GLCF Elects New Member to Board of Directors

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation recently elected a new board member at its December Board Meeting. Pictured, from left, GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan, new GLCF Board Member Ryan J. Swartz with GLCF Board Chair Chet Szablak.

Lowell, MA – At the Greater Lowell Community Foundation December Board Meeting, the Board of Directors unanimously approved the election of Ryan J. Swartz, an attorney at McLane Middleton and Vice Chair of its Trusts and Estates Department, to the Board.

Ryan J. Swartz, of Reading, Mass., advises individuals and families regarding various estate planning matters, including estate, gift, income and generation skipping transfer tax strategies. He advises fiduciaries in conservatorship, probate and trust administration matters. Ryan also counsels individuals and business owners regarding business succession planning and various asset protection techniques.

Ryan completed a Judicial Clerkship with the Massachusetts Superior Court (2003-2004). He received his J.D., cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School (2003) and his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1999).

“I am very pleased to welcome Ryan as the newest member of our Board,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “As a Vice Chair of the Trusts and Estates Department with the prestigious law firm McLane Middleton, Ryan brings a wealth of experience assisting clients with building and securing their legacies that will help the Foundation to be an asset for those who want to benefit our community.”

“I’m excited to join the Board of Directors of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation,” said Ryan J. Swartz. “Attorneys at McLane Middleton are very active in their communities, and I look forward to contributing to the Board to further its mission of supporting meaningful causes in Lowell and its surrounding communities.”

GLCF Receives a Barr Foundation Grant for Lowell Cultural Economy Plan

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) received a grant from the Barr Foundation for a Cultural Economic Plan for Lowell. At a recent kick-off meeting, Cultural Economy Steering Plan Committee members gathered at City Hall. From l to r: Jay Linnehan, president and CEO, GLCF; Eileen Donoghue, Lowell City Manage; Howard Amidon, vice president for Philanthropy, GLCF; Barbara Gilbert, senior campus planner, UMass Lowell; and Allison Lamey, executive director, The Lowell Plan.

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) has been awarded a $125,000 grant from the Barr Foundation to develop a Cultural Economy Plan for Lowell.

The grant supports the development of a Cultural Economy Plan for Lowell. Broadly inclusive and forward-looking, the planning process will engage the arts and cultural organizations, practitioners, and diverse residents to work together for a more vibrant arts and cultural community and creative economy.

In partnership with the City, the Lowell Plan, and many other key institutions, GLCFlooks forward to working with the arts and culture community to create a robust plan that offers benefits for the broad range of organizations, projects and practitioners. “We are truly grateful to the Barr Foundation for recognizing the value of Lowell’s wealth of arts and culture that make this such an exciting place to live and visit,” said GLCF President & CEO Jay Linnehan.

 “Lowell’s arts and culture scene offers rich social, cultural, entertainment and growth opportunities for residents, employees, investors, and visitors.  Just as a city needs a collective vision for strengthening opportunities for businesses, we need to apply a similar approach to supporting our cultural assets, and this feels like the perfect time,” said Allison Lamey, Executive Director, Lowell Plan. The most recent cultural plan was implemented through the Lowell Plan in 2010. 

“Arts and creativity are essential for vibrant, inclusive communities,” said San San Wong, Barr’s Director of Arts & Creativity. “We are excited to partner with and support the leadership of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation and The Lowell Plan as Lowell embarks on a community-driven planning process that strengthens the continued growth and diversity of its creative and cultural communities.”

“Lowell’s creative culture and vibrant arts community have long been indispensable assets to our City, making Lowell a dynamic place to live and visit, and stimulating meaningful economic opportunities,” said Lowell’s City Manager Eileen Donoghue. “The funding made available through this grant will enable us to engage in a comprehensive and communitywide process to develop a vision for the future of cultural life in Lowell and craft a blueprint to strengthen the status arts and culture in the decades ahead.”

The plan is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020.

