UMACC 2023-24 Giving Stories
Ruben's Story: Helping Teens at A Better Chance (ABC)
Ruben P. Sança, Executive Director of Recreation and Wellbeing, 2012 Olympian
I had bad asthma when I was 12. My family came to the US from Cape Verde so I could have access to treatment. They also came so my brothers and I would have access to education. Cape Verde had no public or private higher education institutions at the time, so to go beyond high school you needed to either score nationally in the top 2%, to gain diplomatic scholarship, or have enough money to study abroad.
When my family immigrated I did not know the language or the culture, but I had plenty of opportunities and different mentors who helped me through high school and college. Mentors helped my development as a student and an athlete. They helped me to strive to be better every day. I learned how to set long term and short-term goals, build discipline, and worked hard even when no one was looking.
I went on to earn an athletic scholarship and eventually competed at the World Championships and Olympic Games for Cape Verde where I now serve as the Olympic Athletes' Commission President.
I, a kid with asthma and an immigrant from an African country, was able to achieve because I had opportunity, passion for learning, and support. I believe it is a basic right to have these necessities. I feel deeply committed to helping A Better Chance (ABC) for these reasons. They offer young Black men from underfunded, underserved communities the chance to live family-style in Amherst while receiving mentoring and going to Amherst Regional High School so they can have access to the basic resources they deserve. We can always learn and improve. I also believe we have the gift of the ability to help others. These are the reasons I support ABC. I encourage you to support the nonprofits that you care about through UMACC.”
Ivy Davida's Story: Finding Community in the Pioneer Valley
Ivy Davida, (they/them) UMass M.A. '00, Operations Manager, Office of Community Relations and University Events
I spent most of my life with a sense of uprootedness, adopted at a young age, and having always felt like an outsider with respect to how I experience gender. It often felt like everyone around me was speaking a language that didn't apply to me. But in recent years, all of that has changed. I have found community here in the Pioneer Valley who know the experience of feeling like an asterisk when it comes to gender.
I first became aware of Translate Gender through my friend Shai, who is a co-director there. They are a nonprofit organization in Northampton, MA that fights gender oppression and educates communities on concerts specific to trans, gender-expansive, and/or gender nonconforming individuals. They offer training curriculum for schools and organizations, caregiver support, resources and therapy. This is especially important to me because I have several young people in my life whose lives will be improved by Translate Gender’s great work.
And now it gets even better! I was recently hired at UMass and learned about UMACC. Hearing the stories from my colleagues about the nonprofits they support and the meaning it has for them, I finally feel like I’m in a place where I have true roots.
Save the day with UMACC!
Ken Toong's Story, Share Your Fortune
Ken Toong, Executive Director, Auxiliary Enterprises
Why Ken Donates
"I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I’ve never even been to mainland China but my father was a journalist who traveled throughout Asia during my childhood. I grew up in a family of 5, and though my father wasn’t home a lot, he instilled within all of us how important it is to help others. We had everything we needed and were fortunate then, and my fortune continues now.
I am grateful for UMass and that through my employer I get to help others. Auxiliary Enterprises does everything we can to help the local community and is very involved in helping the Amherst Survival Center, and UMACC has a huge impact on the local community.
For me, giving is a connection to my father and helps me feel even more connected to others at UMass. I donate to the Amherst Survival Center because I believe that no one should go hungry, ever. Did you know they also offer free medical appointments in their clinic? Please join me in sharing your fortune by donating to the nonprofit of your choice, through UMACC today!"
University Relations UMACC Ambassador Volunteers Help The Amherst Survival Center Add Holiday Cheer
Recently, nine University Relations employees volunteered at the Amherst Survival Center (ASC). The team had a great time helping the ASC prepare for their annual holiday market. Thanks to these UMACC Ambassador Volunteers an empty room was transformed into a cheerful display of books, toys and children's winter clothing. It was an exciting two hours!
While there, the UR team ran into other UMass volunteers helping out including a group of students from the Women's Rowing Team and Ted Mone, a Facilities retiree. A flyer advertised an upcoming concert by Matthew Westgate, the Director of Wind Studies for the Department of Music.
The ASC provides food, healthcare, laundry services, and showers for some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
If your work group would like to become UMACC Ambassador Volunteers, the UMACC office can give you all the tools you need to connect with a nonprofit, invite your team, and to follow up.
Luis’s Story: Supporting Community, Culture & UMass Students
Luis Marentes, Associate Professor of Languages, Literatures and Cultures in the Spanish and Portuguese Program and CESL Fellow
I give to several organizations including Nuestras Raices and Nueva Esperanza which are based in Holyoke. So many people see the City of Holyoke as a city with problems and deficits, but I see Holyoke as a place rich with inspirational people and organizations that I respect and admire. I don’t see my donations as “charitable,” but as one more way to collaborate. My contributions go to resourceful, competent people who understand the community and culture, who are supporting important work at UMass and providing unique opportunities for UMass students. No one from outside the community could be able to accomplish the work that is being done at Nuestras and Nueva. They are truly of grass roots.
