Women Working Wonders Fund Seeks Request for Proposals for 2025 Grant Cycle

Lowell, Mass. – The Women Working Wonders Fund (WWWF), a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, requests proposals for this year’s grant cycle that opens on May 12. The Women Working Wonders Fund will award four (4) grants of up to $15,000 each to programs/projects that impact the lives of women and girls while advancing an organization’s mission.

WWWF provides annual grants in three key areas: assisting women in transition, providing leadership development for women and girls, and contributing to the beautification of the environment benefitting women and girls. Started in 2004 by a group of 72 women who each gave $500, the WWW Fund has now grown to more than $1.5 million. Since its inception, WWWF has distributed grants totaling over $500,000, creating positive change in countless lives in Greater Lowell.

To apply for the Women Working Wonders Fund grant, visit www.glcfoundation.org. The deadline to apply is Monday, June 16, 2025, at noon. For more information on the Women Working Wonders Fund, visit womenworkingwondersfund.com.

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 nearly $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: Ironstone Farm’s Challenge Unlimitedreceived a 2023 grant for their Equine Assisted Therapeutic Programs for Female First Responders.

Women Working Wonders Awards $10,000 in Mini Grants for 2025

Lowell, MA –  The Women Working Wonders Fund, a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, is pleased to announce the awarding of $10,000 in mini grants to deserving nonprofits impacting the lives of women and girls in Greater Lowell.

“Through these mini grants, as well as our annual summer grant cycle, Women Working Wonders fulfills our mission to empower women and girls by providing vital funding to the frontline organizations breaking down barriers and lifting up the women and girls we serve,” said Marcia Cassidy, Women Working Wonders Fund board president. “Now more than ever, our philanthropy and commitment are needed in the Greater Lowell community.”

The 2025 mini grants, each for $2,000, were awarded to:

• Alternative House (Lowell): Addressing Food Insecurities with Victims of Domestic Violence

• Angkor Dance Troupe (Lowell): Leadership Development through Costuming Workshop

• Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell: “Making Proud Choices!” Program

• Project Kompass (North Chelmsford): Back to Basics Home Economics Workshops

• The Wish Project (North Chelmsford): Mother’s Day Gift Bags for Low-Income Women

Women Working Wonders provides annual grants in three key areas: assisting women in transition, providing leadership development for women and girls, and contributing to the beautification of the environment to benefit women and girls. Founded in 2004, the fund has awarded more than $524,000 in grants to organizations supporting women and girls in the Greater Lowell area. Learn more at www.womenworkingwondersfund.com.

About the 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 nearly $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: 2025 Women Working Wonders mini grant recipient, Angkor Dance Troupe received funding for Leadership Development through Costuming Workshop. An Angkor Dance Troupe dancer performs at GLCF’s 2023 Celebrate Giving event.

GLCF Provides Holiday Support for Local Nonprofits

Lowell, MA – The festive spirit of the holiday season was in full swing throughout the month of December as the Greater Lowell Community Foundations (GLCF) Grants Team visited local organizations. Through the annual Holiday Support for Greater Lowell Nonprofits grants, five local nonprofits received mini-grants of $1,000 each to assist with unanticipated needs that occur during the holiday season.

2024 GLCF Holiday Support Grants:

  • Aaron’s Presents (Greater Lowell)
  • Boys and Girls Club of Greater Billerica 
  • Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell 
  • Stone Soup Kitchen – Living Water Fellowship (Ayer)
  • Westford Food Pantry

“These grants extend the spirit of philanthropy to some Greater Lowell nonprofit partners when the need is great,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s President and CEO. “It is only through the generosity of our donors that we can strengthen our community and invest in a brighter holiday season.”

Last year, GLCF distributed more than $4.3 million in grants distributed to 243 nonprofits to improve the quality of life for those in need. For more information about the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, visit www.glcfoundation.org.

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 nearly $65 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: GLCF recently delivered Holiday Support for Greater Lowell Nonprofits grants to five local nonprofits including Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell (BGCGL). From left: GLCF’s Jennifer Aradhya, BGCGL Executive Director Joe Hungler, BGCGL Deputy Executive Director JuanCarlos Rivera, and GLCF’s Maria Papandreou at Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell.