The Cultural Economy Steering Plan Committee:

Co-Chairs

  • Howard Amidon, VP for Philanthropy, Greater Lowell Community Foundation
  • Barbara Gilbert, Senior Campus Planner at UMass Lowell & visual artist
  • Allison Lamey, Executive Director, The Lowell Plan, & Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL) Board Member

Members

  • Celeste Bernardo, Superintendent, Lowell National Historical Park
  • Patrick Cook, Public Affairs Director, Middlesex Community College & COOL Board Co-chair
  • Eileen Donoghue, Lowell City Manager
  • Gordon Halm, Founder & Executive Director, The African Community Center of Lowell
  • Sara Khun Leng, Constituent Services Director, Office of US Representative Lori Trahan & COOL Board Member
  • Jay Linnehan, President and CEO, Greater Lowell Community Foundation
  • Vladimir Saldana, Northern Regional Director, Lawrence Office, Office of US Representative Lori Trahan & Advisory Board Member, Theodore Edson Parker Foundation

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

GLCF Announces Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund

Greater Lowell Community Foundation announces the Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund, a scholarship established by Soben Pin, co-founder and publisher of the KhmerPost USA.

Lowell, MA – As a new year begins, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation is honored to announce the establishment of the Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund. This new scholarship provides funds for an individual of Cambodian descent who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism or communication.

Soben Pin, co-founder and publisher of the KhmerPost USA, established the Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund through the Greater Lowell Community Foundation. Pin was born in Vietnam’s TraVinh Province during the years of turmoil that followed the fall of South Vietnam. With her own family disrupted by the consequences of the war, Soben along with her father, one sister, one brother came to the United States in 2000. After several years in California, the family moved to Philadelphia where Soben Pin excelled in high school receiving a scholarship to and then graduating from Penn State. While in college, she embraced Khmer culture.

“I understand the impact of what it means to receive a scholarship – it changed my life knowing someone believed in my dream,” said Soben Pin. “In today’s world, information is critical to our everyday life. From decision-making at a policy level or decisions for your own family – it is imperative to have individuals with trained skills in reporting/journalism that help guide you.”

“GLCF believes that investing in education for young people is a powerful investment in our community’s future,” states GLCF President & CEO Jay Linnehan. “This scholarship will support the dream of the next generation of Cambodian journalists.”

Based in Lowell since 2010, KhmerPost USA has printed over 1 million copies and now serves the New England region including the Greater Lowell, Lynn, Revere, MA and Providence and Cranston Rhode Island. In 2019, KhmerPost USA has expanded its circulation to Long Beach, CA. A recent television channel was launched in October 2019.

The first scholarship is scheduled to be awarded in Spring of 2021.

Donations to any fund at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, including the Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund, can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org/donate or by mail to the Cambodian Journalism Dream Scholarship Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

Scholarships play a significant role in helping GLCF achieve its mission to improve the quality of life for the Greater Lowell community. For more information, call 978-970-1600 to learn how the community foundation can help a donor establish a scholarship. For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation please visit www.glcfoundation.org.

GLCF Announces 2020 Artist Series Exhibition Schedule

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation’s is proud to announce the 2020 Arts at GLCF exhibition schedule.  The 2020 Artist Series features four local female artists with mediums ranging from collage to watercolor to photography to acrylics.

2020 Exhibition Schedule

The following exhibition schedule is subject to change. Visit www.glcfoundation.org/art for the latest information.

  • Maxine Farkas: The Latin Dictionary Series – Evolution
    January 10 – April 10
    Reception: March 12

  • Jennifer Myers: This Is Lowell
    April 10 – July 10
    Reception: April 16

  • Janet Lambert-Moore: Retrospective
    July 10 – October 9
    Reception: to be announced

  • Andrea Wilson: Juxtapositions
    October 9 to January 15
    Reception: November 6

“We are so excited for the variety of art we are showcasing in 2020,” said Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF VP of Marketing & Programs. “The 2020 season balances emerging and established artists in our community.”

The exhibitions will be held at the Foundation’s offices at 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA and can be viewed by the public between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation believes that not only do the arts provide a much-needed social escape for many in our communities, they also help drive local economies and enrich educational landscapes. Since 2013, the Foundation has exhibited the work of local artists. For further information on this initiative and to learn more about the artists featured in 2020, visit: www.glcfoundation.org/art.

