E-Newsletter January 2010

Introduction

2010 marks not only a new decade, but also the Foundation’s 15th year of connecting donors and nonprofits to more effectively meet the needs of the MetroWest region. Our year-end appeal more than surpassed our goal, and the funds we raised will allow us to more effectively achieve our mission. Thank you to everyone who supported our appeal! We look forward to working with you in the coming year.

Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti is a terrible disaster, and for those looking to support the relief work happening, the Foundation for MetroWest asks that you consider giving to one of two phenomenal local organizations that are central to providing relief there - Partners in Health and Oxfam America.

A Donor-Advised Fund Helps Meet the Needs of Area Food Pantries

At the end of December, the Foundation for MetroWest distributed $50,000 in grants to forty-one food pantries throughout the MetroWest region. The grants were awarded from the Foundation's English Family Fund.

The English Family Fund is a donor-advised fund that works to address the social and economic challenges facing members of the MetroWest community. The gift to the food pantries was part of the funds fourth quarter giving.

Concerns about access to food in this economic climate have been a concern to the staff for a while, and these grants have the potential to help these organizations continue to meet the needs of the communities they serve even after the holiday giving season.

Day of Service in Waltham

On the third Monday in December, Foundation staff members and their families and friends spent a day preparing and serving food for the homeless families currently living in a hotel in Waltham.

As we mentioned in the previous newsletter, this year the state of Massachusetts closed transitional shelters across the state to focus on a rapid re-housing of homeless families. In this process, more than 1100 families who had lived in transitional shelter were placed in hotels. In Waltham, 95 of these are living with no food service and minimal access to other services. They have 125 children, many of them who are not in school yet.

In addition to dinner, staff member’s children organized activities and games for the kids in residence.

Here are a few pictures from the event:

Access to hot meals is still a major need for the residents, if you belong to a group interested in volunteering to serve a hot meal, want to organize a drive, or donate to one of the groups working to meet the needs of these families, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call (508) 647 – 2260.

Nonprofits on Twitter

As many of you may know, the Foundation for MetroWest has quite a large following on Twitter – residents, local nonprofits, and philanthropic leaders. There are some great posts out there, and Twitter can be a great way to stay connected to what is happening in MetroWest as well as ways to get more involved in your community.

We’ve put together two lists of twitter users that we think would be helpful. You can follow what is going on in the MetroWest nonprofit world at @ffmw/metrowest-nonprofits. You can follow what is happening in the community as a whole at @ffmw/metrowest. Also, if you don’t already follow us, add @FFMW to your list.

Please Welcome Cherisse Cavan

Cherisse joined the Foundation for MetroWest’s team in the new year, and will be our new Development Assistant.

Read more about her background >