Dear Friends, 


More than 200 LZF supporters came together to make our inaugural Light the Night a huge success this month, and I’d like to thank every one of you for making the evening sparkle!  

 

From friends at home bidding on auction items to the DEAFinitely dance crew who kicked off the party with their high-energy swagger and style, our September 7th Light the Night event at Alcove Boston was a joyous celebration of all we are accomplishing together.  

 

My heartfelt thanks goes out to The Slater Foundation and the many sponsors and Committee members who not only made this gathering possible but also inspired others with your commitment to The Lenny Zakim Fund mission and our grassroots Grantee Partners. Your support is helping communities thrive and creating lasting change in eastern Massachusetts! 

 

Next year, we’ll Light the Night for the 30th anniversary of The Lenny Zakim Fund on Saturday, September 6, 2025, once again gathering in the glow of the bridge at Alcove. Please save the date!  

 

With deepest gratitude,

 

Allison E. Picott 

Executive Director  

October 16th LZF Bridge Builder: Voices of Resilience

The Lenny Zakim Fund extends an invitation to the members of our community to join us for our free semi-annual Bridge Builder event: Voices of Resilience: Immigrant Stories in Greater Boston's Nonprofit Sector.


When: Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 4:00-6:00pm 

Where: The Civic Pavilion at City Hall (5 Congress Street, Boston, 02203)  


The nonprofit sector in Greater Boston and beyond is enriched by the cultural influences and grassroots leadership of immigrant communities. Their stories and experiences play a vital part in building a sector that centers and celebrates thriving communities of all backgrounds. Join us for a lively panel discussion about the experiences of immigrant leaders in Greater Boston’s nonprofit sector, how their culture and experiences inform their work, and how philanthropy can continue to support thriving immigrant communities. Our panelists for this event are:   

***ASL and Language interpretation can be available upon request with at least TWO (2) WEEKS advanced notice.***

Click Here to Register!

Two Grantee Partners Honored at State House

Congratulations to Mercy Robinson of South Boston En Accion and Lovern Gordon of Love Life Now Foundation! Over the summer, these two outstanding leaders of LZF Grantee Partner organizations were recognized by their state legislators and the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women for their invaluable efforts and extraordinary acts of service in the community.

Mercy (left) and Lovern (right) are both members of LZF’s 2024 Transformational Leadership Cohort and are now also honored members of the "Class of 2024 Commonwealth Heroines.”

LZF Grantee Partner Spotlight: Love Life Now Foundation

Domestic violence affects an estimated 10 million Americans each year—as many as one in four women and one in seven men. Love Life Now founder Lovern Gordon uses her powerful personal stories of domestic violence (DV) to promote awareness and education through year-round initiatives and direct assistance to shelter programs. 

  

Click here to read the full Love Life Now spotlight and learn how Lovern and her team are motivating others to use their hearts, hands, and voices to speak out about DV and help survivors reclaim their lives. 

New Babson Board Fellows

After a rewarding experience this past year with theBabson Board Fellows Program, we’re excited to welcome two new fellows, Elizabeth May and Chris Weirup, to the LZF board. Thank you Elizabeth, Chris, and Babson College for your commitment to our mission! 

Elizabeth May, Graphic Designer Babson MBA Candidate '25: Elizabeth is a creative professional with more than two decades of experience in graphic design and creative marketing strategy across commercial and nonprofit industries. She is an expert at planning, organizing, and maintaining creative processes, budgets and schedules with proven ability to manage multiple projects while meeting strict deadlines within budget guidelines. Elizabeth and her family reside in Wellesley.



Christopher Weirup, Digital Product Director at Sallie Mae

Babson MBA Candidate '25: Chris has worked in a broad set of industries, including Financial Services, Retail, Consumer Products, Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Electronics, Health Plans, and Utilities. Many of these clients are large Fortune 500 and multinational companies. He is comfortable working on both high-level strategy and planning and detailed process and technical designs. Chris lives in Needham with his family.

About The Lenny Zakim Fund


Established in 1995 by the late civil rights leader Lenny Zakim, The Lenny Zakim Fund continues to reflect his work and ideals by providing financial support, education, technical assistance and networking opportunities to small, community-based organizations and individuals who are passionate about social, racial, and economic justice and determined to become vehicles of critical change.

The Lenny Zakim Fund knows grassroots leadership is integral to ensuring that programs are successful, culturally relevant, effective, and meet the needs of affected people. Social justice at The Fund is about more than just grantmaking – it is about coming together in partnership to support leaders and the grassroots in their work against systemic oppression and their fight for equity.


LZF 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. Over the past 29 years, The Fund has awarded $13 million in grants to nearly 400 grassroots organizations throughout eastern Massachusetts.


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