AGAWAM — The Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation (HGCF) has launched a new initiative to support local agriculture while providing office staff with fresh, healthy food. For 12 weeks this summer, the foundation purchases vegetables directly from local farms and makes them available to employees each Tuesday.

Every two weeks, a different farm has been featured, showcasing the rich variety of produce grown across the region. Participating farms to date include Ray’s Family Farm in Southwick, Granny’s Place in Agawam, Red Fire Farm in Montague, and Bardwell Farm in Hatfield.

“This is a win-win program,” said Harold Grinspoon, founder of both the foundation that bears his name and the Local Farmer Awards program, “Our staff get to enjoy the freshest, most delicious vegetables, and at the same time, we are putting real dollars into the hands of local farmers who work so hard to feed our communities.”

Employees have embraced the weekly deliveries. “It’s such a highlight of the week to come into the office and bring home fresh vegetables straight from local farms,” said Joe Ruotolo, director of Employee Technology.

The program is designed not only to strengthen the connection between staff and the farming community, but also to model how businesses can make a direct, positive impact. By sourcing food directly from local farms, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation is contributing to farm sustainability, supporting the local economy, and encouraging healthier eating habits.

AGAWAM — The Starlight Program, a signature book-gifting program of the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation (HGCF), delivers more than 20,000 books each year to 70 preschools in eight Western Mass. communities, including Springfield, Chicopee, and Holyoke.

Mindful of their transformative power, philanthropist Harold Grinspoon wants every child to have access to books and develop a love of reading. “It’s my hope that an early love of reading will inspire a lifelong habit,” he said.

Children receive four high-quality books, delivered directly to preschools in fall and spring; the most recent selections were sent to schools in early November. Teachers typically read the books aloud and carry out creative activities. Then they present the books to each preschooler to bring home.

Commenting on the gifting moment, Literacy Coordinator Susan Kazeroid of West Springfield Public Schools said, “the excitement on the children’s faces was priceless.”

Gratified by Starlight’s success, the Grinspoon Foundation intends to maintain the model of giving four books a year by regularly securing large quantities of carefully reviewed titles from established publishers.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to get books into the littlest hands,” said Nikki Burnett, executive director of Educare in Springfield.

For Grinspoon, the dream of putting books into children’s hands goes far beyond Western Mass. He is the founder of the PJ Library, an award-winning, international program that gifts Jewish children’s books to more than 680,000 children and their families monthly in 37 countries.

AGAWAM — When the extent of the mid-July flood devastation on local farms in the Connecticut River Valley became evident, philanthropist Harold Grinspoon swiftly pledged $50,000 toward their relief. Joined by PeoplesBank, Chick and Audrey Taylor, and others, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation has now distributed flood-relief checks to 50 farmers impacted by the floods.

“Farmers are such wonderful folks,” Grinspoon said. “I appreciate what they’ve always contributed to the life and health of our region, and want to do my small part in supporting them through this incredibly trying time. I’m pleased to add my efforts to those of other philanthropists and institutions that have also stepped forward. Together, we can help Massachusetts farmers get back on their feet.”

Matt Bannister, senior vice president at PeoplesBank, added that, “in times of great need, it is comforting to see neighbors come together with a strong sense of community to do the right thing. Our region stands on the shoulders of our local farming community, and to see them in such need is heartbreaking. We applaud the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation for doing so much, so quickly, to help so many. We’re proud to play even a small part in their efforts.”

Focusing on the nearly 300 farms in the Local Farmer Awards network, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation requested and then responded to farmers describing their flood-related losses. On Aug. 1, checks of up to $3,000 from the Local Farmer Awards Emergency Flood Relief Fund were in the mail to farmers impacted by the floods. This relief is the first of other significant private and public funds that will be made available to farmers in the coming weeks.

“We are so thankful to be a part of this collaborative effort to help farmers during this extremely challenging time,” said Cari Carpenter, director of the Local Farmer Awards. “All of us involved with farmers at the Grinspoon Charitable Foundation believed that getting some money in their hands quickly would be helpful to them.”

Through the Local Farmer Awards, now in its ninth year, the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, with lead partners Big Y and the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, plus 12 other community funders, has invested $1,286,000 to support 572 infrastructure projects related to planting, growing, harvesting, and processing. In early 2024, farmers in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties can look forward to invitations to apply for these annual awards of up to $2,500.