GLCF Announces 2020 Artist Series Exhibition Schedule

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s is proud to announce the 2020 Arts at GLCF exhibition schedule.  The 2020 Artist Series features four local female artists with mediums ranging from collage to watercolor to photography to acrylics.

2020 Exhibition Schedule

The following exhibition schedule is subject to change. Visit www.glcfoundation.org/art for the latest information.

  • Maxine Farkas: The Latin Dictionary Series – Evolution
    January 10 – April 10
    Reception: March 12

  • Jennifer Myers: This Is Lowell
    April 10 – July 10
    Reception: April 16

  • Janet Lambert-Moore: Retrospective
    July 10 – October 9
    Reception: to be announced

  • Andrea Wilson: Juxtapositions
    October 9 to January 15
    Reception: November 6

“We are so excited for the variety of art we are showcasing in 2020,” said Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF VP of Marketing & Programs. “The 2020 season balances emerging and established artists in our community.”

The exhibitions will be held at the Foundation’s offices at 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA and can be viewed by the public between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation believes that not only do the arts provide a much-needed social escape for many in our communities, they also help drive local economies and enrich educational landscapes. Since 2013, the Foundation has exhibited the work of local artists. For further information on this initiative and to learn more about the artists featured in 2020, visit: www.glcfoundation.org/art.

For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation please visit www.glcfoundation.org.

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation announces the 2020 Arts at GLCF exhibition schedule. Artist Maxine Farkas of Lowell kicks off 2020 with her exhibition The Latin Dictionary Series – Evolution which features 2019 collage, Circular Stair.
 

GLCF Announces Fiscal Sponsorship of Women Accelerators

Greater Lowell Community Foundation announces the fiscal sponsorship of Women Accelerators. From l to r: Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO; Susu Wong,  co-founder of Women Accelerators and Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF VP for Marketing & Programs.

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation announces the recent fiscal sponsorship of Women Accelerators, an organization passionate about promoting the advancement of women and bridging the gender gap. Women Accelerators is based in Massachusetts with chapters in Lowell and Cambridge.

The mission of Women Accelerators is to provide a centralized network where career-focused women can access resources tailored to their career goals. By offering educational programs, networking and mentoring, they help women navigate opportunities that nurture female leaders efficiently.  Their vision is to generate a community of like-minded, high-achieving women, who help each other succeed in the workplace.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Greater Lowell Community Foundation as the fiscal sponsor for Women Accelerators. The GLCF has a wealth of experience and the necessary resources to assist us in our mission of helping women with their career advancement.  By pairing with GLCF, we gain valuable insights into fundraising and learn the tools for being more efficient in managing a nonprofit.  Teaming with GLCF will help us to build a stronger community,” said Susu Wong, co-founder of Women Accelerators.

“We see the foundation’s support of Women Accelerators as an important opportunity to optimize the excellence of this organization that serves women in all stages of their careers,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO. “We are proud to partner on their vision of equity in the workplace.”

For more information and a full event listing, visit: womenaccelerators.org.

Donations to any fund at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, including the Women Accelerators, can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org/donate or by mail to the Women Accelerators c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation please visit www.glcfoundation.org or call 978-970-1600.

Greater Lowell Community Foundation Receives Grant for Asthma Spacers for School Kids

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) received a recent $20,000 grant from the Greater Lowell Health Alliance for Asthma Spacers for School Kids program.
From l to r, front row: Christine Durkin, School Nurse Manager – Lowell Health Department; Kerrie D’Entremont, Executive Director – Greater Lowell Health Alliance; Kerran Vigroux, Director of Health and Human Services – City of Lowell; Laurie Guay, School Nurse Manager – Lowell Health Department; Hope Desruisseaux, School Nurse Manager – Lowell Health Department; Huyen Huynh, School Nurse – Shaughnessy School. From l to r, back row: Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO; and Walter Makiej, Respiratory Delivery Systems Inc.; Beth Moffett, School Nurse Coordinator – Lowell Health Department

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) received a recent $20,000 grant from the Greater Lowell Health Alliance (GLHA) for the Asthma Spacers for School Kids program. In partnership with Respiratory Delivery Systems Inc. in Chelmsford, GLCF will make two 510k FDA-approved asthma medicine delivery devices, the Microspacer and Microchamber, available free of charge to students in need in the Greater Lowell area.

In the 2018/19 school year, nearly 2,900 students enrolled in the Lowell public school district had an asthma condition. “This is another excellent example of a public/private partnership that addresses an issue in the city of Lowell that has real community impact,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO.  “Suffering from asthma affects a student’s overall health and for many leads to nurse and emergency room visits and lost days in school.”

