Working for Worcester to be Held April 16

On Saturday, April 16, more than 1,000 volunteers will renovate 18 community recreation sites during the fourth annual city-wide build day organized by Working for Worcester. Since its founding in 2012, Working for Worcester has mobilized roughly 2,500 volunteers and invested more than $500,000 into recreational infrastructure that can be found at over 50 sites throughout the city of Worcester.

The city-wide project, which was cofounded by Holy Cross students Jeffrey Reppucci ’14 and Derek Kump ’14, is designed to promote Worcester pride and provide necessary improvements to the city’s recreational spaces. This year’s sites include the Boys & Girls Club of Plumley Village, where volunteers will install a playground that will serve low-income families and youth after-school programs for up to 75 students; and Vernon Hill School, where an under-utilized boy’s locker room will be converted into a multi-purpose dance studio and fitness space for up to 530 students, ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade. At other sites, volunteers will install new ceiling tiles, paint rooms, conduct outdoor cleanup, renovate a grade school basketball court, and maintain the work done at some of last year’s sites.

The Working for Worcester kickoff rally will be held at the Worcester Common, located behind City Hall (rain location: the atrium of the DCU Center), from 8:00-9:30 a.m. on April 16. The rally brings volunteers, organizers, and the greater community together to celebrate their community pride and to build up excitement for the day ahead. The first hour will consist of registration, t-shirt pickup, breakfast and entertainment. At 9:30 a.m., Mayor of Worcester, Joseph Petty, will open up the program and speak about the project with United Way of Central Mass. CEO Tim Garvin, Working for Worcester cofounders Jeffrey Reppucci ’14 and Derek Kump ’14 and this year’s Working for Worcester leaders, Brendan Healey ’16 and Molly Hourigan ’16. The event free and open to the public.

After the kickoff rally, volunteers will break off into their site groups and make their way to local schools, community centers, and parks throughout the city.

“What excites us most about this day is when we see many groups that rarely come together, working together, side-by-side, celebrating our great city,” Healey says. “We bring together as many people as possible and give them the space to engage with Worcester in positive and meaningful ways. We invite everyone to attend.”

For media access on specific sites contact Jessica Kennedy at jmkenned@holycross.edu or 508-793-2419.