By Lori Berkey, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Michael Stowe grew up in a family that taught him to help people in need. Heavily influenced by his father, the longtime Shrewsbury resident devotes much of his free time to volunteerism. After years of board service to the Saint Francis Community Health Care (SFCHC) charitable foundation, he feels honored to be assuming the roles of chair and board president this year.
“What inspired me to be involved with Saint Francis Community Health Care is simple,” Stowe said, “the Sisters of The Little Franciscans of Mary, and the opportunity and privilege to continue their work and tradition of helping those that need assistance, particularly the elderly and children.”
According to Stowe, the sisters initially established the Saint Francis Home as an orphanage on Plantation Street in Worcester, helping the area people – especially in the Grafton Hill neighborhood – by supporting the children. The facility later became a nursing home, Stowe said, where the sisters cared for elders in the Catholic tradition of the home. The sisters ministered at Plantation Street site for over 115 years. The history of their unwavering service motivates Stowe to follow their example.
Stowe was a member of the home’s lay board for 12 years (the latter half of those as chair), before it was sold in 2009 due to financial hardship. The sale enabled some of the funds from their fundraising arm, Saint Francis Community Health Foundation, Inc., to be kept.
“We decided to continue this foundation in the tradition of the Sisters of the Little Franciscans of Mary to help those in need,” Stowe said.
Partner at an accounting and consulting business, Stowe’s initial involvement with the Saint Francis Home in 1997 was stepping in to chair the finance and audit committees. Although he did not know much about the board at the time he started, he developed a strong sense of responsibility toward the cause, and his service has become a source of pride for him.
SFCHC provides grants to help finance new nonprofit, health care or social service programs that support scientific, literacy, educational, public health/safety or civic missions that directly assist Worcester and Worcester County residents. Their funding also goes toward helping sustain or expand existing services in that realm. Last year, according to Stowe, SFCHC distributed approximately $180,000 in grants.
“The best part of being involved with the foundation is getting the opportunity to go out and visit with our applicants ?or discuss and understand all of our applicants at the board meetings to understand where we can help and make the greatest impact on people in need,” Stowe said.
Stowe’s service to SFCHC isn’t the only cause he supports. In 2000, he co-founded the “Swing for Wishes Golf Tournament” which supports the Make a Wish Foundation, and he remains an active golf committee member for the steady fundraiser. Somehow, he also makes time to coach Shrewsbury High School’s varsity basketball summer and fall programs.
For more information about SFCHC, visit www.saintfrancischc.com.