Greater Lowell Community Foundation Announces New Round of Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund Grants

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced an additional round of grant awards from the Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund to six Greater Lowell nonprofits. This round of $65,000 in grants supported a broad range of underfunded needs identified by Greater Lowell organizations, including food and essential supplies, housing support, staffing, and transportation.

“Through the continued, generous support of our donors, we were able to fund an additional round of grants,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s President and CEO. “The six nonprofits selected to receive these grants are filling the gaps needed to support newcomers in Greater Lowell.”

2024 GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund Grants:

  • Andover Islamic Center – The grant will supplement gaps in current benefits, including purchasing cleaning supplies and pest control items, as well as transportation gift cards for rides to doctors’ appointments and job interviews until they can obtain driver’s licenses.
  • Catie’s Closet, Inc. (Dracut) – Funding to provide newcomer families with access to emergency basic needs including clothing and toiletries.
  • Dignity In Asylum (Concord) – Funding to provide safe transitional housing and community support to people seeking asylum who are at risk of homelessness.
  • International Institute of New England (Lowell) – The International Institute of New England (IINE)’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program will connect 150 low-income refugee and immigrant newcomers in Lowell with adult English language education, an essential service for unlocking social, educational, and employment opportunities. Experienced instructors, supported by volunteer tutors, teach classes offered by proficiency level and integrate reading, writing, oral communication, and technical literacy.
  • Lowell Community Health Center – Funding for a bilingual-bicultural Patient Navigator (PN). This person will act as cultural liaison and advocate, linking newcomers to services they need while helping to eliminate racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health disparities. As cultural bridges, PNs build trust and play a crucial role in promoting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.
  • Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries (Ayer) – Funding to stock the shelves of the Ayer Migrant Communal Kitchen.  

In the fall of 2023, GLCF established the Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund to provide support to local nonprofits working with newcomers. The intention of the grants is to provide funding to help ensure those in need are welcomed and connected with resources to assist with housing, employment, transportation, food, acculturation, and other related support. 

Donations to the GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org or by mail to the GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

For more information about the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, visit www.glcfoundation.org.

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 nearly $65 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 ONE:  Greater Lowell Community Foundation recently announced an additional round of GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund grants to six nonprofits. Catie’s Closet (Dracut) received a grant to provide newcomer families with access to emergency basic needs including clothing and toiletries. Pictured are Catie’s Closet Confidence Creators filling SOS Urgent Response orders for local children in need. Each package contains up to two weeks of clothing and essentials for children experiencing sudden crisis situations.

CAPTION TWO:  Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries in Ayer received a grant from GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund for their Migrant Communal Kitchen. A number of the items need to be purchased from local grocery stores, and this funding helps to support these costs. Pictured, a volunteer’s shopping cart used to stock Stone Soup Kitchen’s pantry shelves.

Greater Lowell Community Foundation announces more than $235K in grants to local nonprofits at Annual Meeting

Lowell, MA – On Tuesday, June 11, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation hosted its annual meeting at UMass Lowell’s Coburn Hall. A record $237,230 in grant funding was awarded to 23 nonprofits serving Greater Lowell in the funding focus areas of Children’s Services, Elder Services, and Racial Equity and Inclusion.

These grant awards are part of a competitive grant process in which nonprofit organizations apply for funds, and independent committees review the proposals and select awardees. The GLCF Discretionary Grants is one of several competitive grant programs offered through the foundation each year. 

“These grants were made possible by generous donations from our community and strategic investments,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “The 2024 GLCF Discretionary Grant Cycle is the largest distribution to date – it’s indicative of so much of what we do at the Foundation. It is a key part of our being.” 

Children’s Services Grants

  • Aaron’s Presents: More Aaron’s Presents Youth in Lowell – $6,730
  • Adolescent Consultation Services: Direct Mental Health Services for Court-Involved Children in Greater Lowell – $10,000
  • The Bike Connector, Inc.: Keeping Kids Safe – Bike Helmets for Bike Rodeos, National Night Out, and Holiday Bike Giveaway – $2,000
  • Dignity Matters, Inc.: Dignity for Greater Lowell Teens -$10,000
  • Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust: Environmental Youth Task Force (EYTF) -$9,000
  • Lowell Youth Leadership Program Inc.: Lowell Youth Leadership Program 2024 Summer Camp – $10,000
  • Project Kompass, Inc.: Housing for Young Women and their Children – $10,000
  • Raising A Reader (RAR-MA Inc.): RAR-MA Lowell: Early Literacy Resources and Family Engagement – $7,500

