Sudbury Foundation Gives Over $400K To Local Charities, Towns

SUDBURY, MA — The Sudbury Foundation on Tuesday revealed its latest round of grants: more than $400,000 that will benefit a few dozen nonprofits and initiatives across the region.

“The Sudbury Foundation is delighted to support a wide range of organizations and projects with our most recent round of funding. The Capacity Building grants were paused during the pandemic, and we are thrilled to see so many organizations taking advantage of this opportunity to strengthen their organizations,” Sudbury Foundation Executive Director Sonia Shah said.

Local entrepreneurs Herbert Atkinson and Esther Peterson started the Sudbury Foundation in the 1950s to help local students pursue higher education. The foundation has grown over the years to help a variety of causes, from local food programs to events and activities in Sudbury.

Here's the breakdown of grants announced this week:

Children, Youth & Family Capacity Building Grant Program

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MA/MetroWest: $25,000 to convert the current donor database to the national platform.
• Family Promise MetroWest: $10,000 to implement a customized case management software platform.
• Hoops and Homework: $16,000 for staff training and development tools upgrade.
• Jeff’s Place: $25,000 to hire a consultant(s) to do a complete communications assessment.
• MetroWest YMCA: $19,500 to provide resources and mental health support for full and part-time staff impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• SPARK Kindness: $25,000 to hire a consultant to develop a Communications Strategy and Plan.
• The Food Project, Inc.: $15,000 to redesign the website.
• The Guild for Human Services: $25,000 to hire The Center for START Services to provide specialized training and consultation to reduce the use of emergency services.
• ThinkGive, Inc.: $22,000 to hire a consultant for leadership training.

Farm and Local Food Initiative

• Mass Food System Collaborative: $50,000 multi-year grant for general operating support.

The Sudbury Program Grants

• MetroWest Free Medical Program: $25,000

For general operating support

• Town of Sudbury Summer Concert & Block Party: $7,720 to fund a Sudbury summer concert and block party in August 2022.
• Town of Sudbury Bruce Freeman Rail Trail: $30,000 to hire a consultant to assist in a public art and signage project along the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
• Wayside Inn Foundation: $23,000 to fund the Mishoon Project, an opportunity to learn about Indigenous history and culture by making a dugout canoe using traditional methods.

Hunger Relief Grants

• A Place to Turn, Natick: $11,000
• Open Table, Maynard: $11,000
• Acton Community Supper and Food Pantry: $5,500
• Daniel's Table, Framingham: $5,500
• Greater Framingham Community Church: $5,500
• Hudson Community Food Pantry: $5,500
• Marlborough Community Cupboard/UWTC: $5,500
• Maynard Food Pantry: $5,500
• Natick Service Council Food Pantry: $5,500
• Pearl Street Cupboard and Café, Framingham/UWTC: $5,500
• Salvation Army Food Pantry, Framingham: $5,500
• Mt Calvary Community Supper, Acton: $3,000
• My Brother's Table-Good Shephard Parish: $3,000
• St. Vincent de Paul-Lincoln Food Pantry: $3,000
• Stow Food Pantry: $3,000
• Framingham Food Pantry, Hope Worldwide: $2,000
• Lucy and Joe Press Food Pantry/Jewish Fam. Service of MA: $2,000

Community Grants

• Leadership MetroWest: $1,595
• MetroWest Nonprofit Network: $5,000