LOWELL, MA – Elected for life as a trustee, per the foundation’s governing document of
the will of the late Theodore Edson Parker, is Lowell leader, Vladimir Saldaña – the
youngest-ever trustee and the first Latino to hold this position. Vladimir has served as a
Parker Advisor for three 2-year terms. Originally from the Dominican Republic, he
moved to Lowell when he was nine and is a proud graduate of Greater Lowell Technical
High School, Middlesex Community College, and UMass Lowell. He has distinguished
himself through his service to our community as a former board member for the
Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell. He
is the Board President of Fortaleza, Inc, a Trustee of Middlesex Community College,
served as the North Regional Director for the Office of Congresswoman Trahan, and is
currently in real estate with the Bell Tower Commercial Real Estate Group, formally
known as The Edge Group Inc. Vladimir’s contributions to our community have earned
him notable recognition, including being honored as a Community Champion by
Community Teamwork, and receiving the Steve Joncas Community Connector Award
from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.
Three Lowell women known for their service and dedication to the Lowell community
have been appointed to 2-year terms as Advisors: Mercy Anampiu, Yun-Ju Choi, and
Shamir Rivera-Quintal. Their role is to serve as the eyes, ears, and voices for Lowell’s
diverse community to help guide the Parker Foundation‘s grantmaking. This will be a
challenging time deciding on grants, so we are delighted to have the participation of our
new advisors and trustee.
In addition, we strengthened our office management and operations with the addition of
Lisa Tellekson, whose background in philanthropy enhances our grantmaking process.
She staffs the office Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30am – 4.30pm. Trustees and
advisors are available to discuss ideas, grants, and organizational needs by making an
appointment via [email protected].
This quarter we made grants to 12 Lowell nonprofit organizations with a total of
$402,500 awarded, and the bulk going to food, shelter, youth, and veterans’ services.
All Parker grants serve Lowell residents.
Grant applications exceeded available funds: 32 applications were received, 12 were
approved, and the focus was primarily on basic human needs. Most of this quarter’s
grant recipients received a percentage of the amount requested rather than the full
amount. We wish we had sufficient funds to meet the requests of all applicants’ needs
and encourage organizations to be realistic in their applications and expectations. We
are very grateful for the staff and volunteers of our local nonprofit organizations who are
committed to serving the community of Lowell.
The next round of grant applications, both mini and regular, are due March 31st, with
review and funding decisions at the end of April.
Q1 2025 Grants awarded:
Alternative House
$45,000 for conversion of appliances to updated, energy-efficient models in housing for
survivors of domestic violence
Angkor Dance Troupe
$50,000 to support the expansion of the Development program
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell
$50,000 in support of the Pathways to Ending Generational Poverty program
Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston
$25,000 for Catholic Charities Merrimack Valley Basic Needs Program
Dwelling House of Hope
$45,000 toward purchase of a small box truck for collection and distribution of food and
products for underserved individuals
Lowell Youth Leadership Program
$25,000 for 2025 Summer Camp support
Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership
$150,000 for a permanent home for MVHP’s Homeownership Programs
Open Table
$7,500 to support the Healthy Food in Lowell program
Proleung Khmer
$25,000 to support the groundwork of the organization focused on Cambodian
Remembrance and Resilience
Veterans Legal Services, Inc.
$20,000 for civil legal aid for economically disadvantaged veterans from Lowell
The Wish Project
$25,000 for basic needs for Lowell children and families
Women’s Money Matters
$10,000 for the expansion of financial empowerment programs for women and girls
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Contact:
Karen Carpenter
February 25, 2025
President
941.225.3893
[email protected]
Lisa Tellekson
Foundation
Administrator
617.888.2081
[email protected]
