Archive for the ‘Sudbury Program’ Category

« Older Entries

2017 Taft Scholarship Recipient

Tuesday, June 27th, 2017

Our best wishes go to L-S senior Courtney Brown (right) who received this year’s John Taft Scholarship from the L-S Scholarship Fund.

The award is given to a student who has demonstrated leadership in the school community through participation in student government or other activities focused on the betterment of the LS community.

The ideal candidate is a “catalyst for change” who has shown initiative by founding a club, program or activity or by serving in an elected or appointed leadership position that has enhanced the school community.

Previously known as the Sudbury Foundation scholarship, the award was changed in 2014 to recognize longtime Foundation trustee John Taft, who passed away in 2010.

Mr. Taft was a Sudbury resident and community leader who served as a Sudbury Selectman from 1964-1976. He was also a long-standing Trustee of the Sudbury Foundation from 1973 to 2007 where, among other things, he was instrumental in providing the seed funding to establish the L-S Scholarship Fund. He also made possible the construction of the Town’s Atkinson Pool, renovation of the historic wing of the Goodnow Library and many grants to community nonprofits.

Ms. Brown will attend Williams College in the fall. We wish her much success!

Posted June 27, 2017

Posted in Sudbury Program | Comments Off on 2017 Taft Scholarship Recipient

New Grant Awards

Thursday, June 15th, 2017

Children, Youth and Families (CY&F) Program Grants

ACCEPT Education Collaborative, Natick, MA, $19,200
For a marketing/communications consultation.

Bethany Hill Place, Framingham, MA, $5,000
For a strategic planning consultation.

Doc Wayne Youth Services, Boston, MA, $25,000
For a program evaluation consultation.

Family Promise Metrowest, Natick, MA, $10,000
For a strategic planning consultation.

Hoops and Homework, Framingham, MA, $16,500
For board develop and strategic planning consultations.

Jeff’s Place, Framingham, MA, $20,500
For a board development consultation.

Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, Framingham, MA, $8,500
For a board development consultation.

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Framingham, MA, $9,665
For staff development.

CY&F Invitation & Discretionary Grants:
Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program, Lincoln, MA, $18,200
To strategize and pilot a new way of managing herd transition.

MetroWest Legal Services, Framingham, MA, $25,000
To provide legal representation to 30-40 undocumented immigrant youth in Framingham schools to assist them in applying for and obtaining legal status and to conduct “Know Your Rights” presentations and trainings.

Sudbury Program

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, Sudbury, MA, $7,500
Faculty stipends to pilot the Hub for Innovation.

Town of Sudbury/Goodnow Library, Sudbury, MA, $31,250
To purchase equipment and provide staff training as part of an extensive renovation to the Library’s second floor.

MetroWest Free Medical Program, Sudbury, MA, $1,200
To purchase equipment to create an additional exam room at the Sudbury location.

Organization for the Assabet, Sudbury & Concord Rivers, Concord, MA, $5,000
To create a report card on the health status of the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord rivers.

Sudbury United Methodist Church, Sudbury, MA, $25,000
In support of a capital campaign.

SWEET, Inc., Sudbury, MA, $545
A series of small projects to help eradicate invasive species in Sudbury.

Sudbury Historical Society, Sudbury, MA, $200,000 matching grant
Toward a capital campaign to renovate the Loring Parsonage to create a Town History Center. 

Farm & Local Food Initiative

Mass. Dept. of Transitional Assistance Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), $25,000
To support a state-level evaluation of the HIP project which enables SNAP participants to use their benefits at farmers markets, farms stands, mobile markets and CSAs.

Franklin County CDC/Fiscal Agent for the  Mass. Food System Collaborative, Greenfield, MA, $25,000
General support for the Collaborative’s work supporting the recommendations of the Mass. Local Food Action Plan.

Conservation Law Foundation/Legal Food Hub, Boston, MA, $100,000 over three years
General support for the Massachusetts work of the Legal Food Hub which provides pro bono legal assistance to farmers and food purveyors.

Community Program

Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, Boston, MA, $10,000
Honorariam recognizing former trustee Sharon Driscolls’s many years of service to the Foundation.

