MassBay Receives $36K in Donations from The Rotary Club of Wellesley to Support Student Scholarships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
781-540-1231
ecooper@massbay.edu

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (April 7, 2025) — The Rotary Club of Wellesley has generously donated $36,000 to MassBay Community College this academic year to support student scholarships. Wellesley Rotary raised $26,000 for MassBay’s Student Hunger Relief Fund and $10,000 for MassBay’s Balance Scholarship Fund. These funds provide financial assistance to students experiencing food insecurity and those struggling to pay the remaining balance of their tuition. Since 2020, the Rotary Club of Wellesley has contributed nearly $135,000 toward student scholarships at MassBay.

“We are deeply grateful for the continued generosity of the Rotary Club of Wellesley,” said MassBay President David Podell. “These funds help ensure our students who demonstrate a need have access to essential resources, including food and tuition assistance, enabling them to stay in the classroom and achieve their academic goals. The Rotary’s unwavering commitment to student success continues to transform lives and pave the way for future graduates.”

The Rotary Club of Wellesley raises funds for MassBay and other local initiatives through year-round fundraising events. One of its signature events, The Taste of Wellesley , is a spring culinary fundraiser that showcases local restaurants while generously supporting multiple community programs. This year’s Taste of Wellesley will take place on May 21, 2025, at The Wellesley Country Club.

“The Rotary Club of Wellesley is committed to alleviating food insecurity in our community, and we are proud to partner with MassBay Community College in this effort,” said the Rotary Club of Wellesley President, Amelia Schwartzman. “When students don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, they can focus on their studies and their future. We believe that supporting student success through initiatives like the Student Hunger Relief Fund and the Balance Scholarship Fund is an investment in the strength and well-being of our entire community.”

To learn more about The Taste of Wellesley fundraiser, visit https://taste-of-wellesley.square.site/

The Rotary Club of Wellesley is hosting the annual Taste of Wellesley on May 21, 2025, at the Wellesley Country Club, with proceeds of the event helping the organization support local food insecurity programs (Photo/The Rotary Club of Wellesley).

The Rotary Club of Wellesley’s Taste of Wellesley 2024, held at the Wellesley Country Club, supports local food insecurity programs, May 2024 (Photo/The Rotary Club of Wellesley).

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston and is free to most Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree. With more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs, along with comprehensive workforce and educational training, MassBay provides a wide range of courses with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Wellesley, Framingham, the Automotive Technology Center in Ashland, and online, in high-demand fields including health and life sciences, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, business, and the humanities. MassBay students receive unparalleled value, with free one-on-one academic and social support services, compassionate and experienced faculty, and stackable credits that easily transfer to bachelor’s degree programs and that provide hands-on, workforce-ready skills. Health sciences, human services, early childhood education, and many general education programs are offered at the 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art MassBay Framingham, which has served the community since January 2024. Founded in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by multiple governing bodies and remains dedicated to serving its diverse communities, fostering inclusiveness, and advancing equity for all.