 |
A Message from the President and CEO |
Greetings!
From the beginning, the vision of the Foundation has been to improve the quality of life in Greater Lowell through impactful strategic philanthropy. That happens in various ways. But, fundamentally, it’s a grassroots paradigm to understand our community, assess the needs, engage stakeholders and donors, and align resources locally. That’s the beauty of a community foundation – it’s about us.
In this edition of our newsletter, you’ll find our 2020 Annual Report: Meeting the Moment. And that moment was and continues to be the pandemic. It is heartening to work in this community where so many people care about the well-being of each other. The Foundation is honored to play a role in helping our neighbors in need during this challenging time, especially as so many of you entrusted us with your hard-earned money to do the right thing. I hope we have.
More work is to be done as the adverse impact of 2020 persists, and new challenges are on the horizon. Not the least of which is the emergence of mental health needs. More than half of all Americans report experiencing adverse mental health effects across the spectrum from our children, teens, adults, elders, and especially in our underserved communities. Addressing this need is an essential part of GLCF's grant funding recovery plan. Stay tuned for more details.
The Foundation continually strives to Meet the Moment – whatever that may be. The Foundation will continue to engage our community in our work, so please take a moment to read the annual report. I’d love to know what you think - send me an email.
|
Jay Linnehan
GLCF President + CEO
|
|
|
|
Save the Date
Celebrate Giving 2021
Oct. 13 • UML ICC
|
|
|
|
|
|
Meeting the Moment of 2020 |
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation saw that our most vulnerable neighbors were in trouble. We did what we do best – we helped our community. To meet the moment, GLCF established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to support low-income and marginalized people in our region who faced incredibly complex challenges. |
|
|
|
Stephanie Cronin of Dunstable |
|
GLCF Elects Three New Board Members |
At the Greater Lowell Community Foundation Virtual Annual Meeting on June 8th, the Board of Directors approved the election of three local business and community leaders to the board. These newly elected directors represent business, housing, and the technology sector. The new board members will each serve a three-year term.
Joining the board of directors are:
-
Stephanie Cronin of Dunstable, Executive Director of Middlesex 3 - Stephanie Cronin is the Executive Director of the Middlesex 3 Coalition, a regional economic development organization (www.middlesex3.com), which fosters business development and job growth and retention along the Route 3 corridor. In addition, Stephanie currently serves on the MCC Foundation Board of Directors, MassHire Greater Lowell Workforce Board, FORGE Northeast Massachusetts Advisory Council, Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce, and Hanscom Air Force Civic Leader Program.
-
Daniel Donahue of Lowell, Gavin and Sullivan Architects, Inc. Daniel Donahue earned his associate’s degree in Architectural Engineering Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1984. That same year he worked for the National Park Service in the North Atlantic Regional Office as an architectural, mechanical, and electrical draftsman. In 1985 he joined Gavin & Sullivan Architects, Inc. (formerly William J. Gavin Associates) as an architectural designer/draftsman and has remained with the company ever since.-
-
Diana Nguyen of Westford, Project Manager at MilliporeSigma - Diana Nguyen is currently Project Manager at MilliporeSigma in Burlington, MA. In this position, Nguyen provides critical support to the Integrated Supply Chain Operations leadership team, manages strategic projects, and develops a global talent pipeline of aspiring and curious leaders. Nguyen has been with MilliporeSigma since April 2017. Prior to joining the organization, she worked as a Project Manager and participated in the Global Organizational Leadership Development Program at Avery Dennison. Nguyen is a Lowell High School graduate, and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management and Psychological Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is pursuing a Global Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the Rotman and SDA Bocconi schools.
|
|
GLCF Announces LHS Scholarship Established by Aaron’s Presents Founder in Honor of Gabriel Cuevas |
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is honored to announce the establishment of the Gabriel Cuevas Memorial Scholarship Fund. This new scholarship fund honors Gabriel’s spirit of giving by annually awarding a Lowell High School (LHS) senior up to $1000.
Gabriel Cuevas, beloved son, brother, and friend passed away unexpectedly in August 2020, just before beginning his senior year at LHS. Gabriel used his voice to lift those marginalized and excluded in school and society. Additionally, Gabriel was also a dedicated member of Aaron’s Presents, an organization that provides opportunities for young people to build community and care for others. Aaron’s Presents founder Leah Okimoto established the Gabriel Cuevas Memorial Scholarship Fund through GLCF to honor his memory.
|
|
|
|
Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries |
Ayer, Mass. – The GLCF Grants Team: Jennifer Aradhya and Sharon Kim stopped by to meet one of our nonprofit partners and grant recipient Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries. Director Cyndi Lavin gave us a tour and shared some exciting improvement projects that are underway to enhance their ability to serve the community.
|
|
Littleton Community Garden |
Littleton, Mass. – GLCF’s Grants Team put on their mud boots to tour Littleton Community Farm (LCF), a recent grant recipient. Amy Tarlow-Lewis, LCF’s Founder and Executive Director and LCF’s Farm Manager Glenn St. Tulnoynum showed us around the farm on a recent sunny afternoon. GLCF’s Jennifer Aradhya and Sharon Kim toured the 2.8 acres of farmland, leased from the New England Forestry Foundation and learned about the nutrient-dense crops that are grown using organic practices. The farm was buzzing with activity with a local Girl Scout presentation, a CSA pick up and a new U-Pick flower garden that helps fund their hunger-relief mission.
|
|
|
Greater Lowell Nonprofits:
Interested in having GLCF come for a site visit, reach out to Jennifer Aradhya, VP of Marketing + Programs at jennifer@glcfoundation.org. |
|
|
|
We are America: Student Stories |
The We Are America Project, operates under the fiscal sponsorship of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, is working with teachers and young people across the country to define what it means to be American — and to spark a new national conversation about American identity today led by the next generation.
The We Are America Project was featured in the Boston Globe where four students courageously share their stories contemplating the pandemic year.
|
|
Lowell Chamber Orchestra has made it to the finals of The American Prize |
The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts is the nation's most comprehensive series of contests in the performing arts, unique in scope and structure. Founded in 2010, contestants hail from all fifty states, representing literally hundreds of communities and arts organizations across the nation.
|
|
|
Give to the Future: Make a Planned Gift |
|
|
|
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.
|
|
GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund |
|
For the latest info on the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, see the Fund webpage.
|
|
Nashua River Watershed Association
Water Quality Monitoring Grant
|
From Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA):
"Our many years of collecting and testing water samples with volunteers and providing active leadership to combat invasive aquatic plants has proven to be effective and successful. The Mass. Dept. of Environmental
Protection uses our data to conduct assessments on streams and rivers they do not test. The Water Monitoring Program monitored 24 sites in 2020 with over 50 volunteers participating. We modified our
program to assure safe protocols during the pandemic by requiring volunteers to team with a person they were living with, and we moved our labs to the NRWA from wastewater plants."
|
|
Above, a young NRWA volunteer monitors samples. The mother and son team measured conductivity on James Brook in Groton. |
|
|
|
100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202
Lowell, MA 01852
PHONE 978-970-1600
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
