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Contact:

Sandy Lashin-Curewitz

774-243-6800

sandy@heartwellinstitute.org

The HeartWell Institute Celebrates Successful Completion of Worcester ARPA-Funded Mindfulness Initiative

Program brought evidence-based mindfulness education to 627 Worcester residents; milestone comes as Executive Director Susan Buchholz was named a 2026 WooStar by the WooSox Foundation and Country Bank

WORCESTER, MA – [September 21, 2026 ] – The HeartWell Institute today announced the successful completion of a $250,000 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-funded initiative, delivered in partnership with the City of Worcester. Evidence-based mindfulness programming was delivered to 627 Worcester residents over the program period, including 414 residents who met the grant's eligibility criteria, more than four times the contracted minimum, plus an additional 213 community members.  

The majority of programming was delivered through two-hour community workshops, offered in both English and Spanish and designed to maximize accessibility. Across eight themes, the workshops wove evidence-based mindfulness skills into different aspects of daily life — including present-moment awareness, self-compassion, embodied movement, emotional regulation, joy and gratitude, and resilience through change. Local knowledge and expertise anchored the work, with 13 of its 15 instructors residing in Greater Worcester, keeping the majority of program funding in the local economy.

Over the life of the grant, HeartWell brought programming into trusted community settings serving youth, people in recovery, people impacted by the criminal justice system, immigrant communities, and others who have historically had less access to these resources. Working closely with the City's Economic Development Department, HeartWell adapted the program as it learned more about community needs, drawing on the City's support and flexibility to maximize impact.

City Manager Eric D. Batista thanked The HeartWell Institute for its dedicated community care. “The reach of this initiative is well-worth celebrating, and the City of Worcester is proud to have been a part of its success,” said Batista. “Mindfulness programming is essential to a healthy community, and we’re thrilled the initiative included 414 Worcester residents. Programs like this truly uplift and empower individuals to live their best life, while also benefiting the local economy and workforce.” 

The program's completion comes on the heels of another milestone for HeartWell: Executive Director Susan Buchholz was recently named a 2026 WooStar by the WooSox Foundation and Country Bank. Buchholz was honored on the field at Polar Park on August 11 and presented with a $5,000 donation for HeartWell. The WooStar Award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond in support of their nonprofit organizations and communities.

President of The HeartWell Institute Board of Directors, Irene Hernandez nominated Buchholz for the WooStar recognition. “Susan recognized early on that impact is rooted in trust,” said Hernandez. “She leads with compassion, integrity, courage, and determination, always focused on what is best for the people she serves.”

HeartWell's growth has also been shaped by the guidance of the Mindfulness Center at Brown University, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the generous support of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.

Central to HeartWell's approach has been building programs through relationships with community-based teachers and partners who understand the communities they serve. Workshop partners over the past year included Adelante Worcester, African Community Education (ACE), City of Worcester Department of Youth Opportunities, Elder Services of Worcester Area, Everyday Miracles, Grafton Job Corps, Hector Reyes House, Jaz-Yoga/Health and Wellness, Latin American Business Organization (LABO), Latino Education Institute (LEI), Legendary Legacies, Lynne Burns Recovery Coaching, Peak Treatment Center, RissaCares, South High School, UHAI for Health, United Way of Central Massachusetts, UMass Chan Medical School, Veterans Support Services, W.S.R & Wellness Coaching, Worcester Addresses Childhood Trauma, Worcester Community Action Council, Worcester Community Justice Support Center, Worcester County House of Corrections, Worcester Family School Partnership, Worcester Literacy Volunteers, Worcester Regional Transit Authority, Worcester RISE for Health, Worcester Senior Center, and others.

“We have learned so much by listening to the people we serve,” Buchholz said. “People have welcomed us into their organizations and communities, told us what they need, and trusted us to respond. That is what has allowed HeartWell to grow, and it is what will continue to guide us.”

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About HeartWell Institute

The HeartWell Institute is a Worcester-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community health, equity, and well-being. Through evidence-based mindfulness education and community-centered partnerships, HeartWell works to make practices that support resilience, connection, and well-being more accessible to communities that have historically faced barriers to these resources.

About the WooStar Award

The WooStars program, presented by Country Bank and the WooSox Foundation, allows community members to nominate outstanding individuals to recognize their contributions to the communities they serve and to contribute to the nonprofits they support.

About the ARPA Grant

The City of Worcester was awarded approximately $146 million from the US Department of the Treasury and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts related to American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.