Winning Home, Inc. Pledges $263,333 to Programs for Local Children

WOBURN, Mass. (February 16, 2017) Winning Home, Inc., a private, non-profit charitable organization that provides services and support to economically, socially, physically, emotionally, or mentally handicapped or disadvantaged children and their families, announced today a total commitment of $263,333 in grant monies to organizations devoted to supporting the development and welfare of area children.

“Winning Home has been funding programs that benefit children on the North Shore since 1998, and we have been fortunate to aid valuable programs that directly enhance the lives of our local children,” said Tom Martin, president of Winning Home. “We are fortunate to close 2016 with ample dispersed funds that support many new and returning programs, and are actively seeking applications for the 2017 grant season.”

Winning Home closed 2016 by funding 11 programs. Successful applicants include:

Council of Social Concern: $80,000

A charitable, community-based agency, Council of Social Concern requested funds to support agency programs that provide low-income children and their families with emergency and supplemental food assistance, affordable early education and childcare, parenting education classes, and support services to individuals and their families.

Life Saver Ministries, Inc. $10,000

My Father’s House, operated by Life Saver Ministries, is a parenting program for homeless teenage mothers and their children. While living at My Father’s House, mothers are required to complete high school and to continue their education or career training, and find employment.

Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program: $5,000

Lovelane is a therapeutic horseback riding program that provides services to 130 special needs children. Funds will be used for tuition assistance.

Woburn Community Educational Foundation, Inc. $5,000

The mission of the Woburn Community Educational Foundation is to increase private investment and community involvement in the Woburn Public Schools, with a goal to support educational programs and initiatives that empower teacher creativity and drive innovation.

Pathways for Children: $5,000

This grant will fund Pathways for Children’s School Age Care program, which provides ‘out of school time’ education for 70 K-12 students in the Gloucester center. They also provide robust social service support for children and families who require additional assistance.

Raw Art Works: $15,000

Supporting 500 at-risk youth in Lynn, Raw Art Works offers a continuum of more than 20 free programs in the arts, including film, visual and expressive art groups, single gender groups, mentoring, and programming for at-risk elementary and middle school youth.

Lazarus House Ministries: $25,000

Lazarus House supports families and individuals who are homeless and/or struggle with poverty. Statistically, homeless children perform below-average due to poor cognitive development and the circumstances of their homelessness, such as constant mobility. Lazarus House provides, a clean, nurturing, and safe environment for children to excel while parents work to improve their living situation.

The Children’s Room: $10,000

The “Parenting While Grieving” educational series, hosted by The Children’s Room, teaches parenting skills and education on how children of different ages experience and express grief. Research has consistently shown children are better able to cope with a death when they believe their surviving parent understands how they feel, and when their parent is supported around their own grief experience.

Social Capital, Inc.: $15,000

The mission of Social Capital, Inc. (SCI) is to strengthen communities by connecting diverse individuals and organizations through civic engagement. Together with the Woburn Public Schools and the James L. McKeown Boys and Girls Club of Woburn, SCI will use grant monies to fund the Woburn Youth Wellness Project, which will provide Woburn middle schoolers with the tools, skills, and mechanisms needed to improve overall emotional wellness, particularly in light of a recent epidemic of bullying and instances of suicide ideation.

Gaining Ground: $10,000

Gaining Ground is a non-profit organic farm in Concord, Mass. that grows vegetables and fruit with the help of hundreds of community volunteers, which is then donated to area meal programs and food pantries. Winning Home has pledged $30,000 to be dispersed throughout a period of three years.

James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn: $83,333

Winning Home has supported the Woburn Boys and Girls Club since 1998, with a 17-year commitment totaling $1.6M in community support. The mission of Woburn Boys and Girls Club is to inspire youth to find their greatness, through programs centered on leadership, team-building, and community enhancement.

To apply for a 2017 Winning Home Grant, please visit http://www.winninghome.org/apply_grant.html.

About Winning Home

Winning Home’s mission is to help local children and families in need. The Winning Home property was put into trust more than 100 years ago to be used as an orphanage and for the support of needy children. Since its conversion from a landowner to a charitable trust, Winning Home has granted more than $4 million to area charitable organizations.

Please visit http://winninghome.org for more information.