Lowell High Class of ’74 establishes Legacy Scholarship with GLCF

Lowell, MA – Lowell High School (LHS) Class of 1974 recently celebrated its 50th Reunion with 160 classmates gathering to reminisce and to fulfill a longstanding goal: Establish a permanent class scholarship fund under the stewardship of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) to endow four, $500 scholarships in perpetuity for deserving LHS students.

With a goal of raising $40,000, the Class of ’74 Legacy Scholarship Fund is well on its way. The reunion event raised a total of $30,000 from silent auctions, raffles and class members’ donations including a generous matching challenge of $10,000 from Marty Meehan ’74, President of the University of Massachusetts system. That challenge was met by two classmates’ donations of $5,000.

Reunion Committee member Joe Regan remarked on the consensus of the group to move forward with a permanent class scholarship, saying “We felt that it would be a great thing to assist current graduates with these scholarships. Fifty years ago, there was not much available to the class of 1974 graduates and we all agreed it would have helped many of us.”

GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan echoed that sentiment adding, “These scholarships are not just an investment in our Lowell High students’ futures; they reflect the caliber of Lowell High graduates. LHS students who apply for scholarships are evaluated on academic, extracurricular, volunteer, athletic, and personal character achievements. In 2024, fifty-one percent of the students receiving LHS scholarships were first in their families to go to college.”

The Class of 1974 Reunion Committee included Diane Brouillette McLeod, Sharon Styman Lussier, Barbara Jezak, Marcia Dolce, Joe Regan, Terrance Gormley, Betsy O’Brien, Brenda Maille, Steve Carignan, Vinnie Lombard and Carol Keirstead. Additional donations to the Lowell High Class of 1974 Scholarship Fund can be made securely online at LHS Class of ’74 Legacy Fund.

GLCF provides opportunities for donors and reunion classes to create a scholarship fund and establish a lasting charitable legacy. To learn more about these empowering opportunities at GLCF, contact Jay Linnehan or to learn more about creating your own LHS Legacy Scholarship, contact Barbara Dunsford at 978-970-1600 or info@glcfoundation.org.

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation –Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of nearly $65 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 $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.

###

CAPTION: LHS Class of 1974 recently gathered to celebrate its 50th Reunion and to fulfill a longstanding goal: establish a permanent class scholarship fund. LHS Class of 1974 members, from left: Joe Regan, Sharon Styman Lussier, and Marianne Nunnery.

Greater Lowell Community Foundation Announces New Round of Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund Grants

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced an additional round of grant awards from the Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund to six Greater Lowell nonprofits. This round of $65,000 in grants supported a broad range of underfunded needs identified by Greater Lowell organizations, including food and essential supplies, housing support, staffing, and transportation.

“Through the continued, generous support of our donors, we were able to fund an additional round of grants,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s President and CEO. “The six nonprofits selected to receive these grants are filling the gaps needed to support newcomers in Greater Lowell.”

2024 GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund Grants:

  • Andover Islamic Center – The grant will supplement gaps in current benefits, including purchasing cleaning supplies and pest control items, as well as transportation gift cards for rides to doctors’ appointments and job interviews until they can obtain driver’s licenses.
  • Catie’s Closet, Inc. (Dracut) – Funding to provide newcomer families with access to emergency basic needs including clothing and toiletries.
  • Dignity In Asylum (Concord) – Funding to provide safe transitional housing and community support to people seeking asylum who are at risk of homelessness.
  • International Institute of New England (Lowell) – The International Institute of New England (IINE)’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program will connect 150 low-income refugee and immigrant newcomers in Lowell with adult English language education, an essential service for unlocking social, educational, and employment opportunities. Experienced instructors, supported by volunteer tutors, teach classes offered by proficiency level and integrate reading, writing, oral communication, and technical literacy.
  • Lowell Community Health Center – Funding for a bilingual-bicultural Patient Navigator (PN). This person will act as cultural liaison and advocate, linking newcomers to services they need while helping to eliminate racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health disparities. As cultural bridges, PNs build trust and play a crucial role in promoting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.
  • Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries (Ayer) – Funding to stock the shelves of the Ayer Migrant Communal Kitchen.  

