Springfield, MA · Since 2013

One community.
One step
at a time.

Springfield Together unites youth, families, educators, and the C3 Police Unit to build a stronger Springfield through programs that open doors, spark hope, and keep us connected.

Multiple
events every year
Thousands
meals shared with families
10+
years serving Springfield

Changing the reputation of Springfield, one step at a time.

Springfield Together strives to improve life's realities by fostering opportunities for success via youth development and education, alongside engagement in athletics, social interactions, and community involvement with youth and families.

Founded in 2013 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2015, we work side by side with the Springfield C3 Community Policing Unit because safety and belonging go hand in hand.

Youth development

Mentorship, after-school programs, and safe spaces where young people can grow, lead, and dream big.

Education & opportunity

Tutoring, scholarships, and workshops that open doors. Every kid in Springfield deserves a fair shot.

C3 community partnership

We co-host events with the C3 Police Unit to build trust and show youth that officers are neighbors, not adversaries.

Community
Education
Partnership

Programs built for Springfield's families

Every program we run starts with one question: what does this community actually need? Then we show up and build it together.

Youth Mentorship

One-on-one mentoring, group workshops, and leadership camps that give Springfield's young people the tools and confidence to build their futures.

Get involved

Education Support

Free tutoring, SAT prep, scholarship guidance, and digital literacy classes for students and adults who want to keep learning.

Learn more

C3 Bridge Events

Holiday giveaways, cookouts, and basketball nights co-hosted with the Springfield C3 Police Unit, building trust one interaction at a time.

About the C3 Unit

Family Resource Hub

Connecting families to food pantries, emergency aid, housing support, and city services, with real people ready to help navigate the process.

Find support

Job Readiness

Resume workshops, mock interviews, and employer connections that help Springfield residents (especially youth) land their first real opportunity.

Get started

Holiday Giveaway

Our flagship annual event. 200+ gift boxes, food, music, and the whole community together. The night that reminds us what Springfield is made of.

Learn more
Our impact

Real numbers. Real neighbors.

Every figure here represents a real person in Springfield who showed up and found something waiting for them.

Multiple
community events per year
Thousands
meals shared with families
500+
youth served annually
10+
years in Springfield
Upcoming events

Mark your calendar

Ask about an event
Dec 14

Citywide Christmas Party

Gifts, food, music, and the C3 unit, all in one unforgettable night. Over 200 families come together to celebrate the season.

Saturday, Dec 14 · 4–8 PM Springfield Community Center
C3 Partnership

Community Basketball Night

A night of pickup basketball with C3 officers, music, and good vibes. All ages welcome. Come play or just watch and cheer.

Fri, Jan 10 · 6–9 PM Blunt Park
Registration open

Spring Job Fair

Local employers, free resume review, and interview coaching, all in one morning. Bring copies of your resume and an open mind.

Sat, Mar 8 · 9 AM–1 PM Brightwood Library
Volunteer

You don't have to wait for change. You can be part of it.

Volunteers are the backbone of everything we do. Pick the role that fits, then tell us about yourself on the form. We follow up personally within a week.

Event volunteer

Setup, family check-in, food service, kids' activities at the holiday party, food giveaway, and C3 events.

2–4 hrs · per event

Mentor

Pair with a Springfield young person to share your career, your craft, or just a steady hour of presence each week.

1–2 hrs · weekly

Skill-based

Lend a few hours of legal, accounting, design, photography, or social-media work. We'll match you to a real need.

Project · flexible

Bring a group

Company, congregation, sports team, or classroom? Sponsor an event, staff a station, or host a drive together.

Group · one-time or recurring

Just want to help once? That counts. The Citywide Christmas Party alone takes 40+ volunteers each year. Most of them show up for one shift and come back the next year because it's the best night Springfield has.

Connect with us

Frequently asked

Quick answers about who we are and how we work.

Written for residents, donors, reporters, and anyone trying to get accurate information about Springfield Together quickly. Don't see your question? Ask us directly.

Springfield Together, Inc.
501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 83-2443347
185 Belmont Ave, Springfield, MA 01108
Forest Park neighborhood

What is Springfield Together?

Springfield Together, Inc. is a community nonprofit based in Springfield, Massachusetts, focused on youth development, education, and family support through events and partnerships rather than direct social services.

In practice that shows up as recurring community events (holiday parties, back-to-school drives, food distributions, and police-community programs) run with local businesses, schools, and the Springfield Police Department's C3 (Counter Criminal Continuum) policing unit in Forest Park.

Is Springfield Together a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit?

Yes. Springfield Together, Inc. is registered with the IRS as a tax-exempt charitable organization, EIN 83-2443347. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Because annual revenue is under $50,000, we file the simplified Form 990-N ("e-Postcard") rather than a full Form 990. That's standard for small nonprofits, but does mean detailed financial breakdowns aren't publicly available the way they would be for a larger charity. You can find our IRS record on Charity Navigator and ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

When was Springfield Together founded?

