Dear Friends,

Earlier this month, LZF formally kicked off our 30th Anniversary with our 29th Annual Awards Ceremony, where we celebrated the 53 grassroots organizations who make up our 2025 grantee partner portfolio. In case you missed our post-AAC e-newsletter, I invite you to click here to read about our grantee partners and recap of the evening.

What made this year's Awards Ceremony especially meaningful and memorable, was the opportunity for our grantee partners, donors, and friends to come together in a safe space where they could be vulnerable in sharing their experiences since the January 20th presidential inauguration and their fears for what might lie ahead in the weeks, months, and years to follow. In response, people were met with a compassionate word, often accompanied by a warm embrace. People left the Awards Ceremony feeling more hopeful and less alone. That is the beauty and the strength of The Lenny Zakim Fund and the amazing people who make up the LZF community.

Let us continue to support each other with our collective strength, mutual love and support of one another, and the optimism of spring’s renewal.



With hope and gratitude,

Allison E. Picott

Executive Director

The Lenny Zakim Fund is thrilled to introduce the dedicated members of our 2025 Team LZF Boston Marathon! Over the next two months, these runners will embark on an intense training journey, preparing to take on the historic 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to Boston.

Alongside their training, they will be raising crucial funds to support LZF's mission of empowering grassroots organizations in eastern Massachusetts that drive social change. We are incredibly grateful for their commitment and can't wait to cheer them on as they cross the finish line on Patriots' Day!

Reynolds Graves is CEO of The Graves Group, a Boston-based public affairs, lobbying, and political consulting firm. He first connected with The Fund through our inaugural Light the Night event in 2024.

This year, Reynolds is taking his support to the next level - both as a Light the Night Ambassador and as a dedicated member of Team LZF, training for the Boston Marathon.

"I am excited to run the Boston Marathon for The Lenny Zakim Fund because I know the resources raised will be invested in various mission-aligned nonprofits that make the greatest impact."

You can support Reynolds' run at bit.ly/ReynoldsRuns2025

Lucy Nash a development professional in the community solar sector, is passionate about sustainability and local impact.

She was drawn to The Lenny Zakim Fund’s mission after seeing LZF's support for grassroots organizations that aid individuals with special needs like her sister, and is proud to contribute to our efforts in building a more just and inclusive community.

"I am honored to be running the 2025 Boston Marathon for Team LZF! The Boston community is unlike any other, and we can thank groups like LZF for building and supporting our community through their work in advocating for grassroots organizations."

You can support Lucy's run at bit.ly/LucyRuns2025

LZF Grantee Partner Spotlight: 365Dad

365Dad supports fathers from diverse socioeconomic, racial, and demographic backgrounds by providing them with the resources they need to be nurturing and supportive parents to their children. Click here to read about the amazing work they are doing in our February Grantee Partner Spotlight!

LZF Says Thank You and Good-Bye to Aditi Dholakia

Earlier this month, LZF said good-bye to Aditi Dholakia, who joined the LZF team in January 2024.

During her brief but very successful tenure as LZF's Deputy Director, Aditi made numerous contributions to LZF’s various programs - from the redesign of our capacity-building educational seminars and running of our Annual Institute offered to our grantee partners, to overseeing our Transformational

Leadership Cohort (TLC) program for our

grassroots organizational leaders, to the creation of new resources to support the work of our grantee partners.

Reflecting on her time here at The Fund, Aditi recently wrote, "I'm sad to leave the team at LZF and the impactful work of supporting our grantee partner organizations. It has been a pleasure to learn and grow in this role." LZF Executive Director Allison Picott describes Aditi as, "a trusted and responsive point of contact with LZF grantee partners, consultants, and peers at other philanthropic and nonprofit organizations." Aditi will be missed by those here at LZF who had the pleasure of working alongside her.

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.