“We are thrilled to be able to support this important initiative.  It’s wonderful to see the Lowell Health Department get the necessary tools and equipment needed to help the large number of children suffering from asthma in the Lowell area,” GLHA Executive Director Kerrie D’Entremont said.

The grant will provide almost 2400 asthma spacer devices at no cost to students in Lowell Public and area schools. These easy-to-use and discreet spacers greatly improve the delivery of asthma medicine to the lungs greatly improving its effectiveness. There may be sufficient quantity for nurses to give students two – one for home and one for school.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children should always use a spacer with their inhaler to ensure more medication reaches the lungs,” said Beth Moffett, School Nurse Coordinator, Lowell Health Department. “We are thrilled to receive the MicroSpacer and MicroChamber devices to distribute to all our students with asthma.  The children will benefit from their use, feel better faster, and thus will be able to return to the classroom and focus on their education.” 

The spacers have been delivered to Lowell Public Health, to be dispersed to the school nurses later in the month. Each spacer will be accompanied by an instruction sheet that has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and Khmer.

For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation please visit www.glcfoundation.org.

GLCF provides New England Dairy & Food Council with Grant to support Billerica Public Schools Food Market

The New England Dairy & Food Council received a capital grant to purchase crates and shopping carts for Billerica Food Market users, made possible from an anonymous donor that partnered with the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.  From l to r: Becca Story, School Nutrition Specialist, New England Dairy & Food Council; Jennifer Aradhya, VP for Marketing & Programs, GLCF; Cheryl Green, Asst. Director of Nutrition, Billerica Public Schools; Sharon Kim, Advancement Coordinator, GLCF; and Carly Ciarletta, Experiential Marketing Manager, New England Dairy & Food Council at the Billerica Food Market at the Marshall Middle School.

Billerica, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) awarded $8,780 to the New England Dairy & Food Council this year as part of the 2019 Help Alleviate Hunger and Homelessness in Massachusetts Grant. The funds awarded were used to support the Billerica Public Schools (BPS) Food Market, which is one of nine school-based food pantries in high-need areas of eastern Massachusetts receiving monthly food donations from Greater Boston Food Bank.

In March, GLCF awarded a total of $90,000 to 11 area nonprofit organizations through a 2019 Help Alleviate Hunger and Homelessness in Massachusetts grant. This generous one-time capital grant was made possible from an anonymous donor that partnered with the GLCF to distribute the funding to area nonprofits that are battling hunger and homelessness in the community. 

“It is encouraging to see the great work that the New England Dairy & Food Council is doing to address hunger in our community,” said Greater Lowell Community Foundation President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “GLCF, in partnership with a generous and visionary donor, is thrilled to see these capital grants positively impact the futures of so many.”    

The BPS Food Market, which began in September of 2015, is held monthly at Marshall Middle School between September and June and is set up like a farmer’s market. Donated food items are distributed by school district staff and student volunteers to members of the community who are in need. The Food Market is open to Billerica residents and offers fresh, frozen, and nonperishable items sourced from the Greater Boston Food Bank, free of charge.

With the funds awarded by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, New England Dairy & Food Council was able to provide the Billerica School Nutrition Department with the ability to purchase crates to hold food items (previously held in cardboard boxes) as well as shopping carts for BPS Food Market users. In addition to increasing efficiency of food distribution, the new equipment will enhance the shopping experience for the 450 families that are served by the market each month. New crates have also made it easier to deliver 85-100 monthly food allotments to Billerica’s Council on Aging and Housing Authority.

Billerica Food Market volunteers Jasper Coughlin and Emilee Laskey prepare
food allotment deliveries for Billerica’s Council on Aging and Housing Authority.

“The new crates and shopping carts make our volunteer work easier and improve the customer experience of shopping at BPS Food Market. We want our community to not only benefit from this opportunity but to enjoy coming here each month, we think that’s really important,” said April Laskey, Director of School Nutrition of Billerica Public Schools.

 “We hope that enhancing efficiency and facilitating ease of transportation and delivery will mean more individuals and their families get the food they need from the market,” said Lisa Robinson, Vice President of Health & Wellness at New England Dairy & Food Council.

This capital grant program was part of a competitive grant process offered through GLCF in which nonprofit organizations applied for funds and an independent committee reviewed the proposals and selected awardees. This grant award was made possible by an anonymous gift made through GLCF.

For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation please visit www.glcfoundation.org.

For questions about the Billerica Food Market, contact bpsfoodmarket@billericak12.com or call 978-528-8500.

For more information on the New England Dairy & Food Council, visit www.newenglanddairy.com.

