Looking forward. Giving back!
A Message from the President & CEO
Dear Friends,

As the holiday season is upon us and the New Year is just around the corner, I was sitting in my office the other day reflecting back over the past year and asking myself: What have we accomplished? Have we made a difference in our community?

Last year the Foundation stewarded the Endowment Fund to a record-setting total of some $40M; awarded grants and scholarships of almost $2M; established new funds (Hidden Battles); celebrated Women Working Wonders 15 th year anniversary (who increased their fund to $1M); convened the community on important issues (homelessness); hosted events to discuss important topics (poverty with the Boston Federal Reserve); and were recently reaccredited by The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations - among other things. 

So, I think we’re doing the right thing but it’s also important to ask: Are we doing it the right way? Because how we do what we do is just as important as what we do. Have we acted with integrity and compassion? Have we been welcoming and inclusiveness? What is our moral compass?

To those we work with, to those we work for, and to the community we strive to serve, thank you for your generosity, guidance and inspiration in helping us point the needle in the right direction.

Wishing all of you Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa! 

Regards,
December 2019
GLCF in the NEWS
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY:
Join our Scholarship Selection Committee
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 more than $682,000 in scholarships at Lowell High School. These awards could not have been made without the help of volunteer Scholarship Selection Committee.
 
The committee consists of parents, teachers, scholarship donors, and representatives from Greater Lowell businesses. Participating offers an incredible opportunity to learn more about the accomplishments of many deserving students attending Lowell High School. Reviewers will read and score scholarships online in the month of March. On average, reviewers spend 3-4 hours per week reading and scoring applications.

For more information and to sign-up as a volunteer, please contact Fatima Palermo, Grant and Scholarships Coordinator at 978-970-1600 or [email protected] .
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 Dept.; Hope Desruisseaux, School Nurse Manager – Lowell Health Dept.; 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 Dept.
GLCF 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 (GLHA) for the Asthma Spacers for School Kids program. In partnership with Respiratory Delivery Systems Inc. in Chelmsford, GLCF will make available two 510k FDA-approved asthma medicine delivery devices, the Microspacer and Microchamber, 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 it leads to nurse and emergency room visits and lost days in school.” 
ARTS AT GLCF: 2020 Exhibitions

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s is proud to announce the 2020 Arts at GLCF exhibition schedule. The 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
L-R: GLCF Board Members Yun - Ju Choi and Brian Stafford with GLCF President + CEO Jay Linnehan present St. Paul's Soup Kitchen founders Rose and Walter Bronk with a donation.
GLCF Gives Back: St. Paul's Soup Kitchen
St. Paul’s soup kitchen recently received more than $2,000 in funding from generous Greater Lowell Community Foundation donors (including a grant from the GLCF Community Needs Fund) to support their mission of feeding homeless and disadvantaged people in the community.

“When we see an increasing need in the community, we try to reach out and help meet that need,” said Greater Lowell Community Foundation President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “During this season of giving, GLCF was happy to have the opportunity to serve our community by volunteering at St. Paul’s soup kitchen.”

The entire GLCF team, along with two GLCF board members, volunteered to serve a meal and additionally donated 102 pairs of new socks collected during a “Socks for St. Paul’s” drive.

St. Paul’s soup kitchen serves up 2,300 meals a month to people who line up outside Eliot Presbyterian Church on Summer Street.

Learn more about St. Paul's Soup Kitchen, here .
"Socks for St. Paul" - 102 pairs of new socks were donated to the community served by St. Paul's Soup Kitchen.

GLCF Fiscal Sponsorships in Action
Women Accelerators Lowell Chapter Kickoff from left: Patty Donald of the Manning School of Business, Sandy Richtermeyer, Dean of the Manning School of Business, and the volunteers, Hagir Mohamid, Deborah Fowler, Miriam Margala, Kim Meninger, Susu Wong, founder and Jodie Bruneau. 
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.

Women Accelerators is always looking for high achieving women to share their knowledge and advice with our members. Please email us if you would be interested in a speaking opportunity at [email protected]
GLCF Featured Photos
2019 GLCF Discretionary Grants Selection Committee - we are grateful to this group for sharing their time and talents to review the many grant applications GLCF receives.
In December, Chelmsford High School (CHS) Santa Fund recently received a $500 grant from generous donors of the Chelmsford Community Fund . Chelmsford Community Fund’s George Dixon, Selectman; CHS Santa Fund’s Scot and Kelly Pratt; GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan; with Dr. Mark Gilchrist and John Chemaly of the Chelmsford Community Fund.
Team GLCF donates $600 to the Sun Santa Fund in lieu of exchanging gifts. From l-r: Howard Amidon, VP for Philanthropy; Fatima Palermo, Grants & Scholarship Coordinator; Janinne Nocco, Controller and Administrative Officer; Jay Linnehan, President & CEO; Sharon Kim, Advancement Coordinator and Jennifer Aradhya, VP for Marketing & Programs.
Partners in Philanthropy
PREMIER PARTNER:
PLATINUM PARTNERS:

Nancy L. Donahue
GOLD PARTNERS:

SILVER PARTNERS:

A complete list of our sponsors is viewable on the Foundation's website (click here ).
978-970-1600


GLCF is Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.

Our accreditation provides assurance that we have sound policies and practices in place. In short, it means we meet the highest standards for local giving.