 |
A Message from the President and CEO |
Greetings!
When I looked up the definition of “community”, I found: A community is a social unit with commonalities such as norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area or in virtual space. All I know is that our community is awesome!
As terrible as this long strange COVID-19 trip has been, I am heartened by the outreach and kindness from our community. GLCF has been able to view this from a unique perspective. From the beginning, our community has been there every day, all day. So many are working so hard to do whatever it takes to help those in need. We are humbled to be part of it.
And we are likewise humbled by the support the Foundation has received from the community: the heartfelt notes, donations both big and small, volunteers to review grant requests, and most recently, for the many volunteers that responded to our urgent request for LHS scholarships reviewers.
Without this support, the Foundation couldn’t do what we do. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Be safe and be well as I’m very much looking forward to seeing all of you soon.
|
Jay Linnehan
GLCF President + CEO
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GLCF announces Racial Equity and Inclusion Grants
|
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announces 10 Racial Equity and Inclusion Grants totaling $84,500 to local nonprofits as part of the 2020 Discretionary Grants Program. These grants collectively work toward creating a better quality of life for all Greater Lowell residents and supporting local nonprofits providing essential programs and services.
The Foundation awarded multiple grants of up to $15,000 that focused on racial equity and inclusion. The grant funding focused on one or more of the following goals:
- Increase understanding of our community’s challenges with racial equity and race relations.
- Provide access to stories and diverse perspectives on the lived experience of racial inequity in Greater Lowell.
- Strengthen relationships among Greater Lowell residents, particularly across racial and ethnic groups.
- Increase awareness of resources and best practices related to advancing racial equity.
“GLCF is focusing on racial equity in grantmaking, and through this grant cycle, the foundation funded 10 racial equity and inclusion grant requests,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “We have made a multi-year commitment to address social justice in Greater Lowell – it is an investment in our community.”
|
|
Photo: Free Soil Arts Collective (Lowell) received a 2020 Discretionary Racial Equity and Inclusion Grant to support Hidden in Plain Sight: Stories of Black Lowell, an interview-based documentary theatre piece. Free Soil Arts Collective Founder Christa Brown, on the left, with Kesiah Bascom at a production of Hair Tales.
|
|
GLCF tackles barriers to food in latest COVID-19 Response Grants |
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced it deployed a new round of COVID-19 related grants, providing an additional $72,000 to seven area nonprofits in Greater Lowell addressing mobile pantry and food delivery needs. These grants were part of the latest round of distributions from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.
GLCF connected with local nonprofits addressing barriers to food imposed by lack of mobility and transportation. This barrier to food is particularly prevalent among seniors, the disabled, quarantined, and low income. The organizations selected have continued to meet an unprecedented spike in demand for access to food amid the coronavirus crisis.
“Mobile food pantries and delivery programs remove location as a barrier to access for food,” said GLCF president & CEO Jay Linnehan. “GLCF recognizes the unprecedented need to address the food security implications and fund creative solutions to get food to residents.”
|
|
Photo: Open Table’s Carol Straney and Carolyn McQueen prepare healthy curried vegetable stew - all ready to be frozen for clients to reheat and eat.
|
|
GLCF Receives $50K Grant from the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation for Lowell COVID-19 Support |
The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced today that it had received a $50,000 grant from the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation. The grant will support the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, specifically to be distributed to nonprofits serving Lowell’s vulnerable populations.
“We are truly grateful to the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation for their support,” said GLCF President & CEO Jay Linnehan. “This pandemic has compounded the profound inequities in Lowell, as many are struggling to meet basic needs. These critical funds will continue to guide our community forward.”
|
|
GLCF has a New Donor Portal
The team at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation has been working hard to implement this new technology to improve the experience for you, our Donors.
|
|
|
|
EVENT: Activism in Art Redefining “Classical” Music
-
Wednesday, March 3, 2021 from 4 - 6 PM
Classical music has traditionally been a white-male dominated medium, and arguably the slowest musical style to adapt to society’s ever-growing diversity.
In this panel, four luminaries of the contemporary classical music scene, will share their experiences, their ideas, and the work they do towards making classical music relevant again as a channel for racial and gender equality.
|
|
The Mahoney Family Event Fund hosts
Kids Count in Our Community: the Pandemic Hits Home
April 7, 2021 • 5:30 - 7 PM
This free webinar aims to mitigate the traumatic impact of the pandemic on kids and families by offering paths to insight and immediate tools and resources. Expert Panelists will address the ongoing stressors that kids and parents are experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each will offer resources and answers to pressing questions about preventing difficult events at home. Parents, families, caregivers, educators and community are invited to attend to find support and reassurance.
|
|
|
|
|
Diversity in STEM Panel
Wed., March 10, 2021 • 12 – 1 PM EST
In this panel discussion, learn how to tackle challenges to create inclusive STEM environments.
In our current political, social, cultural climate a resounding call for diversity and inclusion can be heard.
In celebration of the International Women's Week.
The Innovation Hub and Women Accelerators are cohosting this panel discussion.
|
|
GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund |
|
- Nonprofit Partner Highlight - |
|
|
|
Greater Lowell Health Alliance
COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need to Know
|
The GLHA has launched a resource page for the COVID-19 vaccine, in partnership with Lowell Community Health Center and supported by a grant from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.
|
|
|
|
For the latest info on the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, see the Fund webpage.
|
|
|
|
100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202
Lowell, MA 01852
PHONE 978-970-1600
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