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

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation announces the 2020 Arts at GLCF exhibition schedule. Artist Maxine Farkas of Lowell kicks off 2020 with her exhibition The Latin Dictionary Series – Evolution which features 2019 collage, Circular Stair.
 

GLCF Announces Fiscal Sponsorship of Women Accelerators

Greater Lowell Community Foundation announces the fiscal sponsorship of Women Accelerators. From l to r: Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO; Susu Wong,  co-founder of Women Accelerators and Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF VP for Marketing & Programs.

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation announces the recent fiscal sponsorship of Women Accelerators, an organization passionate about promoting the advancement of women and bridging the gender gap. Women Accelerators is based in Massachusetts with chapters in Lowell and Cambridge.

The mission of Women Accelerators is to provide a centralized network where career-focused women can access resources tailored to their career goals. By offering educational programs, networking and mentoring, they help women navigate opportunities that nurture female leaders efficiently.  Their vision is to generate a community of like-minded, high-achieving women, who help each other succeed in the workplace.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Greater Lowell Community Foundation as the fiscal sponsor for Women Accelerators. The GLCF has a wealth of experience and the necessary resources to assist us in our mission of helping women with their career advancement.  By pairing with GLCF, we gain valuable insights into fundraising and learn the tools for being more efficient in managing a nonprofit.  Teaming with GLCF will help us to build a stronger community,” said Susu Wong, co-founder of Women Accelerators.

“We see the foundation’s support of Women Accelerators as an important opportunity to optimize the excellence of this organization that serves women in all stages of their careers,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO. “We are proud to partner on their vision of equity in the workplace.”

For more information and a full event listing, visit: womenaccelerators.org.

Donations to any fund at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, including the Women Accelerators, can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org/donate or by mail to the Women Accelerators c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation please visit www.glcfoundation.org or call 978-970-1600.

Greater Lowell Community Foundation Receives Grant for Asthma Spacers for School Kids

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) received a recent $20,000 grant from the Greater Lowell Health Alliance for Asthma Spacers for School Kids program.
From l to r, front row: Christine Durkin, School Nurse Manager – Lowell Health Department; Kerrie D’Entremont, Executive Director – Greater Lowell Health Alliance; Kerran Vigroux, Director of Health and Human Services – City of Lowell; Laurie Guay, School Nurse Manager – Lowell Health Department; Hope Desruisseaux, School Nurse Manager – Lowell Health Department; Huyen Huynh, School Nurse – Shaughnessy School. From l to r, back row: Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO; and Walter Makiej, Respiratory Delivery Systems Inc.; Beth Moffett, School Nurse Coordinator – Lowell Health Department

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) received a recent $20,000 grant from the Greater Lowell Health Alliance (GLHA) for the Asthma Spacers for School Kids program. In partnership with Respiratory Delivery Systems Inc. in Chelmsford, GLCF will make two 510k FDA-approved asthma medicine delivery devices, the Microspacer and Microchamber, available free of charge to students in need in the Greater Lowell area.

In the 2018/19 school year, nearly 2,900 students enrolled in the Lowell public school district had an asthma condition. “This is another excellent example of a public/private partnership that addresses an issue in the city of Lowell that has real community impact,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO.  “Suffering from asthma affects a student’s overall health and for many leads to nurse and emergency room visits and lost days in school.”

“We are thrilled to be able to support this important initiative.  It’s wonderful to see the Lowell Health Department get the necessary tools and equipment needed to help the large number of children suffering from asthma in the Lowell area,” GLHA Executive Director Kerrie D’Entremont said.

The grant will provide almost 2400 asthma spacer devices at no cost to students in Lowell Public and area schools. These easy-to-use and discreet spacers greatly improve the delivery of asthma medicine to the lungs greatly improving its effectiveness. There may be sufficient quantity for nurses to give students two – one for home and one for school.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children should always use a spacer with their inhaler to ensure more medication reaches the lungs,” said Beth Moffett, School Nurse Coordinator, Lowell Health Department. “We are thrilled to receive the MicroSpacer and MicroChamber devices to distribute to all our students with asthma.  The children will benefit from their use, feel better faster, and thus will be able to return to the classroom and focus on their education.” 

