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GRANTS IN ACTION


Earlier this week, the Claflin Hill Youth Symphonies performed their free winter concert with the support of a grant from the MetroWest Fund for Arts & Culture. Congratulations to all who performed! To learn more about other arts and cultural programming supported by the Foundation for MetroWest, visit our website.
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January 2016 Newsletter
FROM THE DIRECTOR
I would like to express our gratitude to all those who made a donation to our 2015 Year End Appeal. Your gifts provide the resources the Foundation needs to sustain and enhance the quality of life in MetroWest.
  
As a result of our community's generosity, we are pleased to announce that the Foundation granted $1.6 million in 2015. 

While financial support is an important part of our work in the community, the Foundation's relationship with nonprofit organizations goes beyond our grant decisions. We are committed to building organizational capacity and helping nonprofits achieve their mission through a wide range of ongoing programs and resources.
 
As we enter the New Year, I'm pleased to announce a wide variety of new workshops and seminars being offered free of charge to MetroWest nonprofit leaders. The workshops and seminars are designed to help you host better events, raise more money, and make a greater impact. Space is filling up quickly- register today! 
  
Best wishes for 2016,
 
Judy Salerno
Executive Director
IMPACT
Young Philanthropists Visit Local Nonprofits
  

Winter weather couldn't keep young philanthropists from The Fenn School away from Minute Man Arc in Concord,  Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick, Resiliency for Life in Framingham and The Food Project in Lincoln earlier this month. These nonprofit site visits are an important part of the Youth in Philanthropy program offered by the Foundation for MetroWest.
 
Through the semester-long Youth in Philanthropy program, students at Fenn and throughout MetroWest discover the power of local philanthropy when they help us allocate funds to worthy youth-serving organizations. But the experiences teens gain is even more valuable than the grants they make. Youth in Philanthropy participants acquire powerful leadership and life skills as they learn first-hand what it takes to work as a team, build consensus among peers, and ask thoughtful questions. 

Lexington Comes Together and Raises Over $340,000!
  
In November of 2015, Lexington residents and Founding Members of the Community Endowment of Lexington (CEL), Leslie and Colin Masson, agreed to match dollar for dollar all gifts made to the Endowment through the end of the year up to $100,000. We are delighted to announce that thanks to the partnership and generosity of the Lexington community, that goal was achieved twice-over bringing the grand total to $340,000! Thank you! 
 
The Community Endowment of Lexington, an Endowed Fund of the Foundation for MetroWest, was established by Lexington residents as an initiative to build a permanent endowment to strengthen the community. Working in partnership with area nonprofits, CEL supports Lexington in order to make life healthier and more enjoyable for residents in the areas of health and human services, arts and culture, environment, and community building. 

CENTER FOR PHILANTHROPY EDUCATION
Capacity Building for Our Future

Through the generous support of our donors and the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation, we are able to offer the Center for Philanthropy Education. These services and resources help build the capacity, visibility, connections, and expertise that our local nonprofits need to deliver their missions, and, in turn, strengthen the MetroWest region. MetroWest nonprofit staff, volunteers, board and committee members are welcome to attend.

Upcoming Seminars:
The Skills of Conflict Resolution
Thursday, January 28, 2016
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Natick, MA


Make Special Events Even More Special, From Step One
Thursday, February 11, 2016
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Wellesley, MA


Is There a Capital Campaign in Your Organization's Future? Getting Ready to Get Ready
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
9:30 Am - 11:30 AM 
Location: Wellesley, MA


Mobilizing Your Board to Raise More Money
Thursday, March 10, 2016
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Webinar

IN REMEMBRANCE
Arthur Nelson
  
Local philanthropist and former Foundation Board Member, Arthur H. Nelson, recently passed away at the age of 92. A resident of Weston, Nelson dedicated his life to entrepreneurship and philanthropy founding more than twenty companies and a dozen nonprofits. Remembered for his dedication to community, particularly Waltham, Nelson's spirit of philanthropy was strong and continues to serve as an inspiration to us all.  
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