May is always a great time of year at the Foundation. That’s when we get to recognize our newest Atkinson Scholarship recipients and their families at a breakfast reception at the Grange Hall.

This year’s honorees included:

Olivia Bankuti, Lauren Chunias, Nathan Galloway, Celia Greenlaw, Megan Griffin, Madison Herel, Amanda Irvine, Yarik Loban, Devon McCann, Haley Neil, Robyn Ralli, Eric Reale, Fergal Seiferth, Kathryn Thomas and Connor Young.

Thirteen of the students will graduate from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in June; Ms. Irvine will graduate from Algonquin Regional High School and Mr. Galloway will graduate from Framingham High School.

These students were selected because they exemplify the qualities valued by former Sudbury residents Herbert and Esther Atkinson, who established the Foundation in 1952 and for whom the scholarship is named.

In recognizing the students, Sudbury Foundation Executive Director Marilyn Martino acknowledged their many contributions both in and out of school as well as their depth of character. “You already have what you need to be successful in college and beyond,” she told the recipients. “and while there are bound to be some ups and down in the coming years, we’re confident that each of you will contribute in a positive way.”

Atkinson Scholarship recipients receive $5,000 in scholarship assistance and an opportunity to reapply for aid each year of their undergraduate academic career.

Posted May 10, 2012

It’s a good example of how to present your organization in a clear, succinct and compelling manner. You can watch it here.   While you’re there, take a look at the other five innovator presentations as well. All fascinating organizations who have mastered “the pitch” with support from Root Cause’s Social Innovation Forum.

Posted May 9, 2012

With its rolling pastures, ancient stone walls, spectacular views, and picturesque farm buildings, Pantry Brook Farm is an iconic reminder of Sudbury’s agrarian history. In addition, the property boasts habitat for a state-listed endangered species, and it connects to over 2,000 acres of federal, state, and local conservation land.

“Pantry Brook Farm rings every conservation bell,” said Ron McAdow, SVT’s executive director. “Community character, productive agricultural land, and important wildlife habitat. We are grateful that Carole and Dick Wolfe are giving Sudbury the opportunity to permanently protect this wonderful landscape.”

According to Sudbury Foundation Trustee Chair Susan Iuliano, “This grant acknowledges our support for this important effort to conserve what is not only a high priority open space parcel for the Town but also one of the most beautiful tracks of land in Sudbury. With this restriction, the land will remain protected forever.”

Sudbury voters will decide at the Annual Town Meeting commencing on May 7^th whether to commit $7.76 million of Community Preservation funds toward the $7.91 million purchase. The Sudbury Foundation Grant and other private donations being sought by SVT are needed to cover transaction costs and to establish a permanent stewardship endowment for the conservation restriction. The CR will be jointly held by SVT and the Town, with SVT assuming responsibility for annual monitoring of the property.

The historical buildings on the property will not fall within the area covered by the conservation restriction, but landowners Carole and Dick Wolfe plan to restore them and place them under a historical preservation restriction at a later date.

“Tax-deductible contributions to the effort to protect Pantry Brook Farm can be made by visiting SVT’s website at http://www.sudburyvalleytrustees.org/donate-pantry-brook-farm or by mailing in a gift to our headquarters at 18 Wolbach Road, Sudbury, MA 01776,” according to Christa Collins, SVT Director of Land Protection.

Posted April 30, 2012

Notice anything different about the Grange Hall?

It’s all dressed up as a Vermont country store for a small role in the film Captain Phillips starring Tom Hanks and directed by Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy).

Phillips, you may remember, is the American sea captain who in 2009 offered himself as a hostage when Somali pirates boarded his cargo ship. He was saved in a dramatic high-seas rescue by U.S. Navy Seals.

Our little Grange Hall was one of several buildings in historic Sudbury Town Centre to get a temporary makeover yesterday to accommodate a brief drive-through scene for the movie depiction of Phillips’ hometown, Underhill, Vermont.

But alas, the morning shoot in nearby Lincoln took longer than expected and the Sudbury Centre scene was scrapped.

Posted March 29, 2012

The awards shine a spotlight on nonprofit organizations and individuals making a difference in their communities so that the public can appreciate the value of these organizations.

The awards are given out each year at a State House ceremony held on Nonprofit Awareness Day, scheduled this year for June 11.

Click here for more information. The dealine for nominations is March 28, 2012.

Award categoried include:

Advocacy

This award recognizes a nonprofit organization whose work has affected significant public policy change through the education and mobilization of constituents, the general public, and/or public policy decision makers.

Collaboration

This award recognizes two or more nonprofit organizations that have partnered to achieve an outcome that furthers the mission of each organization and could not have been achieved separately.

Communications

This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that effectively used new and/or traditional media to increase the use of programs and services, or to create awareness of a specific issue or need.

Innovation

This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that has made substantial progress toward key outcomes through use of new approaches or strategies.

Board Leadership

This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that exemplifies best practice in Board governance and effectively partners with staff resulting in improved outcomes and/or increased resources.

Leadership

This award recognizes a nonprofit leader whose strategic vision, passion, perseverance and collaborative style have led to extraordinary organizational or programmatic results.

Young Professional

This award recognizes a nonprofit leader whose strategic vision, passion, perseverance and collaborative style have led to extraordinary organizational or programmatic results.  This award is targeted to individuals 35 years of age or younger.