Elder Services Grants

  • Community Teamwork, Inc. (CTI): RSVP Bone Builders Increased Capacity and Expansion Project – $7,000
  • Good Pickin Farm: Senior Summer Camp Day and Pick Two Summer Friday Concerts – $7,000
  • Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts, Inc.: Affordable Home Repairs for Seniors Aging in Place – $7,000
  • Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell: Critical home repairs for seniors – $7,000
  • Open Pantry of Greater Lowell: Food Pantry – $7,000
  • Open Table, Inc.: Addressing Food Insecurity in Seniors Via Pantry, Mobile, And Meal Programs – $7,000

Racial Equity and Inclusion Grants

  • MRT: Amplifying Asian American Pacific Islander Theatre Artists: WHAT YOU ARE NOW by Sam Chanse – $15,000
  • Project Citizenship: Citizenship for an Equitable Future – $15,000
  • THRIVE Communities of Mass: Greater Lowell Circle Keeper Initiative – $15,000
  • Kids in Tech, Inc.: After-School Tech Clubs for Greater Lowell – $15,000
  • Merrimack Valley Housing: Expanding Affordable Homeownership Opportunities for Local Residents – $15,000
  • CMAA: Remembering The Killing Fields, Celebrating Our Survivors’ Resiliency – $15,000
  • NMCOG: At Home in Greater Lowell: Regional Housing Strategy Plan – $15,000
  • One Can Help Inc.: Providing missing and urgently needed resources to at-risk and foster children in Lowell – $15,000
  • YWCA of Lowell: Restorative Justice Art Project – $10,000

2024 Discretionary Grant Recommendations Total: $237,230

“Good work happens every day in our community through the efforts of dedicated and talented staff and volunteers of nonprofit organizations, and we are happy to support that work,” said Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s VP of Marketing, Programs and Strategy. “These grants are another example of GLCF addressing important needs in our community with the support of our community partners and generous donors.”

Applications are currently being accepted until June 20 through the Women Working Wonders Fund for programs/projects that impact the lives of women and girls while advancing an organization’s mission. For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, visit www.glcfoundation.org. 

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 nearly $65 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 Annual Meeting on June 11. More than $235,000 in competitive grants were awarded to 23 local nonprofits.

NETSCOUT Awards $15K in Community Grants with Greater Lowell Community Foundation

LOWELL, Mass. – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation, a philanthropic organization comprised of over 400 funds, currently totaling over $65 million, dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns, announced that NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, INC., (NASDAQ: NTCT), whose unique visibility platform and solutions are used to protect the connected world from cyberattacks and disruptions in performance and availability,, has awarded its Heart of Giving community program’s $15,000 grant program through the Greater Lowell Community Foundation to recipients: Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust, OARS (Concord) and Strongwater Farm (Tewksbury.)

Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust received a $10,000 grant. The organization’s mission is to improve the quality of life for the people of Lowell through education and through the creation, conservation and preservation of parks, open spaces and special places. The grant funding will be used to support the Pawtucket Farm Wildlife Sanctuary project, a partnership between Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust, Mass Audubon, and Mill City Grows, in collaboration with the City of Lowell.

“The Lowell Parks & Conservation is grateful to NETSCOUT for their support of Pawtucket Farm Wildlife Sanctuary,” said Jane Calvin, Executive Director of LP&CT. “This grant award will support our collaboration with Mass Audubon and Mill City Grows to help us open the property to the public, support the building of accessible trails and habitat restoration, and ensure that our community has access to fresh, healthy food.”

This annual grant partnership builds relationships between NETSCOUT and Greater Lowell nonprofit organizations and engages employees in learning about the community needs. The additional $5,000 in grant funding was distributed to OARS and Strongwater Farm.

“Connecting philanthropic businesses and individuals to the needs of their communities is at the heart of GLCF’s work. GLCF is proud to be in the 10th year of the NETSCOUT Heart of Giving Community Grant partnership,” said Jay Linnehan, president and CEO, Greater Lowell Community Foundation. “We are grateful for NETSCOUT’s continued commitment to supporting local nonprofits and addressing needs in our community.”

