The Massachusetts Child
Helping Students in Need
The Massachusetts Child (Mass Child) is a charitable corporation founded by the MTA in 1996. We reimburse MTA’s pre-K-12 local associations for expenses that directly benefit students in need, making it possible for them to succeed. The Mass Child Board of Directors reviews requests on a case-by-case basis to confirm that they meet the guidelines.
Locals with 500 or fewer members may receive grants of up to $1,000 per school year.
Locals with more than 500 members are eligible to receive reimbursement equal to $2 per member.
What We Reimburse
Mass Child is a resource for MTA members who want to provide their students with warm clothing, appropriate footwear, bags or backpacks, and materials not routinely supplied by schools, such as notebooks and binders. Purchases must be for specific children, and Mass Child cannot reimburse a local for bulk purchases.Per a vote of the Board of Directors in 2016, costs associated with field trips, electronics (such as calculators and computer hardware and software) and extracurricular items in general, are not reimbursable items. The decision was not made lightly but intended to preserve resources so that we can help as many children as possible at a time of high demand.
How to Participate
Go shopping. Using funds from your local, buy the qualifying items for students with financial need.
Submit the reimbursement form & receipts. The reimbursement form must be signed by the local association president. Receipts must clearly show which items the local wants reimbursed.
Get Reimbursed. Checks are sent to locals after requests are reviewed at Mass Child board meetings. Checks are made out to local associations.
Resources
2018-2019 Meeting Schedule
The board will meet on Sept. 20, Nov. 15, Jan. 17, March 14, April 25 and June 13. Requests received after June 11 will be considered for the next fiscal year.