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A Message from the President and CEO |
Greetings!
As we’re a month into the new year, I have a question. No, it’s not about your new year’s resolution – assuming you have one. Instead, I just want to know how you’re doing. It’s been tough lately, in so many ways, and it’s easy to get down sometime. So, what’s your outlook for the year ahead?
I hope it is full of optimism – cautious as it may be. Positivity is wonderful, especially when things aren’t going the way you want. In fact, it is from those whose situation belies their positive attitude that I find the greatest inspiration. I witnessed that firsthand with a dear friend this past year. Dark clouds will always be a part of the forecast, but the sun will always shine.
There is substantial scientific evidence that optimism produces positive psychological and physical effects on our bodies. In addition, giving back and helping others are therapeutic and rewarding. If you need some help with that, please let us know. Among other things, GLCF needs volunteers to evaluate Lowell High School scholarship requests and grants to nonprofit agencies – both are amazing uplifting experiences. For more info, see below.
Wishing you all the best in the year ahead.
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Jay Linnehan
GLCF President + CEO
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(Chelmsford Action Unlimited, 1/25/22)
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Save the Date
GLCF’s 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting
June 2, 2022
Details to come.
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GLCF celebrates 25 years of improving the quality of life in Greater Lowell |
LOWELL – For 25 years, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) has responded to the area’s most urgent needs. Now, the foundation is celebrating a quarter-century of service. From awarding grants and scholarships to working to meet Greater Lowell’s challenges, GLCF’s work has helped tens of thousands in the community.
Jay Linnehan, president and CEO of GLCF, says the foundation has awarded more than $3 million in scholarship money over the past 25 years, allowing thousands of students the opportunity to get an education. “Supporting students’ college dreams is an important part of our mission to improve our community, particularly as many of those students return to our region to settle down and contribute as good citizens.”
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Seeks Request for Proposals for 2022 Discretionary Grant Cycles and Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund |
Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation will open its 2022 Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund and Discretionary Grant Cycles on February 2 and is seeking requests for proposals from nonprofit organizations. The Foundation will award $160,000 through the Discretionary Grant Cycle. Funding areas for 2022 include children’s services, elder services, and racial equity/inclusion.
Nonprofit organizations serving the communities of Acton, Ashby, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Lowell, Pepperell, Shirley, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsboro, Westford, and Wilmington are invited to apply.
Additionally, GLCF will open its 2022 Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund Cycle on Feb. 2. The foundation seeks requests for proposals from nonprofit organizations supporting the advancement of community health of residents in the following GLCF communities: Ashby, Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, and Westford. The Foundation will award $80,000 through this grant program.
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Volunteers Needed:
2022 LHS Scholarship Selection Committee
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Support Our LHS Seniors by Reviewing Scholarship Applications from the Comfort of Your Home (Training Provided) |
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation is seeking volunteers to assist with reviewing scholarship applications for students at Lowell High School. Last year, the Community Foundation awarded over $450,000 in scholarships at Lowell High School. These awards could not have been made without the help of the volunteer Honors Night Selection Committee.
The committee consists of parents, teachers, scholarship donors, and representatives from Greater Lowell businesses and the community. Participating offers an incredible opportunity to learn more about the accomplishments and work of many deserving students attending Lowell High School. Reviewers will read and score scholarships online in the month of March.
It does require a time commitment: last year the average number of scholarship applications assigned to each committee member was 65.
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Winterfest 2022 and A Youth Mural Competition
As part of the reimagined 2022 Winterfest, which is being moved from City Hall Plaza to the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Mosaic Lowell is pleased to sponsor the Art Market to be held in the Auditorium on Saturday 2/19. Mosaic Lowell is covering ½ of each vendor’s booth fee.
In addition, Mosaic Lowell is hosting a Youth Mural Competition where 8 teams of young people, ages 13-17, will create murals that represent the theme “Imagine Future Lowell.” The murals will be judged and all murals will be displayed in Lowell City Hall in the weeks that follow.
For more information on either the market or the mural competition please contact Howard Amidon at howard@glcfoundation.org.
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Deadline Extended
Applications for the Massachusetts Community Foundation Partnership cohort program have been extended until February 4th. The program will offer free tailored training and capacity-building cohorts for nonprofit professionals across the state.
Cohort applications are free and open to all. Participation is limited to 30 people per program track. This year’s educational tracks include; “Strategic Thinkers & Planners”, and “Centering Equity”. Learn more and register here.
A coalition of 15 community foundations, this partnership began in the wake of COVID-19 and has continued to support the nonprofit sector ever since. For more information on the history and a list of members, please visit this page.
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Community Listening Sessions
Beth Israel Lahey Health and its member hospitals are conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment to better understand the most pressing health-related issues impacting the people living and working in the communities we serve. Please join us to hear key themes from our assessment, share your perspective, and discuss potential solutions.
Two Listening Sessions via Zoom – all are welcome to attend! They ask that participants individually register for one of the sessions:
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Feb 16, 2022 5:30 – 7 PM: https://bit.ly/3q3UYo7
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Give to the Future: Make a Planned Gift |
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Everyone has a legacy. What’s yours? |
Your legacy can be shaped to support the causes you care about now and provide financial and estate savings.
To discuss creating a personalized estate plan that supports issues important to you, please call Jay or Howard at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation at 978-970-1600.
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GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund |
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For the latest info on the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, see the Fund webpage.
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Grant Update: CBA Walk-In Center
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As part of GLCF's Youth Food Insecurity grant funding, Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA) received funding for CBA Walk-In Center. They report that funding through the Youth Food Insecurity initiative allowed us to open our food pantry in time and offer supplemental food around Thanksgiving. Youth engagement with the food pantry will deepen in early 2022, when the Teen program officially launches.
Teens who attend and volunteer with the youth program have expressed interest in creating outreach campaigns related to health and safety. Youth will incorporate CBA's existing offerings into their outreach campaign, spreading the word about the food pantry, vaccine availability, and opportunities for youth involvement in city-level decision-making.
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Free Soil Arts Collective: BIPOC Artists at the Brush |
Featured artists: Sam Stevquoah, Angelica Brown, Chummeng Soun, Rita Tinega, Gwendolyn Lanier, Veronica Homes, Raksha Soni, Darius Kirksey-Lanier, and Henry Marte.
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WOMEN ACCELERATORS: Accelerating Women Leaders Coaching Program |
The 2022 Accelerating Women Leaders program is designed to equip female leaders with the specific strategies, mindsets, and behaviors they will need to confidently lead themselves and others as they advance within their organizations.
Financial assistance to qualified candidates.
Apply now, program begins on March 7, 2022.
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100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202
Lowell, MA 01852
PHONE 978-970-1600
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