The Tech Launch program includes 14 weeks of classroom instruction followed by a four-week internship.
The fall 2026 cohort will undergo training in various areas of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), Windows administration, hardware troubleshooting and endpoint security. Through a comprehensive curriculum and hands-on projects, learners will gain expertise and practical experience to thrive in the fast-paced tech landscape.
In addition to technical instruction, Tech Launch provides learners with a career readiness curriculum, career coaching sessions, and access to a network of industry professionals and employer partners, ensuring that graduates not only have the technical skills but also the soft skills and professional connections needed to pursue IT careers.
The fall 2026 cohort will run from Aug. 17 through Dec. 18. Interested individuals are encouraged to join an upcoming information session by registering at thetechfoundry.org/the-program/learn-more.
To apply, visit thetechfoundry.org/the-program/apply-now. The deadline to apply for the Tech Launch program is July 20.
Sen. Comerford receives two awards
BOSTON — Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, recently received awards from the Children’s Trust Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations.
On April 14, Comerford received the 2026 Valuing Our Children Award from the Children’s Trust Massachusetts, a public-private organization dedicated to strengthening families and ensuring that policy is grounded in the real experiences of those it serves, at the trust’s annual Step Up for Kids event, alongside Rep. Jay Livingstone.
She was honored for her leadership on “An Act Protecting Benefits Owed to Foster Children,” which passed during the 2023-2024 legislative session. The law ended the practice of diverting Social Security and other federal benefits away from young people in foster care. Since its passage, more than $11 million has been preserved to support young people as they transition to adulthood.
“Preventing child abuse and neglect is a shared responsibility that demands strong collaboration among communities, service providers, educators, state government and families,” Comerford said in a statement. “I’m deeply grateful to the Children’s Trust Massachusetts for convening us during Child Abuse Prevention Month to reflect on our progress and recommit to the work ahead.”
On April 15, Comerford received a Community Development Champion Award, along with Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Reps. Sam Montaño and Andy Vargas, from the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations at the association’s annual Lobby Day. She was recognized for her leadership on “An Act Enabling a Local Option for a Real Estate Transfer Fee to Fund Affordable Housing.”