GLCF News

Promoting the Health and Wellness of Older Adults in Greater Lowell

Exercises to retrain injured brains, holiday flower deliveries, and free classical-music concerts are just three ways the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is supporting efforts to improve the health and wellness of local older adults.  

Through recent grants awarded from its Leclair Elder Services Fund, GLCF has provided financial support to Clear Path for Veterans New England, Power of Flowers Project, and Groton Hill Music Center. These local nonprofit organizations have developed programs specifically geared toward improving the lives of seniors.

“Following the recent pandemic, the Foundation has been concerned about the wellness and health of our seniors,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO.

 “During COVID, many of these folks had to endure mandated isolation in order to stay safe. However, that often resulted in a growing sense of loneliness and despair. Thanks to our Leclair Elder Services Fund, we are pleased to support three local nonprofits in bringing some hope and balance to this long-suffering population.”

An endowed discretionary fund, GLCF’s Leclair Elder Services Fund was established to support nonprofit organizations located in or servicing the elder population in the 21 communities the Foundation serves, explained Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s Vice President of Marketing, Programs & Strategy.

“Every year, the Foundation awards grants up to $7,000 each to organizations providing services to adults (ages 55 and up) in our local area,” said Aradhya. “This is an annual discretionary grants process and the 2024 application period for Leclair Elder Services Fund grants opens in early February.”

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GLCF Celebrates Board Service Awards C C

GLCF gathered this month to honor the service of board members who have dedicated ten years of service to the foundation.

Congratulations to:

-- Brian Chapman, Principal, Mill City Environmental Corporation

-- Dorothy Chen-Courtin, MBA, PH.D., Founder & President of Marketing and Management Associates

-- Karen Frederick, Executive Director, Community Teamwork, Inc.

The Foundation would not be where it is today without their support and guidance. Thank you for your service.

GLCF awarded funding from Jericho Road Project

The Jericho Road Project, developed out of the First Parish Church in Concord in 2003 with funds from the Greeley Foundation for Peace and Justice, has officially dissolved. In an emotional reunion for many of the founders on December 12th its remaining assets were awarded to three organizations, Greater Lowell Community Foundation, Community InRoads of Lawrence, and the Organization for NonProfit Excellence (ONE Worcester) to continue its social justice work.

GLCF will apply the funds towards building Racial Equity through its Racial Equity Action Fund.

Hunger Free Holiday Support for Greater Lowell

Throughout the month of December, the Grants Team visited local food pantries and programs through our annual Hunger Free Holiday Support for Greater Lowell program. This year's support recipients include: Acton Food Pantry, Billerica Food Pantry, PACH (Pepperell), Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries (Ayer) and St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen (Lowell).

GLCF Event Recap

Building a Culture of Inclusion Among Greater Lowell’s Nonprofit Boards

On Dec. 5, GLCF hosted a panel discussion on Building a Culture of Inclusion Among Greater Lowell’s Nonprofit Boards.

Thank you to:

Emcee: Joseph Banh

Panel:

- Brad Buitenhuys, Executive Director, Lowell Litter Krewe, BDI participant

- Yun-Ju Choi, Chief Executive Officer for Coalition for A Better Acre

- Joan Kulash, Executive Director, Community InRoads

- Allison Lamey, Executive Director, The Lowell Plan and the LDFC

- Kear Ou, Metro Credit Union, nonprofit volunteer and BDI participant

GLCF’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation envisions a sustainable region where all people in the 21 communities we serve will thrive. Our mission is to inspire philanthropy for all, and philanthropy has a role in ensuring everyone has opportunities to achieve their full potential. Historic and systemic inequities undermine the economic and social well-being of residents in our communities. These persistent disparities are based on such characteristics as race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, economic class, geography, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and more. When some of us are less able to participate in and benefit from our society, this is detrimental to the entire community. GLCF strongly believes that addressing racial disparities is the first essential step towards our mission of building a more fair and just community for everyone.

Grant Opportunities

GLCF’s 2024 Discretionary Grant Cycle 

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s 2024 Discretionary Grant Cycle will open on February 5 and 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. The funding areas for 2024 will include children’s services, elder services, and racial equity/inclusion.

Children’s Services Grants - The Foundation will welcome proposals that improve the quality of life for children and young adults (birth to age 22.)

Leclair Elder Services Grant - The Foundation will award grants to organizations that support services to seniors (55 years+.)

Racial Equity/Inclusion – For the fourth year in a row, the Foundation will consider applications that 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; and increase awareness of resources and best practices related to advancing racial equity.

Women Working Wonders Fund to Award $10,000 in Mini Grants to Nonprofits Impacting Women and Girls

The Women Working Wonders Fund (WWWF), a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, is offering mini grants of up to $2,000 each to nonprofits impacting the lives of women and girls in Greater Lowell.

The deadline for application is January 19, 2024, with grant announcements in February. To apply, visit www.womenworkingwondersfund.com/grants or this application link. The one-page online application is brief, and there is no reporting requirement.

Learn more.

Volunteers Needed: 2024 LHS Scholarship Selection Committee

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 $609,251 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 45.

Contact: Fatima Palermo, Scholarship Coordinator at 978-970-1600 or email: [email protected].

GLCF Grant Highlight

GRANT HIGHLIGHT - Congratulations to GLCF Funded Board Diversity Initiative Pilot Program Cohort

On Wednesday, November 15th, Lowell Alliance, The Lowell Plan, Coalition for a Better Acre, and the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce wrapped up a wonderful five session Board Diversity Initiative Pilot Program funded by a grant from GLCF's Racial Equity and Inclusion as part of the 2023 Discretionary Grants Program.

We are thrilled to have partnered with local organizations to create opportunities for leaders in Lowell to learn more about how they can join a board, what to expect, and how to succeed on a board as well as train and support current board members on how to create effective onboarding materials and better connect with the community. We can't wait to see local leaders thriving on Lowell boards soon.

Support the Work of GLCF

Become an Annual Sponsor

Since 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation has supported this community with grants to nonprofits, scholarships to deserving students, and leadership to help determine, address, and resolve a wide variety of needs and opportunities.

With more than 390 donor-driven funds and expert staff, the Foundation provides vital resources that build on our community’s strengths, addresses its challenges, and brightens futures by helping deserving students to achieve their dreams.

To achieve more, we need your partnership through a generous annual sponsorship.

Learn more

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.