Greater Lowell Community Foundation Awards $80,000 in LGBTQ+ Grants at Annual Brunch

Lowell, MA – On Saturday, June 7, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) hosted its annual LGBTQ+ Fund Brunch at Cobblestones in Lowell, celebrating the second year of the foundation’s LGBTQ+ Fund and awarding $80,000 in new grants to eight local nonprofits. The event brought together 150 supporters and was presented by the Saab Family Foundation and GLCF.

The brunch featured music, meaningful conversations, and a joyful atmosphere that celebrated Pride Month and reaffirmed GLCF’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“GLCF’s LGBTQ+ Fund is building a future where all members of our community can live with dignity and opportunity,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “We are proud to support these organizations doing vital work in Greater Lowell.”

Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s Vice President of Marketing, Programs, and Strategy, added, “The generosity of our community has allowed us to launch and grow this fund, and we’re excited to see these dollars going directly to nonprofits that are creating safe, affirming, and empowering spaces for LGBTQ+ people.”

Eight organizations received $10,000 grants each:

  • BAGLY Inc dba Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition: Regional Expansion of MTPC’s Programs and Services to the Greater Lowell Area
  • Danny’s Place Youth Services: Mosaic, Empowering LGBTQ+ Youth Through Expression and Belonging
  • Greater Boston PFLAG: Affirming Families, LGBTQ+ Support & Education Expansion
  • Greater Lowell Health Alliance (GLHA): The Pride Playbook, Prioritizing Mental Health in Every Step
  • History UnErased, Inc.: The Past Is Always Present
  • MA LGBT Business Network: Building a Welcoming and Inclusive Workplace for LGBTQ+ Communities: An Educational Series
  • Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Inc. (MRT): Amplifying LGBTQ+ Theatre Artists and Stories: KWEEN by Vichet Chum
  • Pathway To Better Health: Expand Chroma Sessions

GLCF established the endowed LGBTQ+ Fund in 2023 with cofounders Julie Chen, Chancellor of UMass Lowell, and her spouse, Susu Wong, owner of Tomo360 to support nonprofit organizations that serve and strengthen the LGBTQ+ community across Greater Lowell. Recognizing the importance of sustained support during the fund’s early years, GLCF’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted to supplement annual grantmaking in 2025 and 2026 as the endowment grows.

For more information about the LGBTQ Fund or to donate, please visit: https://glcfoundation.info/3Bd8Dzn

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 450 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of over $70 million, GLCF annually awards grants and scholarships to hundreds of worthy nonprofits and students. It is powered by the winning combination of donor-directed giving, personal attention from Foundation staff, and an in-depth understanding of local needs. The generosity of our donors has enabled the Community Foundation to award more than $40 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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CAPTION: Grant recipients gathered at GLCF’s LGBTQ Brunch on June 7. From left, GLCF’s VP of Marketing, Programs and Strategy Jennifer Aradhya, MRT’s Courtney Sale, MA LGBT Business Network’s Alex Eberhardt, History Unerased’s Debra Fowler, GLHA’s Ella Harris, PFLAG’s Jenessa Kornacki, Pathway To Better Health’s Jessica Wisocky and GLCF’s VP of Philanthropy Howard Amidon.