News & Press Releases

This Holiday Season Make a Difference in Your Community

They say charity begins at home, and Crossroads Community Foundation wants to remind you that there are people and programs right here in MetroWest that need your help. The holiday season is a time when many of us count our blessings and think about how we can help those who are not as fortunate as we are.  Whether you wish to donate to a cause near and dear to your heart, establish a family fund, or just support an organization you admire, Crossroads can help you get into the holiday spirit by providing the needed tools and resources to make a meaningful and lasting charitable gift.

Crossroads Community Foundation is a unique public charity that offers philanthropic services to individual donors and families while serving 29 towns west of Boston that make up the MetroWest community. In the ten years since its founding, Crossroads has distributed over $3 million dollars to area nonprofits to support their work in the human services, environmental, education and arts and cultural sectors.  Crossroads offers a high degree of personalized service for our donors, which is one of many reasons donors choose to work with us.  Our staff regularly works with families and professional advisors to design gift plans that fit every situation and donor preference, ensuring that donors receive the greatest benefit from their charitable contributions.

Crossroads Community Foundation was established to address the growing needs of local nonprofits who were not receiving much support from the Boston or Worcester-based foundations.  There was a concern that philanthropic dollars were flowing out of MetroWest, in spite of a mounting need for them.  Crossroads recognized that there are many donors who want control over not just the type of gifts they are making, but also where their charitable dollars are spent.

“Crossroads Community Foundation helps ensure that charitable gifts are targeted where they will do the most good, both now and in the future” said Judith Salerno, executive director of Crossroads. “By creating innovative programs, such as Youth in Philanthropy, a program designed to teach young people about charitable giving by giving them real money to work with, and MetroWest Matters, a grant program that distributes $1,000 each week to a MetroWest nonprofit that support individuals with special needs or families in crisis, Crossroads is committed to being a leader in community philanthropy.”
 
This holiday season, we encourage you to think about the issues you support and the philanthropic gift you would like to make, and, when you’re ready, contact us to find out how we can help.  You can learn more about the Crossroads Community Foundation at www.ccfdn.org.  To learn more about how charitable gifts made through Crossroads are already making a difference in your community, click on the Grants in Action link on our home page.

Contact:
Kim Agricola
kagricola@gmail.com
(508) 359-1750

Crossroads Community Foundation Announces 2007 Fourth Quarter Grants

MetroWest philanthropic foundation supports local nonprofit organizations by awarding over $75,000 in grants

Natick, Mass.—January 17, 2008— Crossroads Community Foundation, the community foundation for MetroWest Boston, recently awarded grants to 17 MetroWest organizations and agencies.
The following seventeen grant recipients were chosen:

ACCION USA, a pioneer in domestic microfinance, awarded a grant to provide financial services to the burgeoning Portuguese-speaking population in the Metro West region, focusing on Framingham.

Children’s Charter, Waltham, received a grant to create a client database to be used to easily access information and to help their fundraising efforts.

Danforth Museum of Art, Framingham, received a grant to help with the acquisition of an enterprise software package that will be used for registration and management of classes, events, and activities.

Employment Options, Inc., Marlborough received a grant to support the creation of a Technical Assistance Division of Family Options, a program of Employment Options offering 24 hour support and assistance to families with parental mental illness.

HERvoices, Newton, received a grant to aid in creating a program to increase understanding between longtime Framingham residents and immigrant Brazilian residents.

Leadership MetroWest, Framingham, received a grant to be used to hire a consultant to work with them on strategic fund development.

New England Wild Flower Society, Framingham, received a grant to produce a garden map and brochure for Garden in the Woods, their botanical garden and cultural center.

Organization for the Assabet River, Concord, received a grant to help expand its Water Wise Workshops to more towns in the watershed.

Springwell, Inc., Watertown, received a grant to create a program to identify elders with mental health conditions, determine if they are receiving treatment, and identify what barriers prevent them from receiving treatment. 

Waltham Alliance to Create Housing, Waltham: received a grant to help build the capacity of their classroom and conference space by making physical and technology improvements.

The Center for Arts in Natick, Natick, received a grant to expand their Little Artists theatre program for pre-school children.

Greater Waltham ARC, Waltham: received a grant to help with their Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) training for their staff in order to expand programs for the increasing number of ASD diagnosed children and families.

Parenting Resource Associates, Inc.: Lexington, received a grant to strengthen their COMPASS program for homeless families.  COMPASS prepares homeless families to be successful in their communities and works to prevent future family homelessness.

Cooperative Elder Services, Inc.: Lexington, received a grant to build an Alzheimer's video library to be used for ongoing staff training, caregiver support groups, and community education.

Community Farms Outreach, Waltham: received a grant to help build greater recognition for Waltham Fields Community Farm.