Springfield Together traces its roots to 2013, when it began as an informal group organizing community events in Springfield. It was formally incorporated as a nonprofit in 2015, in partnership with the Springfield Police Department's C3 Unit.

How big is Springfield Together, financially?

It's a small, volunteer-driven operation. Nonprofit data aggregators list our annual operating budget at roughly $34,000 (as of 2024), consistent with an organization that runs on donations, in-kind partner contributions, and volunteer labor rather than paid staff or large grants.

There is currently no public Form 990 with itemized revenue and expenses, since organizations under the $50,000 threshold aren't required to file one.

What does Springfield Together actually do?

Most of our work centers on recurring, hands-on community events rather than ongoing case management or direct services. Documented activities include:

  • Holiday and seasonal events. Easter parties, decorating parties, Halloween events, Thanksgiving giveaways (including Spanish-language outreach), and Christmas/holiday parties for children and families. The annual Springfield Holiday Festival is co-hosted with Mayor Domenic Sarno, Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, Strong Young Minds, and Elks Lodge #61.
  • Shop with a Cop. An annual holiday shopping event pairing Springfield elementary school students with police officers and sheriff's deputies at a local Walmart. Sponsors have included Walmart, City Connects, Springfield Police, C3 Forest Park, Springfield Public Schools, the Law Offices of Dunn and Phillips, and the Hampden County Sheriff's Department.
  • Food distribution. Recurring produce giveaways with Inter Produce Supermarket on White Street, where the store owner donates roughly 200 boxes of fresh food per event to families through Springfield Public Schools' City Connects program.
  • Community fundraisers, including a WWLP MassAppeal wine-tasting event that raised support for Ukraine relief.
  • Ladies' Day Out and end-of-year cookouts. Recurring social and community-building events for adults and families.
Who leads Springfield Together?

A small volunteer board. Meet the full board →

Board summary:

  • Gary Delisle, President. A Springfield native now living in East Longmeadow; Westfield State University graduate.
  • Neil Phillips, Vice President & Clerk. A practicing attorney since 1979 (Westfield State and Western New England Law); also involved with Celebration of Hope of Western Mass.
  • Phillip Bambara, Treasurer. CPA and Notre Dame graduate, previously at Price Waterhouse & Co. and Aetna; co-chairs Rebuilding Together of Manchester, CT.
  • Jerry Nardi, Director. Involved with several humanitarian causes, including Cospas-Sarsat and the Christian Appalachian Project.
  • Shatequa "Teka Jones" Watkins, Director. Founder of Strong Young Minds Inc.; appointed to Springfield's COVID-19 Youth Council and named a 2025 Commonwealth Heroine by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.
Who are Springfield Together's community partners?

Current and past partners include iHeartRadio, the Law Offices of Dunn and Phillips P.C., Springfield Elks Lodge, Palazzo Cafe, All About You Home Healthcare LLC, Food Zone, Inter Produce Supermarket, Strong Young Minds, Walmart, and Big Y. Partnership generally takes the form of event sponsorship, in-kind donations, or co-hosting, rather than ongoing financial grants.

Has Springfield Together been covered by local news?

Yes, intermittently, mostly by Springfield-area TV stations covering our events:

  • WWLP (22News) covered a 2021 food distribution at Inter Produce, where volunteers and teachers got donated groceries to Springfield-area school families during the pandemic.
  • WWLP also covered our Shop with a Cop event at the Boston Road Walmart, where Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi and Springfield police officers took students holiday shopping.
  • WWLP's MassAppeal featured a Springfield Together wine-tasting fundraiser supporting Ukraine.
Is Springfield Together affiliated with the City of Springfield or the police department?

We're an independent nonprofit, not a city agency. But we work closely with the Springfield Police Department's C3 Unit and with Springfield Public Schools' City Connects program. That partnership is foundational to our history: we formally incorporated as a nonprofit specifically while teaming up with the C3 Unit in 2015, and most flagship events (Shop with a Cop, holiday giveaways) are co-run with police, schools, or both.

How can someone get involved, volunteer, or donate?

Three channels: showing up to volunteer at events, partnering as a local business or organization, or making a direct donation.

Because we're small, the most reliable way to start is by reaching out directly via email or Facebook. See the contact form or message us at springfieldtogetherinc@gmail.com. Our online donation platform is being set up; until then, give by check to the address above or email us to coordinate.

Is "Springfield Together" the same as any other similarly-named group?

No. We should not be confused with Rebuilding Together (a separate, unaffiliated nonprofit focused on home repairs), or with other "Together" or "Springfield" civic branding used elsewhere in the city or in other Springfields nationally. This Springfield Together is specifically the Springfield, Massachusetts organization headquartered in the Forest Park neighborhood, EIN 83-2443347.

Trusted partners & supporters