In the fall of 2023, GLCF established the Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund to provide support to local nonprofits working with newcomers. The intention of the grants is to provide funding to help ensure those in need are welcomed and connected with resources to assist with housing, employment, transportation, food, acculturation, and other related support. 

Donations to the GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org or by mail to the GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

For more information about the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, visit www.glcfoundation.org.

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation –Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of nearly $65 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 $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.

###

P

CAPTION ONE:  Greater Lowell Community Foundation recently announced an additional round of GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund grants to six nonprofits. Catie’s Closet (Dracut) received a grant to provide newcomer families with access to emergency basic needs including clothing and toiletries. Pictured are Catie’s Closet Confidence Creators filling SOS Urgent Response orders for local children in need. Each package contains up to two weeks of clothing and essentials for children experiencing sudden crisis situations.

CAPTION TWO:  Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries in Ayer received a grant from GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund for their Migrant Communal Kitchen. A number of the items need to be purchased from local grocery stores, and this funding helps to support these costs. Pictured, a volunteer’s shopping cart used to stock Stone Soup Kitchen’s pantry shelves.

Celebrate Giving: GLCF Honors Philanthropic Leaders and Nonprofits in Aging Well and Creating a Legacy Event

On October 23, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) hosted its annual event that focused on Aging Well and Creating a Legacy at UTEC in Lowell. A hundred community members gathered to celebrate philanthropic achievements and recognize significant contributors who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the Greater Lowell area.

Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s President & CEO, led the event, honoring this year’s award and grant recipients for their outstanding dedication to community service and philanthropy in Greater Lowell. “At the Foundation, we believe aging well involves contributing meaningfully to the lives of others and leaving behind a legacy of impact – a life well lived,” Linnehan shared.

2024 Honorees and Award Recipients:

  • Business Philanthropy Partner Award: Red Hat of Westford was honored for its impactful contributions to community programs, highlighting its dedication to social responsibility and community engagement.
  • Bankers’ Volunteer Award for Lifetime Achievement: Jack Moynihan of Lowell received this award for his lifelong dedication to volunteering, exemplifying a spirit of selflessness and commitment to local causes.
  • Steven Joncas Community Connector Award: Sopheap Theam of Chelmsford, was recognized for her role as a vital community connector, bringing together diverse groups and fostering collaborative relationships within the community through her work with the Southeast Asian Water Festival.

2024 Celebrate Giving Grant Recipients:

  • GLCF Newell Flather Legacy Fund Grant: UMass Lowell for Bridges to Success: Empowering Underrepresented Students from Lowell received a grant to further its efforts in promoting equity and providing support and resources.
  • Celebrate Giving Grant: Friends of the Lowell Council on Aging Center was awarded a grant for its Programs in Creativity for Older Adults Project, which focuses on engaging seniors in creative activities, fostering social connection, and promoting overall well-being.

The awards were followed by a conversation with Dr. Katharine Esty, of Concord, a renowned social psychologist, psychotherapist, and aging activist, who shared her insights on Aging Well and Creating a Legacy. Dr. Esty’s conversation emphasized the importance of purposeful aging and left attendees inspired to have a new perspective on aging and how to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Jay Linnehan closed with, “At GLCF, we are committed to supporting those who strive to create a lasting, positive impact. Together, we can ensure Greater Lowell remains a community where people of all ages can flourish.”

For more information on GLCF and how you can create your own legacy through philanthropy, please visit www.glcfoundation.org or call 978-970-1600.

###

CAPTION: GLCF Celebrate Giving 2024 focused on “Aging Well and Creating a Legacy,” with a conversation with Katharine Esty, PhD and GLCF president and CEO Jay Linnehan.

