Honoring Our Action Heroes
Each year, WCAC hosts an annual Action Hero Awards Celebration to publicly recognize individuals and organizations who have gone above and beyond in supporting the agency’s mission.
WCAC will host its 12th Annual Action Hero Awards on Thursday, May 17, 2018 7:30-9 a.m. at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. We are thrilled to welcome Massachusetts Senate President Harriette Chandler as our keynote speaker. Our honorees for 2018 include Donna & Randy Becker, the Remillard Family Foundation, Apple Tree Arts, James Alkire and Robert Blackman. Tickets are now available online. For sponsorship opportunities please contact Ellen Ganley at 508-762-9807.
On May 24, 2017 at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, WCAC celebrated its 11th Annual Action Hero Awards. We were thrilled to welcome Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito as our special guest along with keynote speaker Noah Berger, President of Mass Budget & Policy Center. Our honorees for 2017 include University of Massachusetts Medical Healthcare, Charlton Oil, Biodun Akande and our own Head Start program celebrating 25 years of service. We are most grateful to all of our corporate sponsors without whom this event would not be possible. Check out our photo gallery from the event HERE.
On May 25, 2016, WCAC celebrated its 10th annual Action Hero Awards. Thank you to everyone who made our 10th Annual Action Hero Celebration such a success. WCAC is truly fortunate to enjoy such strong support from all of the communities we serve, and to count so many ‘action heroes’ among our friends! Check out our Photo Gallery from the celebration HERE.
WCAC’s Golden Anniversary
On May 21, 2015 the WCAC happily celebrated its 50th anniversary on the historic Worcester City Hall Plaza. In attendance of this momentous celebration were Governor Charlie Baker, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, as well as nearly 500 guests. Established
in 1965 the WCAC has tirelessly spent the last half-century working to address issues of poverty, unemployment, and underemployment in the city of Worcester and 43 neighboring communities. Throughout its fifty years of service WCAC has successfully been able to assist those in need through four primary focus areas: Fuel & Energy Assistance, Job & Education Center, Children & Families, and Community Programs. Highlights of a few of the extraordinary accomplishments in five decades of service include:
- WCAC has provided more than 20,000 youth job experience
- WCAC has provided approximately 1,000 youth the training they need to earn their high school certificate (HiSET – formerly known as GED)
- WCAC has hosted more than 3,800 children in the agency’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs
- WCAC has processed Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) fuel assistance benefits for a quarter-million households
- WCAC has overseen weatherization projects for 5,000 homes as well as completing 10,000 home heating system repairs or replacements
- WCAC is an active participant and host site for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program which has, in just 12 years, generated some 14,000 income tax returns, prepared free of charge, which results in an estimated $20 million dollars in refunds returned to local economy to date
- WCAC employees more than 120 individuals throughout its service programs in Worcester and 44 Central Massachusetts communities
- WCAC works with 130 local utility vendors and energy subcontractors to carry out its various energy programs, providing gainful employment for hundreds of local workers
The WCAC 50th Anniversary event celebrated the fact that the WCAC is responsible for developing and implementing programs designed to address the needs of the area’s low and limited income population which has been met with great success over the last fifty years. Lead by Executive Director Jill Dagilis, WCAC continues to focus on education, employment training, and emergency assistance programs to achieve their mission of helping individuals and families move to economic self-sufficiency. The WCAC plans to make the next fifty years just as extraordinary as the last five decades have been! Take a look back on the exciting celebration by scrolling through the photos below from the WCAC 50th Anniversary event.
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- WCAC and WBDC were thrilled to welcome Governor Charlie Baker for our keynote speaker for the joint 50th anniversary event. Governor Baker is pictured here with WBDC President Craig Blais and WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis
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- Members of WBDC’s Executive Team
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- Guests were treated to a locally crafted brews
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- Pepper’s Fine Catering provided the evening’s delicious food and drinks
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- WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis and WBDC President & CEO Craig Blais
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- WCAC & WBDC were honored to welcome both Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Governor Charlie Baker as our special guests.
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- Governor Charlie Baker
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- Packed house under the beautiful tent provided by Creedon and Co. of Worcester
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- WCAC Chair Steve Joseph presents past board member Deborah Penta a gift of thanks for her remarkable service to the agency
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- Attorney Dee Moschos accepts the 2015 Action Hero Award on behalf of the law firm of Mirick O’Connell, a longstanding supporter of WCAC’s Job & Education Center and annual Coat Drive for Kids
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- WBDC’s Joyce Stewart (center) presents Classic Envelope with its SBA Award
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- WCAC Board Chair Steve Joseph and Member Barbara Haller present National Grid’s Susan Mais
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- WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis with 2015 Action Hero Award Winners Craig Blais, Ann Brooks and Troy Seibels
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- Master of Ceremonies Extraordinaire Troy Siebels dons his Action Hero Cape, presented by WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis
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- Lt. Governor Karyn Polito celebrates with WCAC Action Hero Award Winner Ann Brooks
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- WCAC Executive Director Jill Dagilis and Chairman of the Board Steve Joseph
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- Members of WCAC’s Executive Team
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