A Suitable Image, Framingham: a non-profit focused on that helping low income women successfully transition into the workforce, received a grant to help implement software to help better meet the needs of both their clients and donors.

Milford Regional Medical Center (Center for Adolescent Health), Milford: received a grant to conduct a needs assessment to determine the resources adolescents and their families require to ensure the physical, social, and emotional health of adolescents living in the CAH service area.

Crossroads Community Foundation makes grants quarterly to charitable, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations in the MetroWest Boston region.  MetroWest  non-profits are encouraged to apply.  Visit www.ccfdn.org for grant program announcements.

About Crossroads Community Foundation

Crossroads Community Foundation Celebrates Giving During Community Foundation Week, November 12–18, 2007

MetroWest philanthropic foundation has distributed over $3 million to support local nonprofit organizations

Natick, Mass.—November 12, 2007— Crossroads Community Foundation, the community foundation for MetroWest, will join more than 770 community foundations across the United States in celebrating charitable giving during Community Foundation Week, November 12–18. Community foundations gave approximately $3.6 billion last year to help fund programs impacting health care, the arts, the environment, education, disaster relief and a host of other issues.

Crossroads Community Foundation is a unique public charity that offers philanthropic services to individual donors and families while serving 29 towns that make up the MetroWest community. In the ten years since its founding, Crossroads has distributed over $3 million dollars to area nonprofits to support their work in the human services, environmental, education and arts and cultural sectors.

“Community foundations are at the heart of our cities and towns. With a deep understanding of MetroWest, its nonprofits and its needs, Crossroads helps ensure that charitable gifts are targeted where they will do the most good, both now and in the future” said Judith Salerno, executive director of Crossroads. “By creating innovative programs, such as MetroWest Matters, a grant program that distributes $1,000 each week to a MetroWest nonprofit that supports individuals with special needs or families in crisis, Crossroads is committed to being a leader in community philanthropy.” Crossroads has distributed $3 million over the past 10 years, including recent grants to REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, Teen Leep, and Greater Waltham ARC, all based in Waltham, MA.

Community foundations are one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy in the United States, with total assets of more than $51 billion. Every state in the U.S. is home to at least one community foundation. Although community foundations make up only 1 percent of all U.S. grant making foundations, they account for more than 9 percent of all foundation giving. While the communities that each foundation serves vary greatly, every community foundation shares in the commitment of improving the lives of others.

Community Foundation Week began in 1989 with a proclamation from former president George H.W. Bush and a congressional briefing on community foundation activities. The observance has made donors seeking to maximize their philanthropic dollars aware of community foundations’ charitable activities and services.

About Crossroads Community Foundation

Crossroads Community Foundation Receives $1.1 Million To Establish The English Family
Fund & Launch “MetroWest Matters” Weekly Grant Program

Through Innovative Giving Program, Crossroads Allocates $1,000 Per Week To MetroWest
Nonprofits That Support Individuals With Special Needs or Families in Crisis


NATICK, MA, April 12, 2007 – Crossroads Community Foundation, the community philanthropy
foundation for MetroWest (towns west of Route 128 and east of Route 495), today announced the
launch of an unique philanthropic program called MetroWest Matters, whereby Crossroads
allocates $1,000 per week to a specified MetroWest nonprofit, such as a homeless shelter, a
special needs school or a children’s trauma health center. The new program is enabled through
the generous support of Ted and Maureen English, who recently established the English Family
Fund at Crossroads with a $1.1 million gift.  As part of MetroWest Matters, Crossroads will
recommend 10-12 organizations each quarter for grant support services. Nine organizations have
already received $1,000 grants, including Charles River ARC; Greater Marlboro Programs;
MetroWest Outreach Connection; Women of Means, Inc.; Smiling Kids, Inc.; Room to Dream
Foundation, Inc.; South Middlesex Opportunity Council; Crossroads Community Foundation; and
the Children’s Charter Trauma Clinic. “We are delighted that so many people in need across
MetroWest will benefit through the English’s tremendous caring and generosity,” said Crossroads
Trustee Mary Power. “MetroWest Matters is a reflection of how Crossroads partners with donors
to develop creative and innovative philanthropy programs that address personal giving goals and
turn visions into reality.” She continued, “The English’s desire to help community crisis
organizations, combined with Crossroads’ in-depth knowledge of the MetroWest nonprofit
landscape and their ability to manage complex giving initiatives, has resulted in a unique program
with a broad impact.” “As a long-time MetroWest resident, we wanted to give back to this
community and assist individuals and families in urgent need,” said Ted English. “Partnering with
Crossroads provides us with a seasoned team that can recommend where grants will make the
most impact in accordance with our family’s personal giving goals. Crossroads can also manage
the complexities of weekly grant distributions. This frequency of grant giving is important to me, yet
it would be difficult and time-consuming to do on our own. We are thrilled to be able to support
MetroWest in this way, and we look forward to seeing individuals and families receive assistance
across the community.”