A notice to all Members of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation

You are hereby notified that on December 3, 2019, at 7:45 AM at 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell MA., the Greater Lowell Community Foundation Board plans to elect a new director to fill a vacant position.

GLCF Announces New Fund Established in Honor of Veterans and First Responders

Greater Lowell Community Foundation announced the establishment of the Hidden Battles Endowment Fund, a new field of interest fund supports programs to help preserve the healthy minds of military veterans and first responders with the Hidden Battles team. From l to r: Leslie Cregg-Hyder, Cregg Hyder, GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan, Scott Hyder and Chris Hurst.

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation is honored to announce the establishment of the Hidden Battles Endowment Fund. This new field of interest fund supports programs to help preserve the healthy minds of military veterans and first responders for treatment and counseling to addresses suicide prevention, depression, PTSD, and other mental health issues.

Hidden Battles began as a fiscal sponsorship fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation in 2017. The organization was started by Scott Hyder, an Army veteran and retired Westford police officer. “By teaming with GLCF, we know our money is in the right hands. We started this new field of interest fund because we know that the Foundation will bring Hidden Battles to a whole new level – a level that can expand on the programs that are keeping our men and women in uniform mentally safer,” said Scott Hyder of Pelham, NH, Founder of Hidden Battles.

“We see the establishment of the Hidden Battles Fund as a great opportunity to support veterans and first responders now and for generations to come,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO. “It is a privilege to support the important work of Scott Hyder and Hidden Battles.”

Fundraisers and events are held regularly, including a popular annual Cornhole Tournament. For more information and a full event listing, visit www.hiddenbattlesfoundation.org 

Donations to any fund at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, including the Hidden Battles Fund, can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org/donate or by mail to the Hidden Battles Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation please visit www.glcfoundation.org.

Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship Award Connects Local Youth Back to Nepal

Mentor Maria Cunha, Director of Out of School Youth Development Center and English Learner Institute at Middlesex Community College with 2019 Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship recipient Ashik Tamang.

Lowell, MA – Ashik Tamang is a young man who believes in giving back. Since arriving in the United States, Tamang has dreamed of returning to Nepal to give back to the children in the refugee camp where he lived from age 12 until he resettled in Lowell, Mass. in April of 2016. His dream was fast tracked this month when he received the Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship that will provide $5,000 to support his efforts to distribute educational supplies and hygiene kits to children within the refugee camp.

In fact, as a dean’s list student at Middlesex Community College, it was his mentor Maria Cunha, the Director of Out of School Youth Development Center and English Learner Institute who nominated Tamang for the Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship to support his dream of assisting children in Nepal. As Cunha noted, “I have been in my position for over 20 years and have worked with hundreds of young people but not too many have shown the compassion, determination and desire to learn and help others as Ashik.”

Ashik Tamang is extremely appreciative for the opportunity. “My project for helping refugee children in Nepal is not just a project for me, but a dream that I have been dreaming about since the time I myself spent in a refugee camp. I am lost for words to have received the 2019 Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship award. I can only picture the precious smiles that this project will bring to these children’s faces,” he shared.

2019 Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship recipient Ashik Tamang, second from left in front row, from a 10th grade photo with classmates and teachers in the refugee camp.

In 2015, the Trustees of the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation established the fellowship award at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation in honor of a former Trustee, Tom Leggat. The fellowship award recognizes Leggat’s interest in the advancement of youth as well as his dedication to the betterment of Lowell. The fund will allow the Greater Lowell Community Foundation to grant annually a fellowship award of up to $5,000 to at least one young promising Lowellian. The intent of the fellowship award is to provide an opportunity that may transform the recipient’s outlook on life, and encourage them to make positive life-altering choices. Past fellowships have included a summer music program at Berkley College of Music, travel to Cambodia to study traditional dance, and an intensive language program in China.

On October 22, the award was presented to Ashik Tamang at a luncheon hosted by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation and the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation at Cobblestone’s Restaurant in Lowell. Members of the Leggat family were in attendance as well as members of the Leggat Opportunities Fellowship Selection Committee. The Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship will cover the cost of Tamang’s travel to Nepal as well as supplies to distribute. Tamang plans to travel to Nepal in the spring of 2020.

Barbara Leggat, wife of the late Tom Leggat, Ashik Tamang 2019 Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship recipient, John Irza, son-in-law of the late Tom Leggat, Newell Flather, President of the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation, GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan and Leggat daughter Holly Ferguson.

Greater Lowell Community Foundation and Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts Seek Request for Proposals for 2019 Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund Cycle

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation and Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts 2018 Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund Grant Recipient Gaining Ground. From l to r: Kim Schmidt, Farm Staff; Hannah Lawson Assistant Farm Manager; and Amy Capofreddi, Executive Director at Gaining Ground.