Empowering Future Generations: Pat and Bill Nickles Create a Lowell High School Legacy Scholarship at GLCF

Pat Santos Nickles ‘68 (Keith Hall) and Bill Nickles ‘69 (Lowell High School) have been married for 50 years. Both are career professionals – Pat a 35-year teacher in the Billerica school system and Bill 35 years with the US Postal Service in finance, management and later with financial planning. Early on, they lived in a small apartment, saving for their dream home. In 1978, when a piece of land in the Upper Highlands became available, they were in a good position to purchase it and build their dream home – where they have lived for the past 46 years.

Having been a scholarship presenter for the Class of 1969 and Friends of Tyler Park at the annual LHS Honors Night, Bill had been thinking about creating a scholarship and wanted to give back to his community meaningfully.

When Bill reached out to Jay Linnehan, Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) President and CEO, to fund a Lowell High scholarship with his required minimum distribution (RMD), it was one of the first of its type scholarships GLCF had done. “This is an easy way to create a scholarship. Once you turn 73, you have to take this distribution. Save it; re-invest it; spend it on that dream vacation or give it away to family, friends, or a nonprofit organization like GLCF with a simple transfer from one’s custodian to us to avoid it being taxable income,” according to Jay.

How does it work? A required minimum distribution is the minimum amount that IRA and/or retirement plan account owners must withdraw annually. The IRS assesses penalties if not taken.

Example: If you turn 73 by the end of 2024, you must take your RMD by April 1, 2025 (for your 2024 distribution). You will have to take an additional RMD by December 31, 2025 (your 2025 distribution). Subsequently, each annual distribution will be taken by the end of the year after that.

You can take your RMD out of one account or from numerous accounts as long as you take the required minimum. Most retirement funds are applicable. Additionally, a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) can be made directly from your IRA to a charity at age 70 1/2 under certain circumstances. A QCD will count towards your RMD and will not be taxable income. Talk with your financial advisor or go to the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-required-minimum-distributions-rmds to calculate your distribution.

Pat and Bill directed their RMD funded scholarship for a student pursuing education and they will eventually create a second scholarship for nursing in 2025. Pat, although a seasoned educator, believes strongly that nurses are the front line, work horses when lives are at stake having experienced it through her family’s health journey. “With nursing shortages, our hope is to encourage young people to pursue this reputable career.”

And what advice would the donors give their recipient? “Pay it forward,” said Bill. “Get involved with your graduating class and have fun every 5 years with a reunion. Raise money so that your class can have its own scholarship award like my class of 1969 has set up. Alternatively, if you can’t donate money right away, volunteer.” 

GLCF provides opportunities for donors to create a fund and establish a lasting charitable legacy. To learn more about these empowering opportunities at GLCF, contact Jay Linnehan or to learn more about creating your own LHS Legacy Scholarship, contact Barbara Dunsford at 978-970-1600 or info@glcfoundation.org.

About the Greater Lowell Community Foundation Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of nearly $65 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 $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.

###

CAPTION: Pat Santos Nickles ‘68 (Keith Hall) and Bill Nickles ‘69 (Lowell High School) at the LHS 55th Reunion in August.

GLCF Announces 2024 Celebrate Giving Event: “Aging Well and Creating a Legacy” Featuring Dr. Katharine Esty

LOWELL, MASS. – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation is thrilled to announce its 2024 Celebrate Giving event, titled “Aging Well and Creating a Legacy,” featuring acclaimed author and expert Dr. Katharine Esty. This engaging event will be held on October 23, 2024, at UTEC, located at 35 Warren Street, Lowell.

Event Details:
– Reception: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
– Program Begins: 6:00 p.m.

Katharine Esty, PhD, is a social psychologist, a psychotherapist, and an activist for aging well. For more than twenty years, she was a managing partner at Ibis Consulting Group, a strategic planning and diversity firm. Her clients were Fortune 500 companies, universities, and UN agencies. As a therapist for thirty years, she has counseled hundreds of clients, helping them deal effectively with change in their lives. Dr. Esty brings a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to this year’s Celebrate Giving event.

