Wakefield Educational Foundation among 100 local nonprofits awarded $100,000 each

WOBURN, June 13, 2016 – Cummings Foundation awarded 100 local nonprofits grants of $100,000 each last week through its “$100K for 100” program. Wakefield Educational Foundation was among this year’s winners.

The organizations were chosen from a total of 479 applicants, during a competitive review process. With the conclusion of this grant cycle, Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $140 million to local nonprofits.

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 and trustees, local public officials, and community leaders who volunteered on the Foundation’s Grant Selection Committees.

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.

Wakefield Educational Foundation will receive $25,000 per year for four years to create state-of-the-art fitness areas, where innovative adventure and team-building activities will be offered.

“Wakefield Educational Foundation is an all-volunteer organization, working to make a meaningful difference in the health of Wakefield students,” said Joyce Vyriotes, associate executive director of Cummings Foundation. “We’re delighted to help the foundation improve the health and wellness of students through physical activity.”

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.

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, 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. In Wakefield, the Cummings organization owns property on Audubon Road.

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 of Winchester. 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: Cummings Foundation trustee and Tufts University president Anthony Monaco (left) poses with co-president of Wakefield Educational Foundation, Elizabeth Russell, and Wakefield Public Schools director of health and wellness Brendan Kent.