Posted on June 15, 2017

Posted in Capacity Building, Environmental Program, Sudbury Foundation News, Sudbury Program, Youth & Families | Comments Off on New Grant Awards

Working with Consultants

Wednesday, December 21st, 2016

Brain power

Most of our capacity building grants involve working with a consultant. There’s considerable value from such collaborations including gaining a fresh perspective or specific expertise. It can be especially helpful when previous efforts have stalled or stakeholders have wildly differing points of view.

But there are an equal number of headaches as well — from the resistance of staff or board members who shun interference from outsiders to the considerable added time it takes to bring the consultant up to speed about your organization.

Is it worth it?

Yes… IF you’ve thought it through, planned ahead, allotted enough time, gotten all your stakeholders on board and, most importantly, found the consultant who “gets” your organization and has the temperament to shepherd the project and your agency’s varied personalities through the process.

That’s a lot of “ifs”  – it does make your head spin — but it’s also a realistic view of what you should be thinking about before you jump in and hire a consultant.

One thing is for sure, the consultant doesn’t do all the work. In fact, most times you and your colleagues are the ones doing the deep thinking and heavy lifting. The truth is you’re the ones with the answers. You just don’t know it yet. Consultants facilitate the process and keep you moving forward. They steer you in the right direction and make sure no one is left behind. They help you get to the heart of what you need to do and to recognize how you’re going to get there.

When the stars align, the results of working with a consultant can be quite remarkable.

There’s much more to think and read about here:

Posted on December 21, 2016

Posted in Capacity Building, Children, Early Childhood/Parenting, Environmental Program, Sudbury Foundation News, Sudbury Program, Youth & Families | Comments Off on Working with Consultants

2016 Winter Grant Awards

Tuesday, December 20th, 2016

images-1The following organizations received support during our September and December grant cycles. We are delighted to have them as grant partners.

Sudbury Grants

Gaining Ground, Concord, MA, $5,000
To support Gaining Ground’s work providing healthy produce to the Sudbury Community Food Pantry, and other local pantries.

Sudbury Valley Trustees, Sudbury, MA, $10,000
To develop a master landscape plan for Wolbach Farm, the agency’s headquarters.

Town of Sudbury – Council on Aging, Sudbury, MA, $18,000
To encourage residents to support their neighbors through continued funding of the Senior Volunteer Coordinator position at the Fairbank Senior Center.

Children Youth & Families (CY&F) Grants

Communities for Restorative Justice, Concord MA, $22,500
For a marketing consultation.

Employment Options, Marlborough, MA, $15,000
For a consultation to develop a computer training program for young adult clients.

Massachusetts Audubon Society/Drumlin Farm, Lincoln, MA, $19,975
A evaluation consultation to develop assessment instruments for three programs and to train staff in program evaluation best practices.

One Can Help, Newton, MA, $5,870
To work with a social media consultant for one year to develop and implement a social media communications plan.

Taly Foundation, Framingham, MA, $13,100
For a strategic planning consultation.

Wildflower Camp Foundation, Wellesley, MA, $25,000
For communications, rebranding and website consultations.

CY&F Invitation Grants

John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation, Framingham, MA, $20,000
General support during a time of transition.

Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest, Marlborough, MA, $100,000
A combination grant to support professional development and other projects.

Farm & Local Food Initiative Grants

Boston Area Gleaners, Waltham, MA, $25,000
To work with a consultant to create a customized inventory management system to expand the agency’s ability to glean and distribute local produce to food banks and food pantries.

The Carrot Project, Boston, MA, $25,000
To work with a senior fellow for one year on client coordination, tracking and evaluation.

See our 2016 spring recipients here.

Posted on December 20, 2016

Posted in Capacity Building, Children, Early Childhood/Parenting, Environmental Program, Sudbury Program, Youth & Families | Comments Off on 2016 Winter Grant Awards

Poverty Beyond City Limits

Wednesday, November 30th, 2016

poverty-clip-art-071510-vector-clip-art-free-clipart-images-UlGIVg-clipart copyMetroWest Funders and others: Please join us for a follow up conversation with Steve Pratt from Impact Catalysts (formerly with Root Cause) on poverty in the suburbs.

While still invisible to many, poverty in suburban communities is on the rise, including our communities in MetroWest.

