The Parker Foundation

Human Services

Aaron’s Presents

$15,000 to deepen its youth leadership work in Lowell.

Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell

$100,000 in first year support for the Believe & Become capital campaign to upgrade and expand its facility.

Building Audacity

$15,000 to launch a youth civic engagement and action training in Lowell, in partnership with the Lowell Community Health Center’s Teen Block.

Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston f/b/o Lowell Food Pantry

$15,000 to support staffing needs at the Lowell Food Pantry.

Catie’s Closet

$30,000 for ongoing expansion efforts in Lowell and for operation system upgrades.

Central Food Ministry

$20,000 to purchase a new van to transport food.

Christ Church United in Lowell

$12,500 for the Parish Relief program, which provides emergency financial assistance to Lowell residents.

Dwelling House of Hope

$30,000 to purchase a new van to transport food.

Girls Incorporated of Greater Lowell

$15,000 in support of the Stepping Stones Early Education program.

Good Sports

$20,000 to donate new sports equipment, apparel and footwear to local Lowell organizations and schools.

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice

$50,000 in first-year support for a coalition implementing a civic engagement and awareness campaign revolving around Lowell’s conversion to a district-based electoral system.

Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries

$7,500 to help launch the ACE Center of New Americans in Lowell.

Mill City Grows

$25,000 to expand access to fresh and culturally relevant produce in Greater Lowell.

One Can Help, Inc.

$20,000 to provide resources to Lowell children and families involved with the juvenile court and child welfare systems.

Phoenix Multisport

$25,000 for the Phoenix Multisport Lowell location, which provides a sober active community space for area residents. 

Place of Promise

$10,000 for its adult substance use recovery residential treatment program.

Sankofa Support Services

$8,000 in support of the Diaper Distribution Program, which provides diapers and wipes to families in need.

United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley

$50,000 for the Summer Experiences in Greater Lowell (SEGL) program.

Veterans Legal Services

$20,000 for the legal clinic at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital.

The Wish Project

$20,000 in general operating support for its home goods bank for homeless families, victims of fire or disaster, and others in need.

Subtotal Human Services: $508,000

Percentage of total: 41.36%

COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants

Emergency relief grants were made during the COVID-19 pandemic to the following grantees:

Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell f/b/o Latinx Community Center for Empowerment

The Center for Hope and Healing, Inc

Coalition for a Better Acre f/b/o New American Center, Inc

Community Teamwork Inc

Dwelling House of Hope

Greater Lowell Community Foundation

Hope Dove Inc

International Institute of New England

Lowell Transitional Living Center

Merrimack Valley Project, Inc.

NFI Massachusetts, Inc.

North Shore Workers Community Fund f/b/o Lifting Up Lowellians: Assistance & Mutual Aid (LLAMA)

Northeast Legal Aid

Sankofa Support Services

YWCA f/b/o Lowell Alliance

Subtotal COVID-19 Rapid Response: $180,000

Percentage of total: 14.66%

Community and Economic Development

Community Teamwork, Inc. F/B/O African Community Center of Lowell

$43,000 in general operating support for the African Community Center of Lowell.

Entrepreneurship for All

$25,000 in second-year support to provide seed funding to launch businesses in Lowell (Total support $50,000, 2019-2020).

Greater Lowell Community Foundation

$50,000 for the Lowell Waterways Initiative and Action plan, which aims to make the National Landmark canal system and Merrimack and Concord Rivers more accessible, active, and vibrant (Total support $150,000, 2017-2020).

International Institute of New England

$75,000 to move to a new office inside the Lowell Community Health Center.

Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth (MassINC)

$5,000 for the Gateway City Innovation Awards and Summit to feature Lowell leaders and others from Gateway Cities who are advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in three key areas: civic leadership, education, and small business.

Subtotal Community and Economic Development: $198,000

Percentage of total: 16.12%

Education

Kids in Tech

$50,000 in capacity building support.

Philanthropy MA F/B/O GMA Funder Community

$10,000 to support a pooled giving fund and learning community focused on the opioid crisis. 

Project LEARN

$100,000 to increase the Lowell Public School’s capacity to recruit and retain teachers who reflect the student population’s cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds.

Subtotal Education: $160,000

Percentage of total: 13.03%

Health

Health Law Advocates

$50,000 for the Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids (MHAP) in Lowell which uses legal advocacy to help youth involved in or at risk of being involved in the juvenile justice to access the educational and mental health service they need to thrive.

Lowell Community Health Center

$50,000 for its medical interpretation work.

Merrimack Valley Project, Inc.

$20,000 in support of the Greater Lowell Opioid Transportation Program, which provides a ride to substance use treatment or rehabilitation centers from the Merrimack Valley.

Subtotal Health: $120,000

Percentage of total: 9.77%

Arts and Culture

Improbable Players, Inc.

$10,000 to underwrite performances in Lowell schools that educate students about alcohol and drug addiction. 

Lowell Makes

$25,000 to support the acquisition of a new property that will provide increased access to workshops and labs for members of the Lowell community.

New England Foundation for the Arts

$1,000 in honor of Newell Flather.

Subtotal Arts and Culture: $36,000

Percentage of total: 2.93%

Environment

Merrimack River Watershed Council

$20,000 to engage Lowell residents in a citizen-scientist program focused on sewage pollution in the Merrimack River.

Subtotal Environment: $20,000

Percentage of total: 1.63%

Memberships

Philanthropy MA (Membership)

$6,150

Subtotal Memberships: $6,150

Percentage of total: 0.50%

Total Grants 2020: $1,293,150

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