Give Hope This Tuesday

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Dear Educators, Families, and Community Members,

This Giving Tuesday, we urgently need your support.
Budget cuts this year mean the Chris Walsh Center is relying on our community more than ever to keep our programs free for families and educators across Massachusetts.

Your gift today strengthens our workshops, caregiver supports, and educator programming—ensuring every learner has their needs met.

For five years, the Chris Walsh Center has been a trusted, no-cost resource for families and educators across Massachusetts. With your support, we’ve offered caregiver support groups, educator workshops, information sessions, book and film events, and SEL training for 35 educators. We’ve also provided internships and career-building opportunities for 25 FSU students. Together, these programs have reached hundreds of families and educators and impacted thousands of children and young adults.

To date, the Center has supported hundreds of families and educators, impacting the lives of thousands of children and young adults—all at no cost to families.

But the need continues to grow. With your support this Giving Tuesday, we can extend our reach even further.

We’re excited to share that we’ve already raised over $12,000—nearly halfway to our year-long $25,000 goal. The funds we raise between now and December 31 will directly support our Spring and Summer 2026 programming. And the more we raise, the more we can offer. Here’s what your support can unlock:

• $500 — Spring Caregiver Support Group: Fund a free support group for parents and caregivers.

• $2,000 — Books for Educators: Provide every educator at our spring PD conference with a copy of the book Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools.

• $3,000 — Author-Led Online PD: Bring the author of Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools to lead a virtual educator workshop.

• $4,000 — Summer Book Discussion: Host a facilitated discussion on the book: Transformative Social and Emotional Learning: Centering Equity and Social Justice in Pre-K–6 Classroom

• $5,000 — Author Panel Presentation. Invite the author to join our educators for a live panel conversation.

• $7,000 — Hire a Student Intern: Bring on an FSU intern to support Center operations in the spring.

• $13,000 — Hire a Graduate Assistant Through June: Support a graduate student’s employment through June

This brings us to the goal of raising $25,000 in 2025 and ensuring free, high-quality caregiver and educator programming all year long.

1. Make a One-Time Gift

Your tax-deductible donation—$50, $100, $150, $250, or any amount—creates immediate impact.

2. Become a Monthly Donor

Just $15 a month (the cost of one weekly coffee) provides steady, reliable support.

3. Give Through Your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)

If you give through a Donor-Advised Fund, now is the perfect moment to put those charitable dollars to work. Your DAF was created for moments just like this—when a timely gift can spark meaningful impact and help us meet urgent needs. A quick recommendation from your fund today strengthens our mission immediately and keeps your philanthropy moving with purpose. This Giving Tuesday, let the generosity you’ve already set aside make a difference right now.

4. Double Your Gift With Employer Matching

Check if your workplace matches donations—your gift could instantly double.

5. Spread the Word

Share our Giving Tuesday posts and tell others how the Center has made a difference in your home, school, or community.

The Chris Walsh Center honors the legacy of Representative Chris Walsh, a passionate advocate for equity, inclusive education, and community empowerment. Each gift you make keeps that mission alive—ensuring that every child, regardless of need or circumstance, has the chance to succeed.

Your gift today helps the Chris Walsh Center continue serving families, educators, and students—now and into the next five years.

If you’ve already made your gift—thank you. Sharing this email with just one more person is another powerful way to support the Center.

We couldn’t do this work without the generosity of our supporters. Thanks to this incredible community, we have already raised over $12,000 this year—support that helps keep our programs free and accessible year-round. Their commitment strengthens every workshop, support group, and resource we offer. We are proud to recognize the donors and sponsors who made a meaningful difference this year.

Defying Gravity Champion

Framingham State University

Nellie Mae Education Foundation

Wizard Circle

Dr. Linda C.Vaden-Goad

Magic Maker

Courtney Edman, 2tametheshamE

Friends of Oz

Danforth Art Museum and Art School

FSU Division of Graduate Studies & Continuing Education

Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning

Yellow Brick Advocate

MetroWest YMCA

Rita Vatcher, Kids at Heart

Burn Boot Camp

Launch

The Sport Museum

Emerald Circle

Level 99

North Shore Music Theater

Flying Star

University Pizza

Burton’s

Child Therapy Boston

Sweetgreen

Leslie Leslie

The Lark Center

Burton

Green Grill Pub

Therese Ajtum-Roberts

John Alves, Bay State Taekwondo Academy

Shining Lights

Mad Willie's

Chipotle

Jam Time

Institute of Contemporary Art

Snip It

Discovery Museum

New England Patriots

Salem Witch Museum

Charles River Tour

Sturbridge Village

Elise Rebecca Howell

Ellen Rose

Julie Tanguay

Karen Watson

Katherine Palacesnarita

Pete and Jayne Moynihan

William Cressey

Spencer Dugbartey

Mission: To provide information for families and educators about the continuum of educational support available to students with disabilities, students who are gifted, and students with unmet needs. The center will offer support, workshops and other programming for families, educators, student support professionals, administrators, and advocates in the MetroWest area. The center also will engage in scholarly research, educator preparation, and professional development.

Email: chriswalshcenter@framingham.edu
Website: https://www.chriswalshcenter.org
Location: 100 State Street, Framingham, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 215-5630