Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition Honors May Institute

May Institute was recently recognized by the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition (MCC) for offering employment opportunities to individuals with mental illness. The Institute was one of 38 companies honored at MCC’s annual employer awards dinner held at the State House in Boston.

May Institute operates five clubhouses throughout Massachusetts that provide individuals with mental illness a place to recover and rebuild their lives. Located Attleboro, Fall River, Harwichport, Hyannis, and New Bedford, our clubhouses offer members the opportunity to participate in meaningful work, pursue education and employment, and have a safe place to develop friendships.

Last fall, clubhouse programs throughout Massachusetts faced potentially devastating budget cuts. Responding to this threat, May Institute clubhouse members and staff joined hundreds of concerned citizens in rallies at the State House. The overwhelming community support helped to sway Governor Patrick not to cut state funding for these programs.

Governor Patrick was among the honorees at the MCC event for his part in making Massachusetts a model employer of clubhouse members. Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. JudyAnn Bigby underlined the importance of clubhouses as she accepted the award on behalf of Governor Patrick. “We know that clubhouses not only help individuals recover, but they are part of our economic engine as well… The earning power of [clubhouse] members shows that employers have tapped into a pool of talented, skillful, hardworking individuals who have overcome the greatest odds and found their strengths as productive employees.”