Dear Nelson,   

Throughout the course of last year, I often noted the Foundation’s 25th anniversary - a significant milestone for sure and an appropriate occasion to be celebrated. But that was the past, and we now must focus on the future. The world around us and our community present new challenges every day. The pandemic continues to linger with its’ adverse implications, as does homelessness, racial equity, and mental health, to name a few. There’s a lot of work to do, but that should not deter the effort. Conversely, it should strengthen our conviction.

The mission of the Foundation is to improve the quality of life in our community by facilitating philanthropy and advancing charitable objectives. But we do not do that alone. I am very heartened by the kindness and generosity of so many who have joined the effort, in whatever way they can, to help their neighbors in need. We are stronger together.

As we proceed into 2023, please ask yourself what you can do this year to improve the community. How can my voice be heard? How can I make a difference? If you need some help with the answer, please let me know because I know what I’m going to do.  

I wish you inspiration and determination in the year ahead.

GLCF Seeks Request for Proposals for 2023 Discretionary Grant Cycles

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation will open its 2023 Discretionary Grant Cycles on February 1 and is seeking requests for proposals from nonprofit organizations. The Foundation will award $200,000 through the Discretionary Grant Cycle.

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.

Learn more

Local Partners Address Youth Food Insecurity with In-School Food Pantries 

Recognizing the growing issue of food insecurity among local children and youth, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) has partnered with Catie’s Closet and the Merrimack Valley Food Bank (MVFB) to establish five school-based food pantries, known as Mill Markets, in Lowell Public Schools.

GLCF’s Youth Food Insecurity Initiative was launched in 2021 and expanded on a pilot food pantry set up at Lowell High School in 2017 by a group of LHS students. These new, GLCF-supported Mill Markets are well-organized and stocked with culturally appropriate foods that appeal to students. They are located at Lowell High School (B House), Bartlett Community Partnership School, Freshman Academy at LHS, Frederic T. Greenhalge Elementary School, and Joseph G. Pyne Arts Magnet School.

“After conducting a regional survey about youth food insecurity, and examining the barriers that can prevent kids and teens from accessing nutritious food, the Foundation learned that a lot of need could be alleviated by establishing and maintaining in-school food pantries,” explained Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO. 

“So, we turned to two of our trusted local nonprofit partners — Catie’s Closet and Merrimack Valley Food Bank — to help implement our vision of bringing healthy, shelf-stable food directly to youth in their schools.”

Learn More

GLCF in the Community

Volunteers Needed:

2023 LHS Scholarship Selection Committee

Volunteers Needed:

2023 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 $350,000 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 45.

Contact: Fatima Palermo, Scholarship Coordinator at 978-970-1600 or email: Fatima@glcfoundation.org.

GLCF Site Visit: Catie's Closet Confidence Packs

In January, GLCF stopped by Lowell High School to assist Catie's Closet, with Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, create 1,000 Confidence Packs that included menstrual products, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and soap to address period poverty in the community.

More than 75 volunteers worked to create these essential packs that will be discreetly distributed to students in need in Lowell.

We are grateful to our community partner Catie's Closet for improving school attendance and graduation rates, as well as the mental, emotional, and physical health of students facing poverty, homelessness, and other crises by providing free, in-school access to clothing and basic necessities and uniting with community partners to meet students’ other immediate needs.

Winterfest Arts Market

Join Mosaic Lowell at Winterfest on Feb 17^th and 18^th at Lowell Memorial Auditorium! Friday night (6-9pm), shop over 50 artists, crafters, and makers at the Art Market while enjoying music from Spins and Needles and Mill City Rags. Saturday (12-4pm), the Art Market (and entertainment) is joined by the Winterfest Youth Mural Competition. Teams of young artists will be painting their vision for this year’s theme – Coming Soon: What would you add to Lowell? For a full Winterfest schedule of events, click here.

GRANT HIGHLIGHT-

Gaining Ground

The Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund’s purpose is to advance the community health of residents in the following nine (9) communities: Ashby, Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, and Westford. The 2022 Nashoba Valley Healthcare Grants funded proposals addressing systemic issues such as racism*, addiction, food insecurity, obesity, and mental health. Gaining Ground was one of the grantees selected for the 2022 Nashoba Valley Healthcare Grant from GLCF.

Gaining Ground serves its neighbors who struggle with food insecurity and rely on food programs. Their fresh, organic produce improves the food quality of local emergency food programs to ensure good nutrition is available to low-income families and individuals. Nationally accepted dietary guidelines emphasize fresh fruits and vegetables as a primary source of needed nutrients and fiber that support overall health. These guidelines are difficult to achieve within limited budgets. In turn, poor nutrition is a contributing factor to the public health epidemic of obesity and corollary conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Gaining Ground’s high quality, fresh organic produce supports an overall healthy diet and respects the food preferences of various population groups.

With the 2022 Nashoba Valley Healthcare Grant funding from GLCF, Gaining Ground, provided:

-2,657 pounds of farm-fresh food (2.3% of their total harvest) to Loaves and Fishes

-5,469 pounds of food (4.7% of their total harvest) to the Westford Senior Center. In addition to common crops such as spinach, carrots, and tomatoes, they provided the Westford Senior Center with a variety of specialty radishes and Asian greens that are particularly favored by their Asian clientele.

Lowell Women's Week Breakfast

Celebrating 28 years: Embrace Equity

Join us in celebrating Women's Month at our annual breakfast on Monday, March 27, 2023.

Keynote Speaker: Vanna Howard, State Representative, 17th Middlesex District

Emcee: Tenesha Scarlett, Executive Assistant to the Provost, Middlesex Community College

Lowell Women’s Week is a community organization whose members live or work in Lowell. Events take place during March at locations throughout the city, recognizing women’s achievements, struggles, and extraordinary contributions to our community. Enjoy performing arts, historical explorations, community gatherings, skills workshops, lectures, and more.

Tickets

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.