Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 21, 2026 Mass. Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment announces funding to support 529 account enrollment in communities Organizations will help families claim $50 in savings for their children’s college and career training tate Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg’s Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE) announced the recipients of its BabySteps Enrollment S Hub Grant. La Comunidad in Everett was among the award recipients. Community-serving organizations across Massachusetts will receive funding to help families enroll in BabySteps, an initiative from OEE that provides a free $50 deposit when families open a MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) U.Fund 529 account for their child within one year of birth or adoption. “For six years, BabySteps has helped Massachusetts families start saving early for their children’s future education,” said Treasurer Goldberg. “Every young person deserves a real chance at affordable college, vocational training, or other post-secondary opportunities. These grants will help expand enrollment in BabySteps for those who need it most.” OEE will fund 10 organizations, committing a total of $25,000 to the project. Grantees will help spread the word about BabySteps, guide families through the enrollment process and encourage ongoing engagement with their children’s savings. Organizations applied through a publicly advertised procurement process earlier this year. “At MEFA, we believe every family should have the opportunity to start saving for a child’s future education,” said MEFA Executive Director Thomas Graf. “Trusted community organizations across the Commonwealth play a vital role in connecting families with valuable resources and helping them take the important first step to secure their child’s future. BabySteps creates an opportunity for families to begin saving early with the U.Fund.” Funding for the grant will be provided by the Economic Empowerment Trust Fund. The Fiscal Year 2023 budget included $500,000 in funding for the Trust to support the BabySteps program and lower barriers to savings for people living in priority communities across Massachusetts. The Hildreth Stewart Charitable Foundation, led by Bob Hildreth, a champion of equity in higher education, contributed $300,000 to the effort. “Congratulations and thank you to all of the community organizations helping to enroll families into BabySteps,” said Hildreth. “Your work, led by the Treasurer’s Empowerment Office, is growing the number of citizens in the Commonwealth saving for their children to go to college.” BabySteps has provided $50 seed deposits to over 64,000 accounts for a total of over $3.2 million saved for Massachusetts children. Money in these accounts can be used for education costs like college tuition, vocational training, apprenticeship costs and more. To learn more, visit mass.gov/ babysteps. Everett residents named to Simmons University Dean’s List T he following Everett residents were named to the 2026 spring semester Dean’s List at Simmons University in Boston: Eliza Barbosa, Bethelehem Fikrie, Evy Freire, Aluminum Aluminum Everett Supplies 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 66 Years in Business! •Vinyl Siding Decks • • •Carpentry Work •Decks • Replacement Windows Carpentry Work • • • Fully Insured Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Free Estimates Fully Licensed • Roong •Free Estimates •Fully Licensed •Roong Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! Marie-Judith Germain, Marie-Judette Germain, Geralisha Jacquet, Pretima Khadka, Katie Mendez-Solano, Ashley Merino, Shelina Nguyen and Caroline Raizel. To qualify for Summer is Here! Dean’s List status, undergraduate students must obtain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, based on 12 or more credit hours of work in classes using the letter grade system.
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