Scholarships and Awards

Nancy Peace Action Against Prejudice Award 2024
The mission of the YWCA is peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. This vision can not be achieved until there is racial equality in our nation. This is a challenging yet critical conversation in communities such as ours with predominantly white populations. Each year, the YWCA awards the Nancy E. Peace Award to a community member who has accepted that challenge and who, through their professional or volunteer lives, has made valuable contributions towards eliminating racism, fighting prejudice, and celebrating diversity. The award is presented annually at the YWCA’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Event in January. Nominations are accepted from members of the community during the fall of the year. Nominations are due by 12/1/24.
The Nancy E. Peace Action Against Prejudice Award was established in 1998 by the YWCA Greater Newburyport to recognize individuals who, through their professional or volunteer lives, have made valuable contributions towards eliminating racism, fighting prejudice, and celebrating diversity. We welcome nominations for any adult or youth who lives or works in one of the communities served by the YWCA Greater Newburyport: Newburyport, Newbury, West Newbury, Amesbury, Merrimac, Salisbury, Georgetown, Rowley and Ipswich, MA; and Seabrook, Hampton, Hampton Falls and Kensington, NH.
Nancy Digrezio Memorial Scholarship
The Nancy DiGrezio Memorial Scholarship was established in 2007 in memory of former YWCA Board Member Nancy DiGrezio, a long-time local advocate for social justice. The scholarship is awarded annually to a high school senior who lives or attends school within the YWCA Greater Newburyport’s service area* who is a leader and peacemaker among her or his peers; whose actions exemplify tolerance and understanding of differences; and who, by example, empowers other students to respond to acts of intolerance and discrimination.
The YWCA will accept scholarship applications beginning on the national celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. An application screening committee of the YWCA Board and community members will select the scholarship recipient. The scholarship will be announced at the Annual Meeting of the YWCA Greater Newburyport and will be awarded to the recipient at the year-end senior awards assembly at the recipient’s high school, so that he or she may be recognized in front of his or her peers, teachers and family.
This award is closed 2024
*The YWCA Greater Newburyport serves the thirteen communities of Newburyport, Newbury, West Newbury, Salisbury, Amesbury, Merrimac, Georgetown, Rowley, Ipswich, Seabrook, Hampton, Hampton Falls, and Kensington.
Previous winners:
About Nancy DiGrezio
Nancy DiGrezio actively lived and loved the mission work of the YWCA. Her tireless efforts on behalf of affordable housing, peace, diversity, and tolerance were constant yet gentle reminders of the ongoing need for the YWCA’s mission work and how one person can have a tremendous impact on the lives of others in our community. During her tenure with the YWCA Board of Directors, Nancy chaired the organization’s Advocacy Committee and Co-Chaired the 2005 and 2006 Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Breakfasts. In 2005, she advocated on behalf of the creation of the Mayor’s Commission on Tolerance and Diversity, and was a charter appointee to the Commission by Mayor Mary Anne Clancy.
Connie Grasso Award
The Connie Grasso Award was established in 2015 by the YWCA Greater Newburyport to recognize individuals who, through their professional or volunteer lives, have impacted their community positively by supporting women’s health issues as Connie did. As an employee of the YWCA, Connie was passionate about growing and furthering the reach of programs like YWCA Encore Plus, and My Life, My Health, which improved the lives of women and those suffering from the effects of breast cancer and chronic disease. Through the establishment of this award, we hope to shine the light on members of our community who share Connie’s passion and commitment to community and women’s health.



get in touch
Organization/Name | Website |
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Presenting | Newburyport Bank | View Website |
L.D. Russo | View Website | |
Empowerment | Anonymous Donor | |
Element Care | View Website | |
Institution for Savings Charitable Foundation, Inc | View Website | |
Mission | Arthur Gallagher Insurance | View Website |
Caswell Mechanical | View Website | |
Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation | View Website | |
Linden Financial Services | View Website | |
Matter Communications Inc. | View Website | |
Stratford Capital Group | View Website | |
Williams Miller Family Foundation | ||
Benefactor | 3CM Construction Inc. | |
Beth Israel Health/Anna Jaques Hospital | View Website | |
BankProv | View Website | |
Dana Farber Cancer Center | View Website | |
Daniel Dennis and Company LLP | View Website | |
Valerie and John Feehan | View Website | |
ICON Architecture | View Website | |
JDS Flooring | View Website | |
Lynn Community Health Center | View Website | |
Mark Richey Woodworking | View Website | |
Margaret McCarthy | ||
Salem Five Charitable Foundation | View Website | |
Turco Legal/p> | View Website | |
WIN Waste Innovations | View Website | |
Patron | Associated Home Care | View Website |
Dry Air Systems | View Website | |
Nancy Forristall, Virtual Realty Group | ||
JOGO Corporation | View Website | |
KABA | ||
Klein Hornig | View Website | |
Lancelot Janitorial & Paper Supplies | View Website | |
New Ecology | View Website | |
Shauna Pieniazek | ||
YWCA NEMA | View Website | |
Supporters | Align Credit Union | View Website |
American Renaissance Painting & Restoration | Governmental Strategies |
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Jessica Baylor | YWCA Board of Directors | |
Lyndsay Cavanaugh | ||
Fishbone Project Management | Governmental Strategies |
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Robert Mazzone | Governmental Strategies |
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Nancy McCafferty | Governmental Strategies |
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Julia McDonald | YWCA Board of Directors | |
Mead, Talerman and Costa | Governmental Strategies |
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Spruce Law Offices | Governmental Strategies |
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Christopher Welch Law Offices | Governmental Strategies |
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In Kind Donation | Seascoast Tent Rentals | Governmental Strategies |
facility hours
Mon-Fri: 6 am - 7:45 pm
Sat: 8 am - 1 pm
Sunday: CLOSED