Ticket Information:
– Price: $100
– Special Offer: The first 100 registrants will receive a signed copy of Dr. Esty’s latest book EIGHTYSOMETHINGS, A Practical Guide to Letting Go, Aging Well, and Finding Unexpected Happiness.

This year’s event promises to be a memorable evening of networking and thought-provoking discussion. Celebrate Giving will also include awarding five 2024 GLCF honors: Business Philanthropy Partner Award, Steven Joncas Community Connector Award, Bankers’ Volunteer Award for Lifetime Achievement, GLCF Newell Flather Legacy Fund Grant Award and the GLCF Celebrate Giving Grant Award.

“This year’s Celebrate Giving will highlight aging well and creating a legacy,” said Jay Linnehan, Greater Lowell Community Foundation President and CEO. “GLCF believes that philanthropy is for everyone – there are so many ways to get involved. There are so many ways to support your community and make a lasting impact.”

Join us for an inspiring evening dedicated to embracing the journey of aging and making a meaningful impact on the world. To secure your spot and be among the first 100 to receive a signed book, please register at www.glcfoundation.org/event/celebrate-giving-2024/. For more information about the event or to become a sponsor, call 978-970-1600.

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation –Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of nearly $65 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 $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.

CAPTION: GLCF Celebrate Giving 2024 will focus on “Aging Well and Creating a Legacy,” with a conversation with Katharine Esty, PhD.

GLCF scholarship fund’s focus is on Sepsis awareness, prevention

LOWELL, MASS. – Determined to honor their mother’s life after her unexpected death due to sepsis, the Emily Edwards Memorial Scholarship Fund was created. Managed by GLCF, the scholarship fund was established in 2022 at the request of sisters Tina Edwards, Diana Rogier and Kimberly Edwards Wunderlich in honor of their mother, Emily Edwards.

Born and raised in Lowell, Emily Edwards was a 1966 graduate of Lowell High School who became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and ultimate caregiver throughout her professional life. She died at the age of 67 from an unforeseen sepsis infection. Often called ‘blood poisoning,’ sepsis is a life-threatening emergency that happens when a person’s immune response to an infection damages vital organs and often causes death. The condition kills approximately 350,000 adults each year in the United States.

The Edwards siblings described their mother as a woman of integrity, strength, and love, the heart and soul of any gathering. Beyond her favorite professions of a devoted mother and Nana, she enjoyed the camaraderie of her McDonald’s Coffee Club friends and the Brunswick league’s Early Bird and Cool Cats bowlers.

“My mother would have been humbled and proud by this annual award. She would tell the recipient to laugh a lot and take time to stop to enjoy and live life,” said daughter Tina Edwards, adding, “We feel strongly that more research and community awareness about sepsis is necessary. For future nurses, this essay and knowledge might save a patient’s life.”

“The trusted, well-established reputation of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation gave us the easy opportunity to keep our mother’s memory alive and will bring our family together each year for generations to come to present the award. A person doesn’t have to be rich to establish a fund or to donate to a scholarship. Hopefully, our investment in this scholarship for a future nursing student will be positive and impactful.”

The scholarship will be awarded annually to a Lowell High School senior who plans to pursue a career in the medical field. As part of the application process, an essay on sepsis is required.

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) provides opportunities for donors to create a fund and establish a lasting charitable legacy. To learn more about these empowering opportunities at GLCF, contact Jay Linnehan or to learn more about creating your own LHS Legacy Scholarship, contact Barbara Dunsford at 978-970-1600 or info@glcfoundation.org.

About the Greater Lowell Community Foundation — Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of nearly $65 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 $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.