Steve will share findings from his most recent work based in the Greater Washington DC area.  He will compare this geography with MetroWest’s, highlight some key catalysts for change and discuss potential action steps we as funders and donors can take to reduce poverty in our local communities.

Presenter: Steve Pratt, Impact Catalysts
Date: January 11, 2017
Time: Noon to 2:00 pm
Location: The Sudbury Foundation/Grange Hall, 326 Concord Road, Sudbury, MA
Sponsor: Associated Grant Makers

To register, click here.

Posted November 30, 2016

 

Posted in Sudbury Foundation News, Sudbury Program, Youth & Families | Comments Off on Poverty Beyond City Limits

Sudbury Nonprofit Coffee 10/27

Monday, September 19th, 2016

coffee cup,jpgPlease join your Sudbury nonprofit colleagues for coffee & conversation on Thursday, October 27 at 9:30 a.m. at our meeting space on the second floor of the Grange Hall.

We’ve been hosting this gathering twice a year since 2013. It’s a chance to update us on what your nonprofit or community group has been up to, to hear what others are doing, to learn and to share. We look forward to seeing you. New organizations always welcome!

Please RSVP by Oct. 24: brunner@sudburyfoundation.org.

Posted on September 19, 2016

Posted in Sudbury Foundation News, Sudbury Program | Comments Off on Sudbury Nonprofit Coffee 10/27

Paramedics Extraordinaire

Friday, December 18th, 2015

paramedics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had quite a treat yesterday when the Sudbury paramedics stopped by our Board of Trustees meeting to demo their new equipment.

We saw first-hand the remarkable transformation emergency services in Sudbury have undergone since the implementation of the Advanced Life Support (ALS) program a few years ago. The program employs trained paramedics (rather than EMTs) who have the skills to stabilize patients on-site while therapy continues to be provided.

These medics go through rigorous training to be able to provide a level of service above that of a typical EMT. In addition to the advanced skills they learn, these providers develop critical thinking skills to help them better assess the problem and make the life and death decisions of what to do, what not to do… and when.

The Foundation has been pleased to support the Fire Department’s highly professional program, the best in the area, with two grants that funded state-of-the-art equipment.

In 2013, the department used our grant to purchase a Lucas Chest Compression Machine which provides automatic Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to patients. The unit is an electrically-powered piston device that performs accurately timed chest compressions at a precise depth. Humans cannot match the efficiency of the machine, especially when a patient is being carried through doorways, down stairs or over difficult terrain. While the machine is in operation, paramedics and EMTs can be doing other crucial activities. Fire Chief Bill Miles reports that the machine is used a couple of times a month and has literally saved lives since its purchase.

Last summer, grant funds helped purchase another valuable piece of equipment, the Advanced Life Support Training Manikin (pictured above). This is a 160-pound, life-sized model that enables Sudbury’s 12 paramedics to hone their skills by practicing techniques — like oral and nasal intubation and chest tube insertion — on a regular basis. Trainers use the model to simulate different combinations of potential medical events and can even re-enact previous cases so the medics can experiment with different approaches.

Most impressive to us were the enthusiastic paramedics themselves who are anxious to provide the best service possible to Sudbury citizens involved in a medical crisis. We are fortunate to have them.

Pictured left to right are Paramedics Michael Matros, Nick Horwath and Matt Macdonald.

Posted December 17, 2015

Posted in Sudbury Foundation News, Sudbury Program | Comments Off on Paramedics Extraordinaire

Becoming a Philanthropist

Monday, July 20th, 2015

The Sudbury Foundation is pleased to once again support the Foundation for MetroWest’s Youth in Philanthropy program – also known as “YIP,” and even doubly pleased to be able to offer two sessions of the semester-long program in Sudbury in the coming academic year.

The program meets from 7 pm to 8:30 pm in our meeting room at The Grange Hall in Sudbury and is open to high school students in the MetroWest area. CLICK HERE for details and to download the application and here for the complete schedule.

YIP teaches teens how philanthropy can create positive change in their community by giving them the opportunity to take the lead on all phases of grant making – from assessing community need to reading and vetting proposals to conducting site visits to making grant recommendations.

