Dear Friends,
On this snowy day, I know that we are all looking forward to springt
ime—a
nd what better way to usher it in than with our Spring Inspiration Breakfast on Thursday, April 25? A celebration of youth and family philanthropy, the Spring Inspiration Breakfast celebrates the philanthropic work of local community members—of all ages, and will honor Meg Ramsey with the 2019 Community Philanthropist award. I hope that you enjoy reading our interview with mother and daughter Co-chairs, Christine Schuster and Katie Schuster, and learn more about their passion for serving their community.
Sprin
g is also a time for growth. Follow us on Social Media next week as we announce the participants in the 2019 Emerging Leaders Academy. The ELA is designed as a substantial yet accessible introduction to leadership development. The program is specifically tailored for those emerging leaders who are new to or aspiring towards senior management positions, and we are delighted to welcome our new cohort.
Thank you,
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Executive Director
P.S. Tickets for the Spring Inspiration Breakfast will go on sale mid-March, although there are currently sponsorship opportunities available. Please visit our
Sponsorship Page
for more information.
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What inspires Spring Inspiration Breakfast Co-Chairs, Christine Schuster and Katie Schuster?
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We sat down with the mother and daughter pair to find out why they chose to Co-Chair the 2019 Spring Inspiration Breakfast together.
"As I watched Katie get excited about the Foundation through YIP," says Christine. "I got excited about getting involved in the organization. Chairing the breakfast together brings together our joint passion for helping the community."
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YIP Corner. Catching up with Jordan Ramsay.
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George Washington University student, Public Policy Extern at Facebook, Framingham native, and YIP alumni Jordan Ramsay recently spoke to the YIP Junior Board about his journey.
"There's so many issues out there. And they're not going to get settled unless every single person finds something that they can try to fix. And I think it's something that's changing in our culture—
we need to have everyone doing something."
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Youth in Philanthropy Program grants $30,000
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n January 31, 50 students graduated from YIP, awarding a total of $30,000 to 8 nonprofit organizations across MetroWest. When speaking about their experiences, a student from the Hopkinton program said, "We learned what a consensus is. And how important it is to work together to come to a consensus."
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Meet your Foundation Staff: John Haak, Program Officer
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John joined the Foundation for MetroWest as the new Program Officer, Nonprofit Effectiveness in January. "Everyone I've met so far, both at Foundation and in the community, has been incredibly welcoming and passionate about their work. It's energizing to work with communities that care deeply about the people that live there."
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Spotlight:
Lexington Community Farm
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In June of 2018,
Lexington Community Farm
received a grant through our Hunger Relief Fund. Part of grant was for a barrel rootwasher to harvest and wash produce more efficiently for donation. "In the late fall, there are only a few staff members at the farm, so it was very useful! We were able to make weekly donations for a month longer than last year (we donated through mid-December this year) thanks to all of the fall crops we washed and put into storage. We set a new donation record in 2018: over 8,250 lbs of fresh, organic produce valued at just over $26,000!"
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Funding Opportunities - Deadlines Approaching!
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The Massachusetts Census Equity Fund—
Deadline is tomorrow, March 1.
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The Massachusetts Census Equity Fund
is a statewide funding initiative working to increase participation in the 2020 Census, specifically in communities that are at risk of being undercounted. They provide grants for grassroots organizations working toward creating an accurate and fair count, as well as a learning community for partners. We have partnered with MetroWest Health Foundation and The Sudbury Foundation to provide funding for MetroWest organizations to support outreach and education efforts in our communities.
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The Community Endowment of Lexington (CEL) Competitive Grant Program is open!
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Are you a registered 501(c)(3) or public agency serving the Lexington Community? The CEL Competitive Grant Program opens on Monday. CEL awards grants to organizations working in the areas of health and human services, arts and culture, the environment, and community building; provides ways for donors to give back and leave a legacy; and encourages innovative and collaborative solutions to issues facing Lexington, MA.
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You make all this possible!
Make a gift today to support your Community Foundation.
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