###

CAPTION: From left, Diana Rogier, 2023 Emily Edwards Memorial Scholarship winner Eddie Gabriel Djatcha, Kimberly Wunderlich, and Tina Edwards

Scholarship Program Helps Nontraditional Students Get Back on Track

by Kathy Register

Lowell, Mass. – Determined to help young people facing significant personal challenges continue their education and achieve greater independence, longtime friends Dave Aldrich and Ronnie Hoey turned to the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) to establish the Jump Start Scholarship Program.

Designed specifically for nontraditional students, Jump Start awards $2,500 scholarships twice a year to individuals striving to get their lives in order by studying at accredited vocational training programs, certificate programs, community colleges, or four-year colleges and universities.

Launched in 2023, Jump Start has awarded a total of $44,000 to 17 individuals, ages 18 and above, as part of its first two award cycles in fall 2023 and spring 2024.

“The Jump Start Scholarship program is just one more way the Greater Lowell Community Foundation works with donors to achieve their philanthropic goals,” said Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s Vice President of Marketing, Programs & Strategy. “The Foundation facilitates almost 300 scholarship programs, and in this case, we worked with Dave and the Aldrich Family Charitable Foundation to create a more nontraditional scholarship fund to give students a second chance at higher education or an accredited career training program.”

Jump Start awards larger scholarships twice a year and allows recipients to re-apply each time the application process opens. As with many GLCF scholarship programs, Jump Start’s founders manage their own awards process, Aradhya explained. Hoey and Aldrich are responsible for community outreach to promote applications, and a committee reviews applicant submissions and facilitates the selection process. 

“GLCF advises them on best practices and provides advice on how to run a successful scholarship program,” said Aradhya. “But Dave and Ronnie do the heavy lift on Jump Start.”

Probably the most unique aspect about the Jump Start Scholarship Program is that it focuses on students who have had a tough time launching into adulthood, said Aldrich. “Many young adults need assistance until they can become more self-sufficient and get on their feet,” he said.

“Often these students experienced various forms of trauma when they ventured off the traditional path of finishing high school and going right on to college. With Jump Start, we look for folks who have had the experience of lifting themselves up, of overcoming challenges, and who want to find a good job or finish their educations,” he said.

“It’s actually part of the Jump Start application process for students to identify the experiences and trauma that have led them to apply,” added Hoey. 

Jump Start is an outgrowth of Project Kompass, the North Chelmsford women’s transitional-housing nonprofit Aldrich and Hoey founded in January 2020. Hoey serves as executive director of Project Kompass and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the residential program.

“Project Kompass welcomes young women who want to work or continue their education, and pay it forward,” said Aldrich, founder and prior CEO and chairman of the board of Skyworks Solutions Inc. He also serves as board chairman of Project Kompass. 

However, as Hoey and Aldrich got Project Kompass up and running, they realized their targeted cohort was experiencing yet another gap in support services. “We learned that some of our residents were having trouble accessing the direct financial assistance they needed to continue their educations,” Hoey said.

So, Aldrich and Hoey – who have known each other and worked together in the high-tech industry for 35 years – set up the Jump Start Scholarship Program through GLCF.

For 18-year-old Raya Simpson, of Wilmington – one of the 21 communities GLCF serves – receiving a Jump Start Scholarship has relieved financial pressures. “I’ve been concerned about money and how to pursue further education,” said Simpson, who plans to study animation at Georgia’s Savannah College of Art & Design in the fall.

“I live with my single dad who works tirelessly to help me achieve my dreams, but money is a real concern. Figuring out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and loans and what we can pay has been hectic. This scholarship alleviates the pressure of facing tuition bills.”

“Jump Start applicants don’t have to have a high school diploma,” stressed Aldrich. “And it’s a very easy application process, not some long, multi-page application. “Thus far, we have helped almost 20 hard-working students – men and women — attend vocational schools, trade schools, art schools, beauty academies,” he said. “It’s quite varied, and that’s the point.”

The fall Jump Start Scholarship application opens October 1, for details and to apply visit: https://glcfoundation.info/3yX3y0o.

