Award-winning Troubadour, Matt Nakoa, Performs on Park Theatre Stage This Saturday

Singer-songwriter-instrumentalist at Jaffrey's performing arts center on May 28

JAFFREY, New Hampshire (May 26, 2022) A modern troubadour comes to the Eppes Auditorium stage at The Park Theatre on Saturday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. Matt Nakoa is an internationally known touring singer/songwriter, appearing at The White House and touring regularly with folk icon Tom Rush.

Matt grew up on a farm in central New York state and trained for voice at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Matt moved to New York City, started playing at bars and became the star of Manhattan’s famous Brandy’s Piano, with fans lining up around the block every Saturday night. Matt’s first album Light in The Dark came out in 2012. He has continued to release new albums and develop a worldwide following. Matt has won many music awards including the prestigious New Folk Competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival.

The Boston Globe says of Nakoa, "Between his piano chops and heartfelt originals on guitar, he drops jaws."

Tickets for the Matt Nakoa concert are $20 to $30 and can be purchased online at theparktheatre.org, by visiting the box office or calling the box office hotline (603) 532-8888.

The Park Theatre performing arts center is located at 19 Main Street in downtown Jaffrey, NH, just 90 minutes from Boston. The facility is fully accessible.

UWNCM Distributes Nearly $400,000 in Grants to Support After School And Out Of School Programs

FITCHBURG, MA: May 26, 2022 - United Way of North Central Massachusetts (UWNCM) recently distributed $398,800 in funding to 18 local agencies to support after school and out of school time programs for children in grades pre-k through 12. Grants will fund a variety of initiatives including project-based learning activities, enrichment programs and comprehensive student support services.

Grant funds were made available through a $4.5 million grant awarded by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to a regional effort of United Ways located in Central, North Central and South-Central Massachusetts. The grant will be dispersed over two years with the goal of helping after school and out school time programs rebound and strengthen quality of services from impacts of COVID-19.

UWNCM has so far distributed two rounds of grants to support 22 programs running in the spring and summer at 18 local agencies, including non-profit organizations, public school systems and towns and municipalities. Supported programs range from an adventure-based program for youth to music & art therapy, enrichment activities for children with disabilities, and multiple STEM and STEAM-based initiatives.

The Spanish American Center (SAC) in Leominster received grants to support two programs, including their comprehensive Cross-Roads Afterschool program.

"Every day that we witness the importance of Cross-Roads, SAC continues to be a beacon of hope and blessing for our children and youth," says Neddy Latimer, Executive Director of the SAC. "We are very proud of our positive outcomes and have seen life changing results, increasing confidence and self-esteem and bringing children hope. Thank you to the United Way for the grant generosity, especially during these challenging times."

The grants represent a new area of impact for UWNCM and have given them the opportunity to support new populations and grant recipients, including public school systems in Ashburnham and Westminster. UWNCM will open the next round of grant applications for 2022-23 school year programs in early June 2022.

"We look forward to working with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and our fellow United Ways to support youth opportunity in our region," says UWNCM President Kory Eng. "These grants will fund an array of programs and services for young people, from STEM education to mental health and academic support during this critical time for growth and development."

The United Way of North Central Massachusetts serves the communities of Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton, Pepperell, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon.