100 Greater Boston nonprofits awarded $100,000 each

WOBURN, June 15, 2016 – Cummings Foundation awarded grants of $100,000 each last week to 100 charities – all located in Greater Boston – through its “$100K for 100” program. With the conclusion of this grant cycle, the Woburn-based Foundation has now awarded more than $140 million to local nonprofits.

The organizations were chosen from a total of 479 applicants, during a competitive review process.

The $100K for 100 program supports nonprofits that are not only based in but also primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. This year, the program is benefiting 41 different cities and towns within the Commonwealth. Forty-five grant winners are located within the city of Boston, and the remainder are in the suburbs north and west of the city.

Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate Cummings Properties. Founded in 1970 by Bill Cummings of Winchester, the Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages more than 10 million square feet of space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.

“We admire and very much appreciate the important work that these 100 nonprofits are doing in the local communities where our colleagues and clients live and work,” said Joel Swets, Cummings Foundation’s executive director. “We are delighted to support their efforts.”

Approximately 300 guests gathered at a festive June 9 reception at TradeCenter 128 in Woburn to celebrate this $10 million infusion into Greater Boston’s nonprofit sector. The attendees included representatives from all 100 grant-winning organizations, Foundation staff, local public officials, and community leaders who volunteered on the Foundation’s Grant Selection Committees.

Several Foundation trustees also attended, including Richard Ockerbloom, former president of The Boston Globe, and Anthony Monaco, president of Tufts University.

Cummings Foundation founders Joyce and Bill Cummings addressed the crowd, recognizing each grantee organization by name and inviting them to shout out when their names were called. One organization shouted its thanks, followed by “Joyce for president!” which garnered hearty applause.

Bill Cummings received two long ovations when speaking about the current contentious climate in the United States.

“Never forget, my friends… Never forget that when prejudice and INtolerance of any sort are tolerated, those evils are as well condoned and encouraged,” said Cummings.

This year’s diverse group of grant recipients represents a wide variety of causes, including education, homelessness prevention, elder services, healthcare, and food insecurity. Most of the grants will be paid over two to five years.

The complete list of 100 grant winners is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

About Cummings Foundation

Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings. With assets exceeding $1 billion, it is one of the largest foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including two New Horizons retirement communities in Marlborough and Woburn. Its largest single commitment to date was $50 million to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

PHOTO: Joyce and Bill Cummings address the crowd at the $100K for 100 reception at TradeCenter 128 on June 9.

PHOTO: Treasurer Gail Steele and president Jack Steele of North Shore Rovers at Cummings Foundation’s $100K for 100 Grantee Celebration on June 9.

PHOTO: (left to right) Cummings Foundation trustee and Tufts University president Anthony Monaco with Service Dog Project president Carlene White, service dog Bentley, and board member Anne Pedersen.