Name of your business.
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Your name and position.
Katie Allan Zobel, President and CEO
What inspired you to start your business? How did your business get started?
A group of community leaders came together in the early 1990s to create a local charitable foundation that could serve the people of the Pioneer Valley. They envisioned a permanent resource for charitable needs in our community, pooling the resources of many to have a lasting impact for all.
Tell us a little bit about your business.
The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts serves the people of Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties, making grants to local nonprofits, giving scholarships to local students, and offering donors help in making the most of their charitable dollars. We recently hosted Valley Gives which was a unique way to involve everyone in supporting our region’s charitable sector.
What is your favorite thing to do in your business?
Helping people make connections and empowering them to preserve what they care about, or make the change they want to see in the world. By working together, people often have a larger impact than they could imagine.
If nothing else, what is the one piece of information you want someone to know about your business?
We are here to serve you! We work with concerned citizens, businesses and organizations in every corner of the Pioneer Valley to make our community better. We welcome and encourage you to get involved in whatever way you can, as a volunteer or donor.
What is the one piece of business advice you would like to share?
Tap into our local resources. We are fortunate to live and work in such a diverse and supportive community. We all need to remember to reach out and take advantage of all that this region has to offer.