GLCF Announces New Fund to Support the LGBTQ Community at Annual Meeting
by Kathy Register
LOWELL, Mass. – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced at its annual meeting on June 7 that it established a new field of interest fund to support the local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & queer (LGBTQ) community in Greater Lowell.
While the foundation is comprised of more than 500 charitable funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns, this is the first GLCF fund specifically dedicated to nonprofits serving LGBTQ individuals.
“For more than 25 years, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation has pooled and invested charitable donations from generous donors for the benefit of the local communities we serve,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO. “We are proud to launch this new field of interest fund to support the LGBTQ community. It’s our hope that for years to come it will continue to grow and assist members of this often over-looked and under-served community.”
Two pioneering Asian-American women, life-partners for more than 30 years, have started this new GLCF fund as a way to give back to the local LGBTQ community. Julie Chen, Chancellor of UMass Lowell, and her spouse, marketing executive Susu Wong, donated $25,000 to start the fund.
“We have seen the great work that GLCF has done and wanted to support the foundation by opening our own fund,” explained Chen. “When we started considering what should be the focus of our fund, once we were made aware that an LGBTQ fund did not exist, we thought it was a great idea to support a group that is underserved.”
“We also wanted to plant a seed and hope others will come forward and contribute, too,” added Wong. GLCF’s board of directors unanimously voted in June to match the initial fund donation.
“Our field of interest funds encourage donor activism,” explained Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s Vice President of Marketing, Programs & Strategy. “Field of interest funds support specific areas of interest, such as the arts, environment or education, rather than an individual nonprofit organization. In this case, Julie and Susu wanted to focus their support on the LGBTQ community and create a fund that would serve the community in perpetuity.
“In the future, GLCF will award grants from this fund to support nonprofit organizations working to improve the quality of life for the LGBTQ community in Greater Lowell by providing legal, health, education, advocacy, or other high-demand services/program,” said Aradhya. “We work with our donors to help them increase the impact and outreach of their generosity through our variety of fund options that match their goals and interests.”
Chen and Wong are particularly focused on helping theLGBTQ community flourish in the GLCF service area, which includes Acton, Ashby, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Lowell, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsboro, Westford and Wilmington. “We think it’s a good thing to help the LGBTQ community in Lowell and surrounding suburbs,” said Wong. “There is not always a lot of support for our community in this geographic area.
“It’s our hope that the LGBTQ community will become more visible. Ideally, as more people recognize that our community is out there, more people within the community will feel safe about identifying as LGBTQ.”
“There can be challenges for all ages — whether it’s a youth whose family is not supportive of them coming out as LGBTQ, or a senior citizen whose kids are not supportive,” added Chen. “Susu and I know how important it is to have an inclusive support network for the LGBTQ community.
“We didn’t want to prescribe too strictly how the fund could be used,” Chen stressed. “We’re open to innovative new ideas and can’t wait to see what comes.”
The Wilmington couple is active in academic, business and LGBTQ circles. Wong is CEO and founder of Tomo360, a marketing agency, which is a state-certified LGBT Business Enterprise. She helped launch the Massachusetts LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, and is on the board of OUTbio Boston, the biotech industry’s largest LGBTQ professionals group. She is also co-founder of Women Accelerators, a grassroots organization that helps women advance their careers.
Chen is the UMass system’s first LGBTQ chancellor. A mechanical engineer who earned Ph.D., master’s and bachelor’s degrees from MIT, she is a recognized leader in research, STEM and economic development. Appointed UMass Lowell’s fourth chancellor in 2022, Chen previously served as UML’s vice chancellor for research & economic development. She joined the UML faculty in 1997; has been an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion at the university; and has led efforts to support and elevate female faculty in STEM disciplines.
Chen and Wong — who were married in 2006 — have been open about their committed relationship for years. However, Chen’s new position as UML chancellor has put them in a brighter spotlight. “We were out before,” said Chen, “but not as out, I guess. The difference is now people know about me being LGBTQ before they know me.
“However, I think it’s important for people to see there are so many different types of identity that make up a person — and a leader,” she said.
Chen is especially energized by the opportunity to influence future generations. “When I talk with students, they are excited to know the head of their university is a woman, and that there is an LGBTQ person in this role. They have told me it gives them inspiration.”
Wong is also keeping an eye on the future. “One reason we have set up this fund is because we know if we’re not active and supportive of our rights, things can go backwards again,” she said.
“Over the years, we have gained a lot of rights. But if we get complacent, we can lose ground. You have to stay vigilant,” said Wong. “Julie and I will help jumpstart this fund. This GLCF fund is a good opportunity for other people to jump in and donate to help promote positive change in our communities. After all, it takes a community to build the momentum.”
For further information about donating to the Greater Lowell Community Foundation LGBTQ Fund, visit: https://glcfoundation.info/3Bd8Dzn
About Greater Lowell Community Foundation
Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 500 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of almost $60 million, GLCF annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. It is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from Foundation staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. The generosity of our donors has enabled the Community Foundation to award more than $35 million to the Greater Lowell community.
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