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts opened its 2019 Nashoba Valley Healthcare Fund Cycle on October 22, 2019. The foundations are seeking requests for proposals from nonprofit organizations supporting the advancement of community health of residents in thirteen communities: Ashby, Ayer, Bolton, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend, and Westford.

Grant awards will range from $5,000 up to $20,000; however, larger scale collaborative projects that are more than $20,000 will be considered if the funding request is justified by the impact of the project. The Foundations are especially interested in seeing proposals that address systemic issues like (but not limited to) opiate addiction, food scarcity, obesity, substance abuse, suicide screening and prevention, and other specific issues as indicated by community needs.

Grant applications must be submitted by noon on November 27, 2019. Grant recipients will be announced in February. Application information is available on the website: www.glcfoundation.org/NVHCF.

For more information about the grant process, contact Fatima Palermo, GLCF Grants & Scholarship Coordinator with any questions at 978-970-1600 or fatima@glcfoundation.org.

GLCF Hosts New Bethany Peck Exhibit: Salt Water, Marsh & Meadow

Bethany Peck’s Morning Has Broken, 2019, Oil on Canvas will be featured at the Salt Water, Marsh & Meadow exhibit at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation from Oct. 15, 2019 to Jan. 10, 2020

Lowell, MA – Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) will host the new exhibition, “Salt Water, Marsh & Meadow.” This exhibit features paintings by artist Bethany Peck, a New England contemporary abstract landscape painter. The exhibition will be held at the Foundation’s offices at 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA from Oct. 15, 2019 to Jan. 10, 2020 and can be viewed by the public between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Opening Reception: Thursday, November 7, 2019 from 5 – 7 p.m.

Artist Bethany Peck

Bethany Peck’s primary focus is in expressionistic landscape oil paintings. The artist’s studio is located in Western Avenue Studios (#214) in Lowell. She received a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts. Peck’s paintings can be found in private and corporate collections across the United States. For more information on Peck’s work, visit: http://bethanypeck.com/

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation believes that not only do the arts provide a much-needed social escape for many in our communities, they also help drive local economies and enrich educational landscapes. Since 2013, the Foundation has exhibited the work of local artists. For further information on this initiative, visit: www.glcfoundation.org/art or email Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF Vice President of Marketing and Programs at jennifer@glcfoundation.org.

Women Working Wonders Fund (WWWF) Presents Power of the Purse Plus

The Women Working Wonders (WWW) Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, will host their annual Power of the Purse Plus fundraising event at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center on Thursday, October 24. Ashley Buczynski of Tewksbury at Power of the Purse.

Lowell, MA – The Women Working Wonders (WWW) Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, will host their annual Power of the Purse Plus fundraising event at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center on Thursday, October 24, starting at 6 p.m.

The Power of the Purse Plus, celebrating WWW’s 15th anniversary, features live and silent auctions, designer cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a buffet dinner. Guests enjoy the opportunity to bid on dozens of purses and fabulous accessories, including sunglasses, jewelry, and more. Tickets to the event are $80 and available at womenworkingwondersfund.com.

The event is made possible by many generous supporters and sponsors, including Premier Sponsor Nancy Donahue.

This year’s Power of the Purse Plus features a raffle with an opportunity to win four amazing Tory Burch purses, one in each of her signature styles: Retro ($650 Sawyer Mortora Needlepoint Shoulder Bag), Modern ($525 Black Block T Grommet Drawstring Tote), Bohemian ($428 Navy Beaded Shoulder Bag, and Preppy ($395 Thea Patchwork Crossbody). Raffle tickets are $50 and only 100 will be sold. They may be purchased online or at the event.

Proceeds from the Power of the Purse Plus event support local programs that empower women and girls to effect positive change in the community. Women Working Wonders provides annual grants in three key areas: assisting women in transition, providing leadership development, and contributing to the beautification of the environment. The 2019 grant recipients ($5,000 each) will be highlighted at the Power of the Purse Plus event: 

  • Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell to support F.L.Y. (Forever Loving Yourself)
  • Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell to support Stepping Stones Early Education Program
  • International Institute of New England to support Lowell’s English for Empowerment Program (E-FEM)
  • Lowell Community Health Center to support Strong Women, Strong Families Program
  • Megan House Foundation of Lowell to support “Coming Home” Program

“These nonprofits work wonders to improve the lives of girls and women, and we’re honored to help them make a difference and create positive change in countless lives,” said Bopha Malone, Women Working Wonders Fund board president.

For more information, visit womenworkingwondersfund.com or contact womenworkingwondersfund@gmail.com.