In my work as a CESL Fellow, I have seen UMass students’ lives and career trajectories transformed by the work they have done translating in a public health capacity. With the help and guidance of Nuestras, our students have navigated complex systems, done studies, and successfully improved the quality of food in Holyoke Schools. In this chaotic time in the history of virtual relations, our UMass students have connected, immersed themselves in community, and their lives have been enriched and transformed.
Jackie’s Story: Ensuring People Don’t Go Hungry
Jackie Brousseau-Pereira MPA ’00, PhD ’18, Assistant Dean and Director of First-Year Seminars, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Throughout my life, I have been fortunate to have a roof over my head, clean clothes on my back, and enough food to eat. During my teen years, after my parents split up, my single mom struggled to support us financially. Throughout college, I worked two jobs to pay my rent and expenses and the part of my tuition that was not covered by the Pell Grant or other financial aid. Throughout my twenties lived paycheck to paycheck, mostly working jobs without health insurance or paid time off.
Over the past several years, I have given both money, items, and time to the Easthampton Community Center (ECC). This organization is at the heart of Easthampton, the little city that I call home. ECC Director Robin Bialecki works tirelessly – particularly since the beginning of the pandemic – to make sure residents of Easthampton and surrounding communities don’t go hungry. ECC distributes thousands of pounds of food to folks in the community each month and even has a gluten free pantry. I’ve donated gently used clothing to their clothing closet and volunteered at food distribution. I’m grateful this organization exists to help people in need.
Sid’s Story: Fighting For Access To Basics We All Deserve
Sid Ferreira ‘87, Med ‘08, Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life
Growing up in West Africa in Guinea-Bissau during a colonial war I saw first-hand how oppression affects certain segments of the population. In this case, it was darker skinned people who were under the colonial system.
My father was a dark skinned African man who was the budget director for the country. Even though he was the smartest man in the room, my father was always required to have a European supervisor. My dad would actually have to teach his “supervisor” how to do the job.
For me, getting involved in UMACC is all about defeating oppression and the types of injustice and indignities that my dad and others experienced. By donating I can help make sure that everyone in our community has access to the basics that we all deserve, such as education, housing, food, water, healthcare, a job, etc.
I donate to A Better Chance (ABC) program through UMACC. ABC is a national residential high school program which prepares academically talented and highly motivated African American, Latino, Asian, and Native American students from educationally underserved school districts for college and future leadership roles in the broader community. Donations to ABC fund the program in Amherst where ABC scholars live and benefit from support while they attend Amherst High School.
Liz’s Story: Why I Donate Through UMACC
Liz Tousignant, Facilities Event Coordinator, Grounds and Events, Facilities and Campus Services
I like giving through UMACC because it is so easy. Once a year I just send the UMACC office an email with the donations that I want, or I click a few buttons and it’s done. I don’t have to write a check or answer solicitations, and I know I have supported the nonprofits I love and that I am all set for the year.
Another benefit to donating to my favorite charities through UMACC is that it lets the community around us know that UMass is there for them and that our employees matter. Some people don’t know that UMACC benefits off campus nonprofits. In fact, 100% of the funds donated through UMACC go to off-campus nonprofits.
I have been on the nonprofit side of a fundraising campaign and I know how much energy it takes for a charity to send out those appeals. By giving through a workplace campaign it lessens the work the charities have to do. They don’t need to spend the money to get donations and to remind people to renew. For this reason alone, workplace giving campaigns are great. The charities don’t have to make that phone call or seal that envelope to get money from me!
Plus, since it is so easy to renew, they are going to get that money again next year and for many years after that.
There are so many benefits to donating through UMACC.
Our Co-chairs: Why Giving Matters
UMACC Co-Chairs Jackie Brousseau-Pereira and Sid Ferreira share their thoughts about being a part of a Community
Crystal’s Story: Who Knows What You Might Discover…
Crystal Maldonado, Director of Marketing and Communications, College of Humanities and Fine Arts, Pictured with daughter Maya Cunningham
The impact reading had on my life was profound, and it’s because of this I passionately support The Friends of the Springfield Library, which makes diverse, meaningful books available to those who need them most. Through this charity, the libraries in Springfield, Massachusetts can provide everything from literature and media to special programming to updated technology and resources.
Now that I have a three-year-old toddler, I’m especially appreciative of our local library, which has become a second home for me and my daughter. It’s there that my toddler will cook in the “pretendin" kitchen in the children’s section, and it’s where we discover picture books that remind us we are strong and powerful.
Libraries remain one of the few places in our communities that asks nothing of us; we don’t have to spend a cent to enjoy its offerings. During a time when libraries are fighting national book bans and dealing with underfunding, I feel like these spaces need more support than ever.
For me, donating to The Friends of the Springfield Library is a meaningful way to give back to a city I love and celebrate the joy of books. After all, who knows what you might discover on your next trip to the library?