As part of the MetroWest Matters program, Crossroads is working with hundreds of nonprofits and
other area funders to identify potential grant recipients. Organizations that are interested in being
considered for a grant through the program are asked to provide a summary of their work along
with a description of how they would use the $1,000 gift. Priority is given to agencies that identify
critical needs within the populations they serve such as catastrophic illness, home fires, or similar
crisis situations, or to agencies that demonstrate a compelling opportunity for grant funding.
Crossroads will use its $1,000 grant as part of its ongoing efforts to build greater awareness of the
range of MetroWest nonprofits.

“Two weeks ago, we received $1,000 through the Crossroads’ MetroWest Matters program, and
we are using the grant to help several MetroWest families with very ill children,” said Stefan
Nathanson, from the Room to Dream Foundation. “This fund is enormously helpful in our efforts tosupport families that have seriously ill children. We are also pleased that the program will help so
many other nonprofits across the region.”

Crossroads Community Foundation and The Volunteer Family Partner
To Foster Family Philanthropy & Volunteerism Across MetroWest
Thursday, June 15, 2006
FraminghamTAB

Crossroads and The Volunteer Family to form partnership - Crossroads Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of family life in MetroWest (towns west of Rte. 128 and east of Rte. 495), announced that it has formed a strategic partnership with The Volunteer Family, a nonprofit organization that matches families interested in volunteering with nonprofits that need assistance.

Under the terms of the agreement, Heather Jack assumes the position of Director, Grants & Programs, at Crossroads. She will also continue in her role as president of The Volunteer Family.

The partnership provides donors and nonprofits with philanthropic resources - from family volunteering through planned giving - in the MetroWest region. Philanthropy across MetroWest and other regions nationwide is becoming increasingly important as the country prepares for a massive transfer of wealth that will move an estimated $41 trillion from one generation to another through bequests over the next 50 years.

"As a society, it's crucial that we help our children understand early on the importance of giving, and that volunteerism and philanthropy become lifelong habits," Kathan Tracy, co-director of Crossroads, said in a press release. She continued, "We believe that starting the process early helps families raise socially responsible children. Through our partnership with The Volunteer Family, we can begin working with families with children, and tailor giving options as philanthropic goals evolve from one generation to the next."

Co-Director Judy Salerno said, "Philanthropy has helped shape MetroWest communities for centuries, and it's important to realize that giving can take many forms during a person's lifetime." She continued, "Our partnership with The Volunteer Family provides MetroWest with a full range and continuum of giving options - from helping families find volunteer opportunities that will help MetroWest nonprofits, to managing complex funds to support organizations financially in perpetuity."

The organizations will work together to identify worthy nonprofits, seek cross-fertilization opportunities, and help families determine where to channel their time or funds and get the best return. They will also embark on joint marketing strategies and host educational events.

"The Volunteer Family enables families to easily find meaningful opportunities where they can volunteer together while contributing to their communities," said Jack. "Crossroads is the leading resource and catalyst for philanthropy in MetroWest, and I am delighted to be working with them. By partnering with Crossroads, we can help families take advantage of the giving options that are right for them now, and also help them identify and leverage additional giving options over the years as their philanthropic goals change."

While many MetroWest residents work in Boston, they come home to towns rich in resources, often created and sustained by private philanthropy.

Libraries, schools and health organizations, museums such as the DeCordova, Danforth and Discovery, environmental habitats like Drumlin Farm and Broadmoor Sanctuary, and the Charles, Concord, Sudbury and Assabet river watersheds, are among local institutions that have benefited from volunteerism and private philanthropy over the decades.

Heather Jack founded The Volunteer Family in 2003. The goal of the Framingham-based organization is to strengthen familial bonds while helping local agencies serve the community's most pressing needs.

Jack founded The Volunteer Family after her own efforts to find family-oriented volunteer opportunities proved challenging and time-consuming.

Additional information can be found at http://www.volunteerfamily.org.

Based in Natick, Crossroads is led by a committee of experienced investors, and has distributed over $3 million to nonprofits across MetroWest since its founding in 1996. Crossroads holds $6.5 million in assets comprising more than 45 funds, ranging in size from $10,000 to more than $1,000,000.

Donors can establish endowed or non-endowed funds including: Donor Advised Funds; Designated Funds; Field Of Interest Funds; Agency Endowments; Scholarship funds; and Discretionary Funds. The Foundation administers each fund separately, yet pools assets into a large, diversified portfolio