The spacers have been delivered to Lowell Public Health, to be dispersed to the school nurses later in the month. Each spacer will be accompanied by an instruction sheet that has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and Khmer.

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

GLCF provides New England Dairy & Food Council with Grant to support Billerica Public Schools Food Market

The New England Dairy & Food Council received a capital grant to purchase crates and shopping carts for Billerica Food Market users, made possible from an anonymous donor that partnered with the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.  From l to r: Becca Story, School Nutrition Specialist, New England Dairy & Food Council; Jennifer Aradhya, VP for Marketing & Programs, GLCF; Cheryl Green, Asst. Director of Nutrition, Billerica Public Schools; Sharon Kim, Advancement Coordinator, GLCF; and Carly Ciarletta, Experiential Marketing Manager, New England Dairy & Food Council at the Billerica Food Market at the Marshall Middle School.

Billerica, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) awarded $8,780 to the New England Dairy & Food Council this year as part of the 2019 Help Alleviate Hunger and Homelessness in Massachusetts Grant. The funds awarded were used to support the Billerica Public Schools (BPS) Food Market, which is one of nine school-based food pantries in high-need areas of eastern Massachusetts receiving monthly food donations from Greater Boston Food Bank.

In March, GLCF awarded a total of $90,000 to 11 area nonprofit organizations through a 2019 Help Alleviate Hunger and Homelessness in Massachusetts grant. This generous one-time capital grant was made possible from an anonymous donor that partnered with the GLCF to distribute the funding to area nonprofits that are battling hunger and homelessness in the community. 

“It is encouraging to see the great work that the New England Dairy & Food Council is doing to address hunger in our community,” said Greater Lowell Community Foundation President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “GLCF, in partnership with a generous and visionary donor, is thrilled to see these capital grants positively impact the futures of so many.”    

The BPS Food Market, which began in September of 2015, is held monthly at Marshall Middle School between September and June and is set up like a farmer’s market. Donated food items are distributed by school district staff and student volunteers to members of the community who are in need. The Food Market is open to Billerica residents and offers fresh, frozen, and nonperishable items sourced from the Greater Boston Food Bank, free of charge.

With the funds awarded by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, New England Dairy & Food Council was able to provide the Billerica School Nutrition Department with the ability to purchase crates to hold food items (previously held in cardboard boxes) as well as shopping carts for BPS Food Market users. In addition to increasing efficiency of food distribution, the new equipment will enhance the shopping experience for the 450 families that are served by the market each month. New crates have also made it easier to deliver 85-100 monthly food allotments to Billerica’s Council on Aging and Housing Authority.

Billerica Food Market volunteers Jasper Coughlin and Emilee Laskey prepare
food allotment deliveries for Billerica’s Council on Aging and Housing Authority.

“The new crates and shopping carts make our volunteer work easier and improve the customer experience of shopping at BPS Food Market. We want our community to not only benefit from this opportunity but to enjoy coming here each month, we think that’s really important,” said April Laskey, Director of School Nutrition of Billerica Public Schools.

 “We hope that enhancing efficiency and facilitating ease of transportation and delivery will mean more individuals and their families get the food they need from the market,” said Lisa Robinson, Vice President of Health & Wellness at New England Dairy & Food Council.

This capital grant program was part of a competitive grant process offered through GLCF in which nonprofit organizations applied for funds and an independent committee reviewed the proposals and selected awardees. This grant award was made possible by an anonymous gift made through GLCF.

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

For questions about the Billerica Food Market, contact bpsfoodmarket@billericak12.com or call 978-528-8500.

For more information on the New England Dairy & Food Council, visit www.newenglanddairy.com.

A notice to all Members of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation

You are hereby notified that on December 3, 2019, at 7:45 AM at 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell MA., the Greater Lowell Community Foundation Board plans to elect a new director to fill a vacant position.

GLCF Announces New Fund Established in Honor of Veterans and First Responders

Greater Lowell Community Foundation announced the establishment of the Hidden Battles Endowment Fund, a new field of interest fund supports programs to help preserve the healthy minds of military veterans and first responders with the Hidden Battles team. From l to r: Leslie Cregg-Hyder, Cregg Hyder, GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan, Scott Hyder and Chris Hurst.

