02 Aug July 2024 Newsletter

July 2024 Newsletter

Welcome to the July 2024 edition of the Daniels Foundation Newsletter. In this issue, we explore the following topics. Click on the links to read the articles!

Program Spotlight: Project Just Because! One of the organizations to receive operational funding from the Fred Harris Daniels Foundation in June, 2024 was Project Just Because.. Click here to read more…

Daniels Family Reunion Recap! “. . .and a good time was had by all!”… Click here to read more…

Trustee Profile: Ashley I. Gabrenas! I joined the Daniels Foundation board in December of 2023, taking the seat in the Clarence Daniels line vacated by my mother, Christina Eaton… Click here to read more…

Program Spotlight: Project Just Because

by Wendy Andrews

One of the organizations to receive operational funding from the Fred Harris Daniels Foundation in June, 2024 was Project Just Because. They are reasonably new to us, funding wise, but have been around for 25 years. Cherylann Walsh, the Founder, started Project Just Because (PJB) out of her basement, seeing the need to help those less fortunate in her own community with supplies of basic needs. In 2004, PJB became a 501.c3 organization and has grown so much since that they finally have purchased 16,000 cubic ft of warehouse space as the agency home. PJB distributes thousands of basic necessities to those in need in the Worcester County area. Their operation is set up like a grocery store where they have everything from food, dry goods as well as refrigerated/frozen foods, clothing, diapers, baby formula, school supplies, books, housewares and toiletries to accommodate the whole family unit. They are open 5 days a week and are in the process if implementing a new tracking program that keeps tabs on families and product going out the door.

In 2022, they distributed over $5 million worth of goods to thousands of individuals and families in need. PJB has 3 full-time employees, 3 part-time employees and over 1,000 part-time volunteers. Between 40-60 of those volunteers are needed daily to make sure that everything is stocked, or to be able to receive pallets of product from such collaborators as Provision Ministry, which also receives grant money from the Foundation. I personally delivered checks to both of these organizations, and it was so heartwarming to go through PJB’s warehouse with Cherylann pointing at the well-stocked shelves and saying “thanks to Tom” (Provision Ministry’s founder) multiple times. The day before I delivered PJB’s check, Provision had been there and delivered 10+ pallets of food staples as well as some school supplies. (I wish that I had been able to coordinate giving both organizations their checks at the same time).

Project Just Because also is part of the 211 Emergency/Domestic Abuse Program for the Commonwealth of MA. Clients are referred to PJB due to homelessness, domestic violence, unemployment, fires, floods as well as the influx of recent immigrants. So, as you can see, PJB has become a vital resource in the Worcester Co. area to help with not only the food insecurity issue but also assists the State with everyday issues facing those in need.

Daniels Family Reunion 2024

by Sarah Daniels Morse

“. . .and a good time was had by all!”

On the weekend of June 29th, 40 descendants of Fred Harris Daniels gathered on the campus of Worcester State University to connect, reconnect, and enjoy each other’s company.

Worcester State University (WSU) provided the perfect space—dormitory rooms in a variety of sizes, a meeting space as well as informal seating inside and outside, grassed areas for games, and catering for all of our meals.

After arrival and lunch, we all piled onto a small bus and were taken to Community Harvest where we “gave back” to Worcester by picking and packaging the kale and Swiss chard that were ready to be distributed to food banks. Our two hours of work yielded 12 large boxes of kale divided into small bouquets and 6 boxes of collard greens—enough to provide 270 meals!

Back at the WSU campus, chairs and games appeared, and although the rain curtailed those activities, a large overhang allowed for continued outdoor seating. A barbecue dinner was followed by a movie for young and old alike (mostly young!).

Sunday morning was a bountiful breakfast followed by three speakers covering some historical, medical, and philanthropic aspects of Worcester, both past and present.

Goodbyes were said and everyone departed—with hopes that this gathering can happen again in 5 years, which coincidentally would be the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Fred Harris Daniels Foundation.

Looking to the future, these reunions are a Daniels family event, and all are welcome. We encourage all family members to come and hang with folks you know, you never knew, you haven’t seen in years or you want to reacquaint with. Please: husbands, wives, children, half children, adoptees, stepchildren, stepchildren, spouses, husbands to be, wives to be, partners, partners to be, even the ex’s if everyone is cool.

The more we hang together the more we stay together in the future.

Fast Facts:

• There were 8 members of Gen 3, 9 members of Gen 4, and 12 members of Gen 5 in attendance
• The oldest attendee was Jon Blake, born 1946 (Dwight Clark Daniels line)
• The youngest attendee was Leighton Morse, born 2019 (Fred Harold Daniels line), as well as his yet to be born brother/sister, due August 2024
• The attendee traveling the furthest was Sarah Daniels Morse, from New Mexico
• Nobody locked themselves out of their room, in spite of needing to carry two keys at all times
• It took about 5 minutes total to move an entire bar inside when the rain started to fall (us Daniels can mobilize with urgency when necessary, like when it’s time to move an entire bar…)

Select photos:

Lastly, we thought we would include one of the family trees we’ve put together. Here is the Harold line:

Trustee Profile: Ashley I. Gabrenas

by Ashley Gabrenas

I joined the Daniels Foundation board in December of 2023, taking the seat in the Clarence Daniels line vacated by my mother, Christina Eaton. My connection to the Daniels family comes through my grandmother, Pricilla Daniels Nicholson. I never had the fortune of knowing her because of her tragic death at 27 years old. I did, however, have the great fortune of knowing her husband, my grandfather and longtime board member, William Nicholson for much of my life. Before joining the board, I was a member of the G4 committee.  The work on this committee helped me to gain a better understanding of some of the organizations in Worcester, the Daniels Board itself, and several other interested G4 Daniels family members.

I grew up in Petersham, MA.  Petersham is a small country town less than an hour away from Worcester.  It is a town that I have come to appreciate for its rural qualities and its reasonably close proximity to urban areas such as Worcester.  My husband, Jeremy, and I built our home in Petersham and are raising our two sons, Morgan (19 yrs.) and Brennan (14yrs) here.  Living close to Worcester has meant the city has always been a part of my life. Having two active and inquisitive children has given me the opportunity to explore and appreciate many of the opportunities that Worcester has to offer from the medical infrastructure to cultural activities such as Roman reenactments at the art museum, African drumming at ACE, and food truck festivals on the common.

I graduated from the Stockbridge School of agriculture at UMass Amherst with a degree in landscape contracting. After several years of working in landscaping and beginning to raise my family, I decided that working when my children were on summer vacation and not working much during the winter months was not what I wanted as a mother.  I then went back to school for early childhood education.  I completed my associate’s degree and began working in a Head Start preschool in Athol, Ma.  While working full time I continued my education and earned my bachelor’s degree.  I have been working as a Head Start preschool teacher with the same organization, Making Opportunities Count, for about 7 years.  I find the 3 to 5 year olds that I work with engaging and inspiring.  Additionally, I truly appreciate the relationships I am able to build with the families, as supporting the whole family is a large part of the Head Start model.

Between my work with high risk, low income families and my relationship with Worcester, I am thrilled to be a part of the Daniels Foundation as I see these as being naturally interlocking components.  I am excited to learn more about the organizations in and around Worcester and help make a meaningful difference in the community, all while gaining a stronger connection to my Daniels family relatives.