“Congratulations to these three organizations who are addressing the long-term issue of preserving and sharing our local natural resources. We look forward to volunteering to support the Pawtucket Farm Wildlife Sanctuary,” said Michael Szabados, chief operating officer at NETSCOUT. “Our Heart of Giving community grant program is a unique way to empower employees to take action to address important community issues, and we are pleased to reach the milestone of our tenth year in partnership with GLCF.”

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 400 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of more than $65 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 GLCF to award more than $35 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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Caption: Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust (LP&CT) received a recent $10,000 grant from NETSCOUT’s Heart of Giving community program. From l-r: NETSCOUT’s Kim Hampson, Mill City Grows’ Courtney McSparron and LP&CT’s Jane Calvin with GLCF’s president and CEO Jay Linnehan at the Heart of Giving pitch presentation at NETSCOUT in Westford.

Women Working Wonders Fund Seeks Request for Proposals for 2024 Grant Cycle

Lowell, Mass. – The Women Working Wonders Fund (WWWF), a permanently endowed fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, requests proposals for this year’s grant cycle that opens on May 20. The Women Working Wonders Fund will award five (5) grants of up to $10,000 each to programs/projects that impact the lives of women and girls while advancing an organization’s mission.

WWWF provides annual grants in three key areas: assisting women in transition, providing leadership development for women and girls, and contributing to the beautification of the environment benefitting women and girls. Started in 2004 by a group of 72 women who each gave $500, the WWW Fund has now grown to more than $1.5 million. Since its inception, WWWF has distributed grants totaling over $444,000, creating positive change in countless lives in Greater Lowell.

To apply for the Women Working Wonders Fund grant, visit www.glcfoundation.org. The deadline to apply is Thursday, June 20, 2024, at noon. For more information on the Women Working Wonders Fund, visit womenworkingwondersfund.com or contact womenworkingwondersfund@gmail.com.

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 400 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of almost $60 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 $35 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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Caption: Mill City Grows received a 2023 $10,000 Women Working Wonders Fund grant for their Merrimack Valley Growers’ Aid (MVGA) program. This program will provide access to land, training, and technical assistance to 12 growers who identify as women. Seona Ban Ngufor, a MVGA woman farmer, at the Lowell Farmers’ Market.

GLCF Announces New Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund Grants

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced $160,000 in grant awards from the Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund to seven Greater Lowell nonprofits. This first round of grants supported a broad range of underfunded needs identified by Greater Lowell nonprofits including food and essential supplies, housing support, staffing and transportation.

“The seven nonprofits selected for this first round of funding are filling the gaps needed to support newcomers in Greater Lowell,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s President and CEO. “Through the continued, generous support of our donors, we are hopeful that we will be able to fund a future round. The needs are great.”

2024 GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund Grants:

  • Andover Islamic Center – The grant will supplement gaps in current benefits including purchase cleaning supplies, pest control items, as well as transportation gift cards for rides to doctors’ appointments and job interviews until they can obtain driver’s licenses.
  • Catie’s Closet, Inc. (Dracut) – Funding to provide newcomer families with access to emergency basic needs including clothing and toiletries.
  • Dignity In Asylum (Concord) – Funding to provide safe transitional housing and community support to people seeking asylum who are at risk of homelessness.
  • International Institute of New England (Lowell) – Grant for underfunded refugee case management costs and emergency housing subsidy for transitioning or housing-insecure families.
  • Lowell Community Health Center – Funding for a bilingual bicultural Patient Navigator (PN). This person will act as cultural liaison and advocate, linking newcomers to services they need while helping to eliminate racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health disparities. As cultural bridge, PNs build trust and play a crucial role in promoting the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations.
  • Open Table, Inc. (Maynard) – Grant to support the Open Table program which provides healthy, culturally appropriate snacks to immigrant and refugee children in Concord and, when applicable, Acton.
  • Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries (Ayer) – Funding to purchase and distribute personal care items to the approximately 150 newcomers currently living in Ayer, Mass.

Last fall, GLCF established the Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund to provide support to local nonprofits working with newcomers, and with the intention that grant funds will aid to help ensure those in need are welcomed and connected with housing, employment, transportation, food, acculturation, and other related support. 

Donations to the GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org or by mail to the GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, visit www.glcfoundation.org.