Lowell, MA – The Greater Lowell Community Foundation is honored to announce the establishment of the Hidden Battles Endowment Fund. This new field of interest fund supports programs to help preserve the healthy minds of military veterans and first responders for treatment and counseling to addresses suicide prevention, depression, PTSD, and other mental health issues.

Hidden Battles began as a fiscal sponsorship fund of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation in 2017. The organization was started by Scott Hyder, an Army veteran and retired Westford police officer. “By teaming with GLCF, we know our money is in the right hands. We started this new field of interest fund because we know that the Foundation will bring Hidden Battles to a whole new level – a level that can expand on the programs that are keeping our men and women in uniform mentally safer,” said Scott Hyder of Pelham, NH, Founder of Hidden Battles.

“We see the establishment of the Hidden Battles Fund as a great opportunity to support veterans and first responders now and for generations to come,” said Jay Linnehan, GLCF President and CEO. “It is a privilege to support the important work of Scott Hyder and Hidden Battles.”

Fundraisers and events are held regularly, including a popular annual Cornhole Tournament. For more information and a full event listing, visit www.hiddenbattlesfoundation.org 

Donations to any fund at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, including the Hidden Battles Fund, can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org/donate or by mail to the Hidden Battles Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

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

Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship Award Connects Local Youth Back to Nepal

Mentor Maria Cunha, Director of Out of School Youth Development Center and English Learner Institute at Middlesex Community College with 2019 Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship recipient Ashik Tamang.

Lowell, MA – Ashik Tamang is a young man who believes in giving back. Since arriving in the United States, Tamang has dreamed of returning to Nepal to give back to the children in the refugee camp where he lived from age 12 until he resettled in Lowell, Mass. in April of 2016. His dream was fast tracked this month when he received the Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship that will provide $5,000 to support his efforts to distribute educational supplies and hygiene kits to children within the refugee camp.

In fact, as a dean’s list student at Middlesex Community College, it was his mentor Maria Cunha, the Director of Out of School Youth Development Center and English Learner Institute who nominated Tamang for the Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship to support his dream of assisting children in Nepal. As Cunha noted, “I have been in my position for over 20 years and have worked with hundreds of young people but not too many have shown the compassion, determination and desire to learn and help others as Ashik.”

Ashik Tamang is extremely appreciative for the opportunity. “My project for helping refugee children in Nepal is not just a project for me, but a dream that I have been dreaming about since the time I myself spent in a refugee camp. I am lost for words to have received the 2019 Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship award. I can only picture the precious smiles that this project will bring to these children’s faces,” he shared.

2019 Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship recipient Ashik Tamang, second from left in front row, from a 10th grade photo with classmates and teachers in the refugee camp.

In 2015, the Trustees of the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation established the fellowship award at the Greater Lowell Community Foundation in honor of a former Trustee, Tom Leggat. The fellowship award recognizes Leggat’s interest in the advancement of youth as well as his dedication to the betterment of Lowell. The fund will allow the Greater Lowell Community Foundation to grant annually a fellowship award of up to $5,000 to at least one young promising Lowellian. The intent of the fellowship award is to provide an opportunity that may transform the recipient’s outlook on life, and encourage them to make positive life-altering choices. Past fellowships have included a summer music program at Berkley College of Music, travel to Cambodia to study traditional dance, and an intensive language program in China.

On October 22, the award was presented to Ashik Tamang at a luncheon hosted by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation and the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation at Cobblestone’s Restaurant in Lowell. Members of the Leggat family were in attendance as well as members of the Leggat Opportunities Fellowship Selection Committee. The Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship will cover the cost of Tamang’s travel to Nepal as well as supplies to distribute. Tamang plans to travel to Nepal in the spring of 2020.

Barbara Leggat, wife of the late Tom Leggat, Ashik Tamang 2019 Tom Leggat Opportunities Fellowship recipient, John Irza, son-in-law of the late Tom Leggat, Newell Flather, President of the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation, GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan and Leggat daughter Holly Ferguson.