E-Newsletter: January 2012

From the Director—It’s All About Connections

This month I had the opportunity to listen-in on a conversation between a Boston Globe reporter and three of our Youth Action Council participants. The writer was collecting material for what became a great story on the work we do in our Youth In Philanthropy program which appeared in Globe West. We are pleased that she spent the time with us, and that it resulted in such a warm and clear report on what we do with youth, and why we do it.

The most meaningful part of the process for me was listening to these amazing young people describe the program and what it means to them. They talked about how important it is to understand all aspects of philanthropy—from fund raising to volunteering, to evaluating grant applications and making award decisions. As they spoke about their experiences working together, understanding nonprofit organizations and making informed choices, I was reminded of how many different ways we, as a community foundation, interact with our region and its residents.

One of the ways we bring donors and nonprofits together is through site visits. We bring both youth and adults to see and hear the stories first-hand, and to meet and understand the staff. The variety of needs, and the dedicated people who serve those needs, become tangible and real for the participants. It is an invaluable connection.

Connecting people to other people, breaking down barriers, and promoting understanding is a large part of what we do here at Foundation for MetroWest. Our Board Chair Dinners and nonprofit trainings gather individuals from all over the region to talk, share ideas, and learn together. This year’s Youth Action Council connects young people from 11 MetroWest communities in experiences of working together that they will remember, and build upon, as they go forward.

Through the connections we build, across communities and among nonprofits, we strengthen MetroWest. Together we can make a difference—today and in the future.

Happy New Year.

Judy Salerno
Executive Director

Empowering Youth—Boston Globe Showcases Youth In Philanthropy

Read what Youth Action Council participants have to say in this great article that appeared in the Boston Globe>

Empowering Youth—Service Day Yields Surprises for Youth Action Council

A boot. A baby doll. A football. These are just some of the “treasures” that Youth Action Council members pulled from Lake Cochituate during their Service Day on December 3, 2011. Participants came together under the direction of Big Heart Little Feet for waterway and trail clean-up at Pegan Cove Park in Natick.

“We want the members of our community-based Youth Action Council (YAC) to experience all aspects of philanthropy, and Service Days are an important component of the program”, says Jennifer Ubaldino, Youth In Philanthropy Coordinator. “In addition to the volunteer experience, these days help students understand more about nonprofit organizations and the work they do. They also learn more about working together to achieve a goal.”

YAC participants picked-up trash, debris and broken glass from a couple of areas, and helped to cut back invasive species that threaten trees.

This Service Day was organized by YAC member Alex Mahoney, a Sherborn sophomore who also participated in the program last year. Volunteering is a priority with the 2011-2012 group, so more trips are expected in the coming months.

Big Heart Little Feet is a program of the Lake Cochituate Watershed Council, one of the Foundation’s environmental grant recipients for 2011. The Youth Action Council is part of the Foundation’s Youth In Philanthropy program designed to empower youth to impact their communities.

Announcing—$55K Distributed to 37 Food Pantries in MetroWest

Food pantry grants are awarded from the Foundation’s English Family Fund and Herbert and Esther Atkinson Fund. Learn more>

Sharing the News— Plugged In Chooses Dup15q Alliance Thanks to 12-Year Old Guitarist

The way 12-year old guitar student Nelson Barnett spoke about his brother convinced Plugged In to choose the Dup15q Alliance as the charity to benefit from their concert. Learn more>

Nonprofit Resources—Need a Preventative “Legal Checkup”?

Lawyers Clearinghouse, an organization that has been matching pro bono attorneys with nonprofit organizations in need of legal assistance since 1988, has launched a new program for nonprofits. The Legal Assessment Program involves a preventative “Legal Checkup” which brings in lawyers to review and evaluate the corporate governance of nonprofit organizations to ensure that the organization meets legal requirements and follows best practices in business conduct.

Corporate governance issues may include: articles of incorporation, bylaws, minutes, board training, record retention, code of ethics, conflicts of interest, whistle blower policy, insurance, IRS and state filing compliance, privacy and intellectual property, and employment policies. The program is designed to help ensure that organizations are up to date in their filings and following best practices in regards to governance and fundraising activities.

For more information about the Legal Assessment Program see www.lawyersclearinghouse.org, or contact Machiko Sano Hewitt at 617-778-1954 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Community Events

The following is just a short list of MetroWest events that may be of interest. Consult our Community Calendar for a more complete listing.

The Center for the Arts in Natick (TCAN), Butterworth Marionettes: Carnivale, Saturday, Jan 28, 11:00 am
Intricately carved puppets whirl from the stage and through the air into the audience, inspired by infectious global music. Learn more>

Drumlin Farm, Celebrate Ground Hog Day, Thursday, Feb 2,
9:30 am
Help the farm’s famous groundhog decipher the weather clues and deliver her forecast. Learn more>

Amazing Things Art Center, The Secret Garden, begins Friday, Feb 10, 8:00 pm
The Secret Garden re-imagines the beloved, classic book by Frances Hodgson Burnett in luminous musical style. See all the dates and times>

Commonwealth Ballet, 20th Anniversary Gala, Saturday, Feb 11, 5:00 pm
Includes a silent auction, dinner, performance by Company dancers and dancing to ONLINE. Learn more>

Concord Museum, Tea for Two: An Adult/Child Tea with Louisa May Alcott, Saturday, Feb 25, 12:00 noon
Make the day a special outing by sipping cocoa or tea and listen to stories of Louisa’s adventures and her book Little Women. Learn more>

Submit an Event

We are happy to provide information about events and activities being offered by the terrific nonprofits in MetroWest. But we need your help to do so. To submit an event, please send an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with the event details and date.

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