Students learn about the importance of the nonprofit sector and giving back to their own community. Participants form their own Board of Trustees and have the opportunity to run for leadership positions, fundraise for the program, visit local organizations, and distribute grants.

Participants will:

  • Learn leadership skills
  • Assess community needs
  • Understand nonprofit operations and impacts
  • Raise funds to support their efforts
  • Evaluate and prioritize funding requests
  • Make grantmaking and charitable gift decisions
  • Positively affect their communities

It’s also a wonderful opportunity to meet and work with a new group of friends doing important and meaningful work. Many past recipients describe the program as a life-changing experience.  Click here to learn about the grants awarded by YIP students.

For questions, please email Jennifer Ubaldino at the Foundation for MetroWest.

Posted July 20, 2015

Posted in Sudbury Program, Youth & Families | Comments Off on Becoming a Philanthropist

What’s Happening in Sudbury?

Friday, July 10th, 2015

Check out our community calendar of Sudbury activities. We’ve designed it so local nonprofits and community groups can list their big events and see when other organizations have scheduled their activities to minimize overlap whenever possible.

To keep it up to date we need your input. Please send us your event and contact information for us to post.

Posted on July 20, 2015

Posted in Sudbury Foundation News, Sudbury Program | Comments Off on What’s Happening in Sudbury?

Our Latest Grant Partners

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015

We’re pleased to announce our grant recipients for the first half of 2015.

2015 Children, Youth & Families Program Grants:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/MetroWest, Worcester, MA $16,400
To purchase new customer relationship management software and ancillary hardware.

Doc Wayne Youth Services, Boston, MA $24,000
For a fund development consultation.

Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, Framingham, MA $9,000
To develop and install a customer relationship management database to support new performance management strategies for the fundraising department.

Nature Connection, Concord, MA $23,900
For a major gifts program consultation.

OUT MetroWest, Framingham, MA, $15,000
For a fundraising consultation.

Framingham State University Foundation, MetroWest College Planning Center, Framingham, MA $25,000
In partnership with MassBay Community College, to fund the development of strategic and marketing plans for the new MetroWest College Planning Center in Framingham and to evaluate the program after one year.

Massachusetts Audubon/Drumlin Farm, Lincoln, MA $13,675
To develop a business plan to replicate and expand after-school programming in high-need communities and to pilot a program in Hudson, MA.

Minute Man Arc, Concord, MA $5,000
For a strategic planning consultation.

Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program, Lincoln, MA $20,000
To support a major herd planning and re-building effort.

Discovery Museums, Acton MA $22,000
To fund the redesign and content redevelopment of the Museums’ website, with a focus on accessibility.

Friends of Resiliency for Life, Framingham, MA $25,000
To help pilot the expansion of the RFL program into Framingham middle schools.

John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation, Wayland, MA, $10,000
To pilot the position of Director of Strategic Partnerships for a four month period.

******************************************************************

2015 Sudbury Program Grants:

Foundation for MetroWest, Natick, MA $45,000
Over three years, for continued support for the Sudbury Youth In Philanthropy program.

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, Sudbury, MA $15,000
To help subsidize the cost of the 2016 Global Leaders Summit in The Hague.

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, Sudbury, MA $9,050
To upgrade technology at the award-winning student newspaper, The Forum.

Longfellow’s Wayside Inn, Sudbury, MA $9,000
For a comprehensive analysis of property holdings for planning and preservation purposes.

Parmenter Foundation, Sudbury, MA $7,000
To fund the development of a stand-alone website for the Foundation as Parmenter VNA merges with Care Group Home Care.

Town of Sudbury/Selectmen’s Office, Sudbury, MA $7,500
To engage the town’s board of selectmen in a team building and strategic communications consultation.

Town of Sudbury, Sudbury, MA $7,055
To purchase an Advanced Life System (ALS) training simulator manikin that will enable enhanced training scenarios for the Fire Department’s Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technicians.

Sudbury Valley Trustees, Sudbury, MA $24,600
To support ancillary activities to enhance the recently-acquired Landham Brook Marsh conservation area (formerly known as Johnson Farm) in Sudbury.

Posted June 23, 2015

Posted in Capacity Building, Children, Sudbury Foundation News, Sudbury Program, Youth & Families | Comments Off on Our Latest Grant Partners

« Older Entries