ESE-West Springfield Trust Supports Boys & Girls Club Technology Lab

WEST SPRINGFIELD — On Oct. 20, Eastern States Exposition (ESE) and the town of West Springfield visited the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club to present a check for $6,000 that afforded the club an all-new technology lab for the students it serves. This donation comes from the ESE-West Springfield Trust, funded by ESE.

The trust began in 1994, which was the year the Big E grew from five days to 17 days in length. Annually, ESE donates 1% of its gross operating revenue to the town to support and maintain the ESE-West Springfield Trust. The donation funds grants awarded to various community organizations selected by a committee comprised of ESE President and CEO Gene Cassidy, attorney Mary Powers, and West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt.

This year, ESE’s donation to the ESE-West Springfield Trust totaled $370,970, the not-for-profit organization’s largest donation to date. Since the trust’s inception, ESE has contributed more than $5 million. In 2025, 34 local organizations benefited from the trust, including sports teams, food rescues, places of worship, veterans’ outreach services, and more. The Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield was among these recipients.

The grant funded the club’s newest initiative: the Plugged In program and technology lab. This state-of-the-art lab is equipped with computer-aided design tools, 3D printers, advanced software, comfortable gaming chairs, and more. The goal of the program is to allow children to explore technological skills and prepare for the workforce.

“On behalf of the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club and our club kids, we are incredibly grateful to Eastern States Exposition and the town’s collaborative trust,” said Dan D’Angelo, executive director of the club. “The new technology lab — along with the program opportunities in coding, robotics, aviation, content creation, drone navigation, and more — gives our members the chance to explore, create, and learn with the latest technology.

“These are the skills that will prepare them for tomorrow,” he continued. “This support ensures our kids stay ahead of the curve and have every opportunity to succeed in an increasingly digital world.”