The Greater Lowell Community Foundation celebrated and honored the work of local nonprofits at its Discretionary Grants Program announcement reception on Thursday, Feb. 6.  Nearly $140,000 in competitive grants were awarded to 21 local nonprofits within a framework of Social Education, Children’s Services, Elder Services and Water Resources initiatives.  The focused areas collectively work toward creating a better quality of life for all residents in Greater Lowell.

These grant awards are part of a competitive grant process in which nonprofit organizations apply for funds and an independent committee reviews the proposals and selects awardees. The Discretionary Grants Program is one of several competitive grant programs offered through the Community Foundation each year.

“Through generous contributions from our community, we are thrilled we have been able to grow our assets as a foundation in order to provide increased critical financial support through our grants program to nonprofits serving Greater Lowell,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “We know this support allows our community to thrive now and in the future.”

2019 Discretionary Grants

Social Education Grants

• International Institute of New England (Lowell):  Citizenship Education and Application Services (CEAS) - $15,000
• Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust: Youth Climate Action - $7,500    
• Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership: Project Genesis - $15,000
• Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School: Youth Advocating for Reduced Gun Violence - $3,067
• Mill City Grows: Food Justice Squad - $15,000
• Playworks New England (Boston): TeamUp Program in Lowell - $5,000
• Project LEARN, Inc.: Portrait of a Graduate - $15,000

Children’s Services Grant

• Aaron’s Presents (Andover): Empowering Youth Givers in Lowell - $5,000       
• Budget Buddies (Chelmsford): Girl’s LIFE (Learning Independence through Financial
  Education) at Justice Resource Institute - $5,000
• On The Move, Inc. (Methuen): Personalized Book Donations for Lowell
  Elementary Students - $2,500   
• Raising A Reader Massachusetts (Boston): Raising A Reader Lowell - $2,500    

Leclair Elder Services Grant

• Gaining Ground, Inc. (Concord): Growing Fresh Produce for Hunger Relief
  with Community Volunteers - $3,000   
• Lowell Council on Aging: Khmer Senior Outreach - $5,500       
• Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) (Cambridge):
  Lowell Immigrant & Elder Services Program - $3,500   
• Merrimack Valley Food Bank: Mobile Pantry - $5,500  
• Power of Flowers Project (Tewksbury): Individual Bouquet Deliveries
  and Flower Therapy Workshops - $5,500          
• Project Citizenship (Boston): Citizenship for Elders in Greater Lowell - $5,000  
• The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell: Food pantry - $5,500          

Water Resources Initiative Grant

• Nashua River Watershed Association (Groton): Water Quality Monitoring
  for Improved Recreation and Aquatic Weed Control - $5,000     
• Northeast Legal Aid, Inc.: Merrimack River Project - $5,000     
• OARS, Inc. (Concord): Getting to Swimmable - Tracking bacteria pollution
  in the Lower Concord River - $5,000    

For more information on the Greater Lowell Community Foundation please visit www.glcfoundation.org.