Foundation for Metrowest

 

 

Construction will continue in November, dates TBD.

 

Sunday 10/20 from 11-3 at Sudbury Farms.

Sunday 10/27 sell to tailgaters at the Patriots home game vs the Browns. We expect to gather in Needham around 12:45 to drive to Libby Pero's house near the stadium, where she has graciously agreed to allow us to park. Selling team and drivers from Needham still TBD, and we could use your help! This marks a change in plans away from a second selling date at Sudbury Farms on 10/27 because of our recent positive sales experience in Foxborough, and because it conflicts with the selling opportunity before the game.

 

Tuesday 10/22 at 11:30 before the meeting at Needham Sheraton

 

Saturday November 2nd at Needham High School. Lots of volunteers will be needed for setup, cooking, games and cleanup.

 

Monday 11/25 (reserve the date, further details TBD)

 

Connect with Local Business while learning how to answering the question: "What do you do?" 

Tuesday 11/12 from 12-1:30 at the Sheraton Needham. $10 includes lunch, a presentation and a handbook by Elevator Pitch Coach Andrew Winig

 

The most pressing priority among our community projects is a push to raise money to construct a sensory room for the Tynan School in South Boston.

 

 

Our speaker was Jay Kim, Chief Operating Officer, Foundation for Metrowest (FFM). FFM serves 33 communities bounded by routes 128 and 495 on the east and west, up to route 2 as the northern and route 109 as the southern boundaries. The foundation acts as a connector, educator, funder and ally for nonprofits in our region. There are 17 similar, regional foundations in Massachusetts. FFM's mission is to lift up the lives of people that live in the Metrowest region by partnering with philanthropies and identifying nonprofits to support. In 2018, contributions from Metrowest residents and businesses allowed FFM to distribute over $1.5mm dollars in grants to local nonprofits working in our community. Areas of focus for grant-making are: arts & culture, environment, family support, hunger relief and youth development.

 

Beyond grant-making, the foundation provides support for local nonprofits so that fewer dollars go to administration and more can go to their mission. Five Metrowest communities have permanent, endowed funds that are administered by FFM to extend their philanthropic reach. Last year, FFM's Center for Philanthropic Education taught 770 nonprofit professionals from 643 organizations across our region. Their Youth in Philanthropy program last year taught about 300 kids to fundraise, pick beneficiaries, and distribute grants.

 

In the coming year, FFM will be doing a community needs assessment that will result in a public resource that celebrates the strengths and shines a light on the challenges facing our communities. Metrowest region challenges include poverty, hunger and isolation: 12% of the population of Framingham lives below the poverty line ($24,000 per year per family); 10% in Waltham; 8% in Milford. Over 40% of people over 65 years old in the region live alone.