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$370K Donation from ESE Supports 34 Local Organizations

$370K Donation from ESE Supports 34 Local Organizations

34 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS BENEFIT FROM LARGEST DONATION TO DATE TO EASTERN STATES EXPOSITION-WEST SPRINGFIELD TRUST

Each year Eastern States Exposition (ESE) donates 1% of its annual gross revenue to the town of West Springfield to create the Eastern States Exposition-West Springfield Trust. On June 12, ESE President and CEO Gene Cassidy and members of the wider team visited the West Springfield Town Hall to present a check for $370,970 to the trust, which is the organization’s largest donation to date.

“It’s an honor for me to represent the board of directors for ESE and present this check to the mayor and the town,” said Cassidy. “The Eastern States Exposition-West Springfield Trust was established in 1994. This is the biggest check that we have ever been able to give, thanks to the record Fair we had last year and its 16 days of sunshine.”

As a not-for-profit entity, ESE does not receive federal or state support, nor funding from local taxes. This sets The Big E and broader organization apart from most fairs. To express appreciation to the populace that continues to support its mission faithfully, ESE partnered with the town to create the Eastern States Exposition-West Springfield Trust.

“When The Big E grew from 12 days to 17 days, the organization agreed to cut a check to the town each year, which the trustees of the Eastern States Exposition-West Springfield Trust would oversee,” explained Mayor Will Reichelt of West Springfield. “One percent of ESE’s gross is contributed, and a portion is dispersed to the community each year, to youth organizations, seniors, sports teams and more to give back to the community.”

The trustees are Reichelt, Cassidy and Attorney Mary Paier Powers. This executive body reviews grant applications and awards a percentage of the donations to benefit education, youth and the elderly in West Springfield and leaves the remainder to accrue.

Including this year’s gift, ESE’s contributions since 1995 are now a total of $5,370,811.

The list of 34 organizations that benefited from the Eastern States Exposition-West Springfield Trust in 2025 includes a broad scope of community interests, from schools to sports teams to local programs:

  • West Springfield Wildcats Youth Baseball
  • Parish Cupboard Agawam/West Springfield
  • West Springfield Girls Basketball
  • Grace Lutheran Church Veterans Outreach
  • West Springfield Summer Clinic
  • West Springfield High School Robotics Team
  • West Springfield Transition School
  • West Springfield High School Boys Basketball
  • Lions Club Veteran Park of Heroes
  • West Springfield High School Track & Field, Cross Country, and Indoor Track
  • West Springfield Boys’ Soccer
  • West Springfield Boys Youth Lacrosse Program
  • West Springfield High School Irish Club
  • Josiah Day House
  • West Springfield High School Hockey Booster Club
  • Tatham Memorial Capital Campaign Project
  • Big Brothers and Big Sisters
  • West Springfield Boys & Girls Varsity Tennis Team
  • Community Family Movie Night
  • West Springfield Church of Christ Community Programs
  • West Springfield High School STEAM
  • West Springfield Sister City Committee
  • West Springfield Council on Aging
  • West Springfield Boys and Girls Club
  • West Springfield High School Italian Club
  • West Springfield High School Band
  • Memorial School
  • Irish Cultural Center
  • Memorial Lego League
  • West Springfield Field Hockey Team
  • Majestic Theater
  • West Springfield Swim Program
  • West Springfield Veterans Advisory Board
  • Friends of the West Springfield Vet Center

Interested parties can submit grant applications at TownofWestSpringfield.com.

About Eastern States Exposition

It’s always showtime at Eastern States Exposition (ESE), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation located in West Springfield, Mass. ESE is committed to excellence in providing opportunities for the development and promotion of agriculture, industry, education and family entertainment while preserving our New England heritage. The 175-acre campus holds five exhibition buildings, equivalent to 355,000 square feet of ground level indoor space. Their year-round, on-site dining and entertainment locations include Storrowton Village Museum, Eastern States Farmers Market & Wine Café, Storrowton Tavern & Carriage House. The facility also hosts more than 120 shows and events annually, such as The Big E, America’s only multi-state fair, and Hooplandia, the Northeast’s Ultimate 3x3 Basketball Tourney + Festival. For more information, check out EasternStatesExposition.com, or find us on social media.

Additional Info

Media Contact : Britany Kelleher bkelleher@TheBigE.com

Related Links : EasternStatesExposition.com

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