Dear Friends,

Spring is roaring in this year with a resurgence of purpose and energy, from the civil rights fights across our state and country to our pride in celebrating 30 years of Lenny Zakim’s vision this year.

Since the founding of The Lenny Zakim Fund in 1995, the stakes have rarely been higher, but with your passion and dedication backing the grassroots strength of our 53 grantee partners, we are leading the way in this 21^st Century Civil Rights Movement. Please read on for the latest updates.

With deepest gratitude, 

Allison E. Picott  

Executive Director   

Welcome, Deputy Director Tiffany Lau!

We are delighted to welcome Tiffany Lau as LZF’s new Deputy Director.

With a background in nonprofit management and an MBA from Yale University, Tiffany brings a valuable skill set to our team along with her positive outlook and commitment to social, racial, and economic justice. Her experience at TDC as a nonprofit management consultant and as the head of An Evening with Champions includes board governance, development, strategic planning, and philanthropic program management.

Tiffany is looking forward to working directly with LZF supporters, partners, and grantee partner organizations to grow the grassroots and strengthen our communities.

Please join us in supporting Reynolds Graves, Lucy Nash, and Team LZF as they prepare to run the 129th Boston Marathon on April 21, 2025, and raise awareness and funding for The Lenny Zakim Fund! Every step they take helps support mission-aligned nonprofits serving marginalized communities throughout Boston. Check out Reynolds’ pre-marathon video message and visit the links below to support our runners.

2024 Annual

Report Released

Thanks to you, our supporters and partners, LZF had another year of growth and innovation in 2024, and we’re pleased to be able to share those accomplishments with you in our newly released Annual Report. Click here to explore the report on our website.

New Grantee Partner

Events Calendar

LZF recently added an interactive calendar to the Grantee Partner Events section of our website to help our current and former grantee partners promote their upcoming events. Click here and scroll down to view the calendar.

Earlier this week, The Lenny Zakim Fund's Executive Director Allison Picott (left) and Board Chair Felicia Heywood (center) were thrilled to receive a check for $1,000 presented by Anthony Mound, owner of Trust 1 Services, as the March 2025 winner of its Trust 1 Cares’ charitable grants program.

Founded in 2018 and based in Quincy, MA, Trust 1 provides

HVAC & plumbing installation and repair services to Greater Boston and the surrounding areas. Trust 1 Services launched Trust 1 Cares in October 2023 as a way to support local charities. Each month, Trust 1 Cares features three charities on its website and invites help from the community by casting their votes to select the winner.

LZF is grateful to Anthony and Trust 1 for this generous grant award and would also like to thank the many people who voted for The Fund! Have a plumbing, heating, and/ or HVAC need? Click here to visit Trust 1 Services' website or call 857-419-3224.

LZF Grantee Partner Spotlight:

The Upward Project

The Upward Project is disrupting the racial equity wealth gap in Boston, one college student at a time. By providing academic coaching, career development training, social and cultural supports, and financial resources for high-achieving, low-income, first-generation students, this successful nonprofit helps students graduate from selective colleges and launch careers targeted at economic mobility. Click here to read more about how The Upward Project helps level the playing field for Boston students.

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.