Meet two past champions in action: Bridge Over Troubled Waters and Wellspring House

By Gina Gallagher

In celebration of the 20-year anniversary of Champions in Action, we’re proud to highlight the work of two Massachusetts-based organizations and past winners, Bridge Over Troubled Waters of Boston and Wellspring House of Gloucester. Both organizations have made it their mission to prevent homelessness and build brighter futures for at-risk youth and adults. Read on to learn how these two winning organizations were made ready to use the Champions in Action award to further their missions and have an even bigger impact on the lives of others.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Transforming the lives and futures of youth

According to the National Center for Children and Poverty, more than 24 million adolescents ages 12-17 are living in poverty in America today. These children are at serious risk of homelessness, addiction, crime and lifetime dependence on social services.

There can be a different and brighter path.

It was that belief that prompted a dedicated group of women in the 1960s to help youth living in poverty in Boston and Cambridge find their way through. Together, they created Bridge Over Trouble Waters, a nonprofit organization that provides life changing services for youth experiencing homelessness, runaway and at-risk youth.

What began with sandwiches, cold drinks and impartial conversations would eventually transition into an impressive nonprofit that stands strong as a national model and program incubator.

“Every youth deserves a chance to reach their potential,” said Elisabeth Jackson, President & CEO, Bridge Over Troubled Waters. “The Champions in Actions program provided critical publicity and funding to support the financial literacy, educational and career programming Bridge provides to young people on the path to a brighter future.”

The organization’s tireless work in helping support youth earned it recognition as a 2012 Champion in Action.

Putting Champions in Action to "good" use

As a Champion in Action awardee, Bridge received $35,000 in unrestricted funds, which enabled them to open their First Emergency Youth Shelter. This transitional living program provided 12 vulnerable youth with education, employment and life skill development to help promote economic self-sufficiency. Additionally, the financial literacy workshops enabled participants to save 70% of their salary, and more importantly, take steps toward long-term stability.

The funding also allowed Bridge to expand its services to provide a first-of-its kind program in the city that has helped 25 young people every year. The media exposure provided by Champions in Action also helped the organization attract new donors, and as a result, fully fund this program for the past decade.

Wellspring House: Helping families achieve success and fulfillment

Change takes risk. In 1981, seven close friends came together to take a big one to improve their lives and the lives of others in need by providing temporary shelter?

They found their perfect home, a 17th century former inn in Gloucester that would come to be known as Wellspring House.

There, they would lay the foundation for a nonprofit that offers homelessness prevention and shelter, adult education, career and education planning and job training to help those in need achieve success and fulfillment.

Wellspring House was recognized as a Champion in Action in 2003 for its commitment to workforce development. The momentum achieved through the financial support and publicity has helped them enhance the organization’s services to be even more transformational in the lives of local families.

“Receiving the Champions in Action award helped put Wellspring on the map. No other program has combined funding, media and volunteers,” said Melanie Murray-Brown, director of external relations and development, Wellspring. “Today, Wellspring is a leading regional organization with a clear mission to inspire working parents, recent immigrants and young adults to achieve financial security through stable housing, education, job training and career readiness.”

The work of a Champion

Champions in Action helped Wellspring House work toward its long-term goal of protecting low-income and mixed-income housing projects in Gloucester. The nonprofit was able to forge a strategic partnership with The Community Land Trust of Cape Ann, an organization that assumed the administration and responsibility of 51 affordable first-time buyer condominium units. Wellspring House was able to launch a multi-partner collaboration that ultimately led to the creation of a 77-unit mixed-income housing development in Gloucester. These beautifully maintained, accessible properties have helped hundreds of families improve their quality of life and achieve housing and financial stability.

Wellspring House was also able to leverage the media exposure afforded by Champions in Action to raise its profile and attract more individual and corporate donors. Many of these donors continue to make financial contributions today.

Celebrating 20 years of championing local organizations

The great work of Bridge Over Troubled Waters and Wellspring House and the support of the Champions in Action award is a powerful example of how we can accomplish more together. Since Champions in Action was founded 20 years ago, we’re proud to have provided more than $10 million in unrestricted funds to more than 360 deserving nonprofits to help them gain the funding and publicity to carry out their missions. That’s a win for all!

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