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) provides opportunities to create a fund and establish a significant and lasting charitable legacy. To learn more about these empowering opportunities at GLCF, contact Jay Linnehan at 978-970-1600, email info@glcfoundation.org or visit: www.glcfoundation.org

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation –Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of nearly $65 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 $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.

###

CAPTION:

From left: Longtime friends Dave Aldrich and Ronnie Hoey spending time with former residents of Project Kompass. The Aldrich Family Charitable Foundation with support from Project Kompass established the Jump Start Scholarship via GLCF and has awarded a total of $44,000 to 17 individuals to date.

GLCF Elects New Board Member at Annual Meeting

Lowell, MA – At the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) Annual Board Meeting on June 12, the Board of Directors unanimously approved the election of new board member David Daly, of Lowell, Founder and CEO of Pridestar/Trinity EMS.

I am very pleased to welcome Dave as the newest member of our Board,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “As a Lowell resident, he brings a wealth of knowledge about our community that will help the Foundation continue its mission to enhance the quality of life for Greater Lowell residents and to best support the communities’ needs.”

Daly began his EMS career as an EMT in 1993. He has been involved with area nonprofits and supports a wide range of charitable organizations through his extensive philanthropic activity. David attended Syracuse University and graduated from New Hampshire Technical Institute where he received his Degree in Paramedicine in 1997. After graduation, David worked in a variety of supervisory EMS roles at various ambulance companies in the Merrimack Valley. 

Simultaneously, Daly started several other successful companies, The Daly Group LLC, a real estate planning and development company and Daly General Contracting, Inc. a builder of residential and commercial projects throughout New England. These companies have completed many high-profile construction projects in the Merrimack Valley, Southern New Hampshire, and Southern Maine, some attracting national praise and attention.

Daly lives in Lowell with his fiancée Melissa, daughter Kennedy and their dog Ty.

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation –Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of nearly $65 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 $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.

###

CAPTION: At GLCF’s Annual Meeting on June 11, David Daly was unanimously elected to the board. From left, GLCF Board Chair Chet Szablak, David Daly and GLCF president and CEO Jay Linnehan.

Karamanolis Bequest Funds Greater Lowell Technical High School and LHS Greek Heritage Scholarship

Lowell, MA – The Demetrios P. Karamanolis Scholarship Fund, recently established through a generous six-figure bequest administered by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, commemorates the life of Demetrios Karamanolis who immigrated to America in 1960, married his wife Sofia Masias and together they raised their daughter, Maria. He forged a path “from factories to labs where his precise, detail-oriented mind and expert dexterity served him well,” recalled Maria Kontoulis Recco, his niece and a retired laboratory scientist.

In 1969, Demetrios, affectionately known as “Jimmy,” brought his family — including his mother, three siblings, their spouses, and their 11 children — from Greece to Lowell. He emphasized to the children the importance of education, hard work, and opportunities not as readily available in their family’s agricultural life in Greece, where they harvested olives, figs, and grapes. All the children went on to become college graduates or successful business owners.

Despite his modest stature, Jimmy was renowned for his quick wit, keen intellect, appreciation for beauty and craftsmanship, and passion for antique collecting and gardening. He was also celebrated for his generosity and community spirit, exemplified by an additional bequest to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Dracut to aid in paying its mortgage.

Recco shared the words of encouragement or wisdom might Jimmy share with the scholarship recipient receiving his award, “Remember your family and your roots, work hard and give back to society.”

Jimmy was a lifelong learner who cherished his Greek American community and valued education, though he never had the opportunity to pursue further studies himself. This scholarship fund honors his commitment to supporting education, preserving cultural heritage, and acknowledging academic achievement. His legacy, and the enduring impact of his values, lives on through the Demetrios P. Karamanolis Scholarship Fund, connecting us all in a shared legacy.

“GLCF is honored to be able to facilitate the Demetrios P. Karamanolis Scholarship Fund,” shared Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO. “Connecting donors to community causes they care about or ways to honor their loved ones is at the heart of our work.”