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 400 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of almost $60 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 $35 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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CAPTION:  Greater Lowell Community Foundation recently announced the first round of GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund grants. International Institute of New England (IINE) received funding for underfunded refugee case management costs and emergency housing subsidy for transitioning or housing-insecure families. IINE volunteers take a newly arrived family grocery shopping. The family of six are refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and arrived in Lowell in 2023.

GLCF Announces New Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced the establishment of the Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund. This fund provides funding to support the efforts of Greater Lowell organizations to help ensure those in need are welcomed and connected with housing, employment, transportation, food, acculturation, and other related assistance.

On August 8, 2023, Governor Maura T. Healey declared a state of emergency due to rapidly rising numbers of migrant families arriving in Massachusetts who need shelter and services, and the severe lack of availability of those resources. With the influx of new refugees and immigrants arriving in Greater Lowell, GLCF is leading an effort to provide support to local nonprofits charged with these resettlements.

“Organizations serving refugees and immigrants are facing increased financial pressures due to decreases in federal assistance and there’s a growing need for supporting these members of our community,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF’s President and CEO. “In times of humanitarian need, GLCF gives where it is most needed in Greater Lowell.”

Donations to the GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org or by mail to the GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, visit www.glcfoundation.org.

About Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Established in 1997, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) is a philanthropic organization comprised of more than 400 funds dedicated to improving the quality of life in 21 neighboring cities and towns. With financial assets of almost $60 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 $35 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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CAPTION:  Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s President and CEO Jay Linnehan announces the establishment of the GLCF Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Fund at a Sept. 27 event at Concord Center for Visual Art.

Greater Lowell Community Foundation awards grant to Bridge Club of Greater Lowell to support Veterans Reintegration Program Transportation

LOWELL, MASS. – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) has awarded a $30,000 grant to the Bridge Club of Greater Lowell to support transportation for their Veterans Reintegration Program.

“This grant has allowed the Bridge Club to remove a key barrier, the lack of transportation, to the assist their veteran clients,” said GLCF president and CEO Jay Linnehan. “Transportation should not be an obstacle to a path to a better future.”

The Bridge Club of Greater Lowell’s Veterans Reintegration Program is made possible by a recent grant awarded by Dept. of Labor. This 3-year grant targets reentry initiatives such as housing and employment opportunities for veterans returning from or facing incarceration.

“This grant funding from GLCF solves a transportation problem our veteran community encounter,” said Bob Cox, executive director at Bridge Club of Greater Lowell. “The problem stems from the fact that the Veteran’s court in Framingham is the sole location for the entirety of Middlesex County leaving veterans from across the county with a logistical hurdle to overcome that frequently jeopardizes his/her ability to appear on a scheduled court date.”

Veterans Treatment Courts are specialized courts that provide alternatives to punishments for veterans suffering from PTSD, other mental health issues, or brain injury. These courts seek to divert those with mental health issues and homelessness from the traditional justice system and to give them treatment and tools for rehabilitation and readjustment. Veterans Treatment Courts are hybrid Drug and Mental Health Courts that serve veterans struggling with addiction, serious mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders. They promote sobriety, recovery, and stability through a coordinated response that involves cooperation and collaboration with the traditional partners found in Drug and Mental Health Courts, with the addition of the VA, volunteer veteran mentors, and veterans and Veterans’ family support organizations. Usually, Veterans Courts hear cases involving misdemeanor charges other than those involving sexual offenses or violent crimes. A veteran’s participation in treatment court is always voluntary. Veterans who choose to participate are assessed by a mental health professional and their treatment needs are determined.

“The Bridge Back Initiative, a collaborative partnership between the Bridge Club, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Middlesex County Sherriff’s Office, supports previously incarcerated and court-involved individuals in the Greater Lowell area by connecting them to employment opportunities, addiction and recovery resources, housing and other direct services,” said District Attorney Marian T. Ryan. “This grant moves this community closer to the goal of reducing recidivism and homelessness.”

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 almost $60 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 $35 million to the Greater Lowell community.

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Caption: GLCF recently awarded a grant to the Bridge Club of Greater Lowell to support transportation for their Veterans Reintegration Program. From l-r, GLCF president and CEO Jay Linnehan with Bridge Club of Greater Lowell board member and Executive Director of Community Teamwork Karen Frederick and Bob Cox, executive director at Bridge Club of Greater Lowell.