Posted 3/21/12

So we’re just delighted to work with MWNN again this year to bring Christine back on March 30, 8:30 am to 2:30 pm at the UCC Conference Center in Framingham for a workshop that will focus on major donors and “The Ask.”

It’s a chance to learn how to identify the most likely major gift donors, how to make appointments with them, and how to ask for the major gift.  The idea is to build comfort and confidence while reinforcing the essential elements of trust, mission, and appreciation.  Christine will focus on:

• How to move from impersonal mass mailings to personal appeals
• How to build the personal relationships that will garner larger donations
• How to know when a donor is ready to become a major donor
• How to identify what amount to ask a donor for
• How to actually make the ask – when to ask, what to say, and what NOT to say.

And yes, there will be role play. It takes practice to get to the point where you can make the ask with ease and grace.

We hope you’ll attend!

To correct common misunderstandings about abuse and promote real solutions to dating violence, here are some tips and guidelines to follow from Teen DVMonth:

The abuse is never the victim’s fault. It may be tempting to focus on what the victim could have done to avoid abuse. Nothing a victim does invites or excuses abuse. There are many reasons a person stays in an abusive relationship. Liking the abuse is not one of them.

Telling someone to “just leave” the relationship is not the answer. There are many reasons why teens and 20-somethings stay in unhealthy relationships. For one, breaking up can be the most violent time in an abusive relationship. Without understanding the obstacles a young person may face and helping him or her through a safe separation, the situation usually gets worse, not better.

Take relationships among youth seriously. Even if a person is young, his or her relationship still matters. By assuming teen relationships are just “puppy love,” adults risk overlooking the seriousness of dating violence. Abuse among youth can be just as destructive as among adults, if not more so. Dating abuse can lead to unwanted pregnancy, eating disorders and even suicide.

Dating violence happens in every type of relationship, in every community. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, male or female, gay or straight, confident or shy. Anyone can become part of an unhealthy relationship and no one has a predisposition to becoming a victim of abuse. Victims do not begin the relationship with “low self esteem.”

Dating violence isn’t just physical. Emotional and sexual violence can be just as, if not more, devastating to a young person’s health than physical violence. Learn more about the types of abuse.

Do not advise teens to fight back. When a victim violently lashes out against his or her abuser, the violence often escalates. The abuser may even take that moment to “prove” the violence is mutual and, sometimes, to press charges. Moreover, fighting back does not end the violence. It is much more effective to seek legal help or make a safety plan.

There’s never a point where you should “cut off” a friend who is being abused. Part of an abuser’s tactics is to isolate his or her victim. Without a supportive community, the victim finds it harder to leave the unhealthy relationship. Being a good friend, listening and supporting the victim’s decisions are the best ways to show him or her that there are alternatives to the abusive relationship. Learn more about how to serve as an effective ally.

We have some great local resources in MetroWest:

• REACH Beyond Domestic Violence
• Sudbury, Wayland, Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable
• Domestic Violence Services Network

Posted February 26, 2012

Join staff from the Foundation for MetroWest (FFMW) on the second of three Insight Tours and hear directly from agency directors, employees, volunteers, and service recipients about the needs in the community, the valuable services these organizations provide, and the impact they make on individuals and families in MetroWest.

The first Insight Tour of 2012 will spotlight three family support organizations in Waltham, and includes lunch at the Elephant Walk Restaurant.

Consider joining FFMW on:
Thursday, March 1, 2012
9:30 am to 1:00 pm

The tour will make stops at:
Communities United, a high quality pre-school education and family services agency serving a diverse population of young children.
Waltham Family School, a new Even Start Family Literacy Program in Waltham.
Waltham Fields Community Farm, which supports farmland preservation, hunger relief and education.

Please RSVP by February 24th to Cori Rosenberg at crosenberg@foundationformetrowest.org or 508.647.2260.

The Insight Tours are funded by a grant from the Sudbury Foundation.

Posted February 1, 2012

Following her graduation from Skidmore College last summer, Atkinson scholarship recipient and talented artist Hannah Mode used an Atkinson Opportunity Grant to work with the Awamaki Weaving Project in Peru, helping impoverished Quechua women  revitalize an endangered weaving tradition while encouraging their financial independence. An exhibit of Mode’s photography from her two-month volunteer experience and a sample of weavings from the village of Patacancha are on display through February 19 at the Concord Art Association.

Photo by Hannah Mode

Posted January 20, 2012

The 2012 Children, Youth & Families 

For the past 10 years our Regional Grants Program has funded a broad range of nonprofits in the 10 towns surrounding Sudbury.

Beginning in 2012, we will narrow our grant focus to support agencies serving Children, Youth and Families. Our goal is to help shift the life trajectories of young people facing economic and personal barriers to success.

We’ve spent the last year reading, listening and chatting with grant partners, issue area experts and other funders to help craft a funding strategy that will best serve children, youth and families in our catchment area. Based on that input and feedback, our new Program will invest in Capacity Building projects that nurture leadership, enhance management and operational effectiveness and, most importantly, strengthen the financial sustainability of youth-serving agencies.

We’ll be hosting two grants cycles in 2012 using a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Preliminary details can be found here.

We’re pleased to introduce this new program and invite you to contact us with comments, questions and suggestions.

Posted December 29, 2011