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) provides opportunities for you to create a fund and establish a lasting charitable legacy. To learn more about these empowering opportunities at GLCF, contact Jay Linnehan or to learn more about creating your own LHS Legacy Scholarship, contact Barbara Dunsford at 978-970-1600 or info@glcfoundation.org.

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation –Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of nearly $65 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 $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.

###

CAPTION: Photo of Demetrios “Jimmy” Karamanolis. The Demetrios P. Karamanolis Scholarship Fund, recently established through a generous six-figure bequest administered by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, commemorates the life of Demetrios Karamanolis.

GLCF’s Women Working Wonders (WWW) Fund Awards Seven Grants Totaling $70,000

Lowell, Mass. – The Women Working Wonders (WWW) Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, has announced the recipients of $70,000 in grants to support local nonprofit programs that empower women and girls in the community.

“Women Working Wonders is proud to support these seven outstanding organizations in their work to effect positive change in the lives of women and girls in Greater Lowell,” said Marcia Cassidy, Women Working Wonders board president. “Every year the need grows for funding of programs to support women and girls, and every year Women Working Wonders is dedicated to answering that call.”   

Recipients of the 2024 WWW grants (each for $10,000): 

  • Catie’s Closet for “Hair Care for All” to create equitable access to culturally appropriate hair products for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) girls
  • The Center for Hope and Healing for Get Together: A Survivor-led Drop-In Support Group
  • Dignity Matters for “Dignity in Greater Lowell” to provide women in need with basic hygiene and menstrual care products  
  • Ellie Fund for “Equitable Pathways to Breast Cancer Care” to empower women during breast cancer treatment with essential support needed to ease the stresses of everyday life and allow them to focus on family, recovery, and healing
  • Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell for “Extraordinary Girls Outreach Program” to provide the Girls Inc. programs and services during school hours
  • Women’s Money Matters to fund Greater Lowell women living on low incomes to participate in Financial Futures financial wellness program at no cost
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell to empower underrepresented racial minority women in STEM through mentorship, community and leadership development, and advocacy  

Ellie Fund received a $10,000 grant from the Women Working Wonders Fund. “Ellie Fund is so grateful and moved to be recognized by the Women Working Wonders Fund based in Lowell,” said Ellie Fund executive director Meredith Mendelson. “Serving the wonderfully diverse women of Lowell facing breast cancer is an Ellie Fund priority, and a partnership with local women doing good will help us ensure that Ellie Fund’s essential support services are widely known and trusted even before a diagnosis.” 

Celebrating their 20th anniversary, Women Working Wonders, an all-volunteer group of women dedicated to effecting positive change, provides annual grants in three key areas: assisting women in transition, providing leadership development in girls and women, and/or contributing to the beautification of the environment to benefit women and girls. Founded in 2004 by a small group of women coming together to form a collective giving organization that focused on women’s issues, the fund has awarded more than $500,000 in grants to organizations supporting women and girls in the Greater Lowell area. 

Another 2024 grant recipient, University of Massachusetts Lowell, received funding to empower underrepresented racial minority women in STEM through mentorship, community and leadership development, and advocacy. “We are grateful for the continued support and partnership of the Women Working Wonders Fund at Greater Lowell Community Foundation,” said Chancellor Julie Chen, UMass Lowell. “This grant enables UMass Lowell to enhance our efforts in supporting underrepresented women in STEM through focused mentorship and leadership development. This initiative strengthens our commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable community on campus and beyond.”

The Women Working Wonders Fund’s Power of the Purse 2024 event, which raises funds to support the annual grants, is scheduled for October 17. For information about WWW Fund and the upcoming event, visit www.womenworkingwondersfund.com.

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.

###

Caption: 2024 Women Working Wonders grant recipient, University of Massachusetts Lowell, received funding to empower underrepresented racial minority women in STEM through mentorship, community and leadership development, and advocacy. Student from the UMass Lowell Francis College of Engineering integrates hands-on research to advance their learning beyond the classroom.