Dear Friends,

Earlier this month, I traveled for the first time to Montgomery, AL, a city I had only previously known about through history books and documentary films. While there, I met with and heard from several people who shared first-person accounts of their participation in and as witnesses to moments in Montgomery’s Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

One thing I learned is the importance of community and coalition building. That is what makes The Lenny Zakim Fund and the nearly 400 grassroots organizations with whom The Fund has had the privilege of partnering since 1995 so unique as eastern Massachusetts' social justice coalition force.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of The Lenny Zakim Fund. Reflecting on Lenny and his founding of The Fund, Lenny’s widow Joyce Zakim, recalls, “Thirty years ago our friends wanted to honor Lenny. He chose to create a fund that would further his longtime commitment to lifting up people and building bridges among communities. I can say with great joy that it is in this spirit that over the past 30 years LZF has exponentially expanded its reach and partnered with hundreds of grassroots organizations. We have done, and will continue to do, what Lenny set out to accomplish.”

Photo Credit: Lisa Kessler

Shari Zakim-Yacouby, one of Lenny’s three children recently wrote, "Our dad would be so proud of the work LZF has accomplished over the past 30 years! We are so grateful for the work and commitment that all those who are touched by The Fund have been able to achieve. I think Dad would be very happy to see how The LZF has grown over the past 3 decades!"

As The Fund kicks off our 30th year with this first e-newsletter of 2025, I invite you to scroll down to read about LZF's new board chair and board member, the launch of our new and improved website, an article featuring LZF as a participant in one of Babson's Institute for Social Innovation programs, and our latest grantee partner spotlight.

And finally, as we look ahead to the next 30 years, I hope you will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with The Lenny Zakim Fund and our former, current, and future grantee partner organizations as we serve together on the front lines of this 21^st Century Civil Rights Movement.

In solidarity,



Allison E. Picott

Executive Director

The Lenny Zakim Fund recently welcomed Felicia Heywood as Chair of the Board and Alexander Leventhal to its board of directors.

"I became involved with the Lenny Zakim Fund during the global pandemic, when everything seemed dark and without hope," recalls Felicia. "That first year, reading the grant applications – just seeing what amazing things people were up to and how they were continuing to believe in better tomorrows for our most vulnerable populations, was incredibly inspiring. Each application was a tiny light of hope, and it truly restored my faith. Being involved in an organization whose only goal is to uplift and support those lights has been my honor. I am deeply humbled by the faith the board has placed in me and hope I am able to serve it, and Lenny’s legacy, well."

The LZF board and staff also bid a fond farewell to outgoing board members Tim James, who served as Board Chair from 2022 to 2024, and Jill Snider and express our sincere gratitude for their dedicated service to The Fund.

Felicia Heywood has a strong record of advocacy for children and marginalized communities within the Commonwealth. She currently works as the Executive Vice President, Diversity Equity Inclusion, J and A at BAMSI. Felicia began her career at The Home for Little Wanderers and has gained experience across the spectrum of child and family focused social services, consistent with her long-standing passion for supporting children and families. Felicia served as the Vice President of Behavioral Health/Clinical Services for The Home, as well as the co-chair of the agency’s Diversity and Youth Permanency Committees until 2021. She then spent the next two years working as Senior Vice President of Administrative Operations at Advocates, Inc. before stepping into her current role at BAMSI. She has worked for the Department of Children & Families, Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, and New Life Counseling & Wellness Center. Felicia has co-chaired The Children's League of MA Intensive Foster Care Task Force, has served on various committees within the Association for Behavioral Health, and is a member of the Child Welfare League of America, National Association for Social Work, and the Greater Boston Association of Black Social Workers.

Felicia joined the LZF Board of Directors in 2021 and for the past three years served as co-chair of The Lenny Zakim Fund's Community Investments Committee; last year she became Vice Chair of the LZF Board. Prior to joining the LZF Board, she served on the Boards for the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children and Beauty Without Borders. She is a graduate of Smith College and Salem State University.

Alexander “Alex” D. Leventhal is co-founder and managing partner of Faros Properties, a real estate investment company. Faros Properties was established by Alex, his brother, Jeremy Leventhal, and Elliot Gould. Prior to Faros, Alex was a managing partner of the investment division of Boston Realty Advisors. He also previously worked for Jones Lang LaSalle and RM Bradley Real Estate. He holds a BS degree in management from Bentley University. In 2013, he was presented with the Forty under Forty Rising Star award from the Business Council of Westchester. Alex is President of the Friends of the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit, a Director of the Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center at the Boston Public Library, a Director at Friends of Post Office Square Park, Trustee of the New England Aquarium, Advisory Board Member of The Trustees, a Park Advisor for the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and Advisory Board Member at the Bina Farm Center. 

Click here to read in Babson Magazine's Winter Edition about LZF's experience with the Babson Board Fellows Program, which features Executive Director Allison Picott and Board Member Mo Castillo.

LZF Grantee Partner Spotlight: Think Outside the Vox

A large group photo of Deaf community, including Deaf DASLs, Deaf and hearing audience, ASL Interpreting team, family, and friends standing together in front of the stage at Cutler Majestic Theater. 

Think Outside the Vox is making the arts in Massachusetts accessible in ways you may never have known possible. Click here to read about their creative and impressive work in our January Grantee Spotlight!



About The Lenny Zakim Fund

The Lenny Zakim Fund is a 501(c)(3) public, nonprofit organization that relies 100% on the generosity of our donors to support our annual operating budget, which includes our annual grants program. Since its founding in 1995, The Fund has awarded over $13 million in grants to nearly 400 grassroots organizations throughout eastern Massachusetts.

For more information about The Lenny Zakim Fund, visit www.thelennyzakimfund.org.