GLCF to Host Annual Celebrate Giving Event with Focus on Community Building & Belonging
Lowell, MA – On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) will host its annual Celebrate Giving event at UTEC, 35 Warren Street, Lowell, MA 01852. The event will focus on Community Building & Belonging and will feature a keynote conversation with Turahn Dorsey, President & CEO of the Eastern Bank Foundation.
For 30 years, Turahn (Rahn) Dorsey has led and supported civic change. His passion and career center around systems change and civic innovation at the intersections of education, health, housing and economic development in Boston and across the country. Rahn currently serves as the President and CEO at the Eastern Bank Foundation where the team is focused on accelerating economic mobility and expanding economic inclusion across communities in Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Prior to this, Rahn served as Boston’s Chief of Education in Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s administration.
“This year’s Celebrate Giving will explore how communities are strengthened when we intentionally build spaces and systems where all residents feel they belong,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “Turahn’s work demonstrates that community belonging is built through cultural vitality, economic inclusion, and genuine partnership—values that are core to our mission.”
The event will also include awarding three 2026 GLCF honors and one 2026 grant award: Business Philanthropy Partner Award, Steven Joncas Community Connector Award, Bankers’ Volunteer Award for Lifetime Achievement, and GLCF Newell Flather Legacy Fund Grant Award. The 2026 recipients exemplify the spirit of community engagement and philanthropic leadership that strengthens the Greater Lowell region. This year’s award and grant recipients are:
2026 Steven Joncas Community Connector Award: Mercy Anampiu Cheboryot
Named in honor of Steven Joncas, this award celebrates an individual who has made significant contributions to connecting and strengthening community networks throughout the Greater Lowell area. Mercy Anampiu Cheboryot, Senior Director of Community Engagement at Lowell Community Health Center, has spent two decades building bridges between the health center and diverse populations it serves. Through her leadership, she has expanded the Outreach & Health Promotion Department from 3 to nearly 20 staff members, established the Community Health Education Center (CHEC), founded Lowell CHC’s first African Advisory Board, and championed culturally responsive care across the organization. Her work ensuring that Lowell’s newest residents—immigrants and communities of color—don’t just access services but are welcomed and valued embodies the highest ideals of community connection.
2026 Bankers’ Volunteer Award for Lifetime Achievement: Richard Howe
This prestigious lifetime achievement award honors an individual who has demonstrated sustained volunteer leadership and commitment to community service over many years. Richard (Dick) Howe, Register of Deeds for the Northern Middlesex District and founder of Lowell Walks, has dedicated his life to making Lowell’s rich history accessible to all residents. Since 2015, Lowell Walks has brought together residents from different neighborhoods, backgrounds, and generations through free, 90-minute guided tours that average 100 participants per walk. Through his books, his role as a regular cemetery guide since 2012, and his hyperlocal platform RichardHowe.com, Dick has ensured that Lowell’s story belongs to everyone. His work demonstrates that community belonging is rooted in shared knowledge, shared stories, and the willingness to walk together.
2026 Business Philanthropy Partner Award: Rockland Trust
The Business Philanthropy Partner Award recognizes a business that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving the community through philanthropic partnerships and civic engagement. Rockland Trust, a relationship-driven commercial bank with over 115 years of history serving Massachusetts and Rhode Island, exemplifies how the private sector strengthens community belonging. Through the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation, the organization has distributed over $7 million in grants to nonprofits, with recent investments including $7.8 million for affordable housing rehabilitation in Lowell through partnership with the Caleb Group. Rockland Trust’s commitment to maintain all 27 branches following its merger with Lowell-based Enterprise Bank demonstrates a deep belief that thriving communities require the sustained presence of institutions that prioritize relationships and local decision-making. With an “Outstanding” rating in its most recent Community Reinvestment Act evaluation and recognition as a Boston Globe “Top Places to Work” for 15 consecutive years, Rockland Trust embodies the principle that banking is about strengthening the fabric of community.
2026 GLCF Newell Flather Legacy Fund Grant Award: B.F. Butler Middle School
The Newell Flather Legacy Fund was established in 2022 at GLCF by the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation to support nonprofit projects focused on the arts, immigrant, and refugee communities, and/or advancing equity and inclusion in the city of Lowell. B.F. Butler Middle School has been awarded $12,500 for its Vital Skills: Youth Safety Training & Career Readiness initiative, providing 100 low-income, immigrant, and refugee students with CPR, first aid, and allergen awareness certifications. These industry-recognized credentials remove financial barriers to entry-level employment while building civic responsibility and transforming students into community assets capable of protecting their peers.
“These awards and grants celebrate the remarkable individuals and organizations that embody the philanthropic spirit of our community,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “Each recipient has made meaningful contributions that strengthen our region and improve the quality of life for residents across our 21 cities and towns.”
Celebrate Giving will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by the program at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 each and need to be reserved by September 30 at www.glcfoundation.org. Sponsorships are available.
About Greater Lowell Community Foundation
Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 500 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of over $77 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 $55 million to the Greater Lowell community.
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CAPTION: On Oct. 7, GLCF’s Celebrate Giving: Community Building & Belonging will feature a keynote conversation with Turahn Dorsey, President & CEO of the Eastern Bank Foundation, and will honor Mercy Anampiu Cheboryot, Richard Howe, and Rockland Trust. The event will also present the Newell Flather Legacy Fund Grant Award to B.F. Butler Middle School.
