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A Message from the President and CEO |
Greetings!
Like so many of you, I celebrated Thanksgiving last week with family and friends. We hung out in the kitchen nibbling on everything, watching football, and then all gathered together around the dining room table to share a great meal and give thanks. It’s a special time to stop and reflect on how fortunate we are and how grateful we should be.
Amongst all the Thanksgiving I am very mindful that not everybody is so fortunate. Many in our community worry every day about keeping a roof over their head and putting food on the table. Homelessness and poverty know no holidays - both of which have been significantly exacerbated by the pandemic.
Throughout the pandemic, the Foundation has granted close to $5M to address these needs, and the process continues. Recently, the Foundation granted $1,000 awards to area food pantries for Thanksgiving.
I hand-delivered most of these checks and was overwhelmed (as I always am) with the fantastic work they do and how grateful they were that more families would have a Thanksgiving meal – it was heartwarming.
So, please keep the less fortunate in mind as we prepare for the season ahead, planning festivities and buying gifts. With the cost of parties and gifts, whatever – the cost of kindness is priceless.
Wishing you all a safe and joyous holiday season.
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Jay Linnehan
GLCF President + CEO
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GLCF’s Jay Linnehan, Open Pantry of Greater Lowell E.D. Maureen Peirce and GLCF’s Jennifer Aradhya at Open Pantry of Greater Lowell. |
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(Rumbo News, 11/1/21)
(Lowell Sun, 10/25/21)
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Support Our Work by Giving to GLCF’s Fall Appeal |
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation Fund is our primary vehicle for individuals and businesses to provide immediate support that address our community’s greatest needs and opportunities.
Click to view:
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NETSCOUT Awards 2021 GLCF Partner Grant to Lowell Association for the Blind |
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation, a philanthropic organization comprised of over 390 funds, currently totaling over $55 million, dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns, announced that NETSCOUT, a leading provider of service assurance, security, and business analytics, has awarded its Heart of Giving community program’s seventh grant through the Greater Lowell Community Foundation. The annual grant program builds relationships with nonprofit organizations and engages employees in learning about service opportunities in the communities of Greater Lowell.
“Giving back to the community in which it operates amplifies a company’s greater purpose and NETSCOUT demonstrates this commitment to supporting important local causes,” said Jay Linnehan, president and CEO, Greater Lowell Community Foundation. “Connecting philanthropic businesses and individuals to the needs of their communities is at the heart of our work. We are proud to be in the 7th year of the NETSCOUT Heart of Giving Community Grant at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.”
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PHOTO: Lowell Association for the Blind (LAB) Director of Programs, Josh Stachowski embosses a schedule for LAB clients. The embosser, funded by a recent $10,000 grant from NETSCOUT’s Heart of Giving community program through the Greater Lowell Community Foundation does both print and Braille.
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GLCF awards $56K in additional grants to Greater Lowell nonprofits |
LOWELL – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced it deployed a new round of COVID-19 related grants, providing an additional $56,650 to 15 nonprofits in Greater Lowell serving vulnerable populations. These grants were part of the latest round of distributions from the GLCF’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and Community Needs Fund.
“Greater Lowell nonprofits have demonstrated remarkable creativity and resiliency throughout the pandemic,” said GLCF president and CEO Jay Linnehan. “Through the generosity of our donors, we continue to support nonprofit programs that are so vital to our community through this latest round of funding.”
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PHOTO: From left to right, Westford Food Pantry's president Tim Baker with GLCF's Grants and Advancement Coordinator Sharon Kim, GLCF Board Member Andrew Macey and GLCF President + CEO Jay Linnehan at the Westford Food Pantry, a recent recipient of a GLCF Community Needs Fund grant to address food insecurity in Greater Lowell.
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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 months of February and 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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We’d love to hear from you or your group. To set up a conversation, please contact Howard Amidon at howard@glcfoundation.org.
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We want to listen to you
The ethos of Mosaic Lowell, the next arts and cultural plan, is that it be drawn from the needs and aspirations of those who practice, work in, and enjoy Lowell’s incredibly rich and diverse arts and culture scene. To gather input and ideas to inform the plan, we have been conducting “listening sessions” throughout Lowell. These include those hosted by Arts League of Lowell, Brush Gallery, DIY Lowell, Lala Books, Lowell Cultural Council, MRT, Rotary, Unitas, and Western Ave Studios, neighborhood groups in the Highlands, Centerville and Downtown, and organizations including the Angkor Dance, Cambodian American Literary Society, and CMAA. We’ve also had enthusiastic conversations with the Lowell City Council, UMass Lowell, and Middlesex Community College.
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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: Mill Markets Partnership
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At the end of October, GLCF joined community partners Merrimack Valley Food Bank and Catie’s Closet at the flagship Mill Market Food Pantry for students, located in Lowell High School in B House. The Mill Markets partnership was established to increase food access to students in 5 Lowell Public Schools.
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation grant, given to Catie’s Closet and MVFB included purchasing/delivery and installation of new cabinets as well as food and staff support to stock the Mill Markets.
The clean, bright colorful Mill Markets were designed to be inviting to students. The cabinets feature positive messaging, and encourage nutritious eating and most importantly, reduce food insecurity. Food for the Mill Markets is carefully selected to be culturally appropriate and accommodate most dietary needs.
Funding from GLCF also enabled Catie’s Closet to produce outreach materials for school staff, so they may refer students to the Mill Markets and boost awareness of this important asset.
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Lowell Veterans Commission - Veteran of the Month Award |
The City of Lowell Veterans Commission has established the Walter F. Bayliss, Jr. Veteran of the Month award for outstanding Lowell Veterans. For over five years, the City of Lowell Veterans Commission has nominated Veterans whose service to the country and contribution to the city of Lowell deserved recognition as a “Veteran of the Month.” Veterans of the Month are recognized in a Ceremony at City Hall. The award is presented by the Mayor.
Do you know of – or belong to a group whose membership includes - a Veteran who deserves to be recognized as a Veteran of the Month. City Residence is not required but the contribution must be to the City. If you wish to nominate such a Veteran for consideration by the Commission please forward the Veteran’s name and supporting information to Lowell:
Veterans Commission c/o
Lowell Veterans Services, Eric Lamarche, Director
276 Broadway Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852
978-674-4066
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100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202
Lowell, MA 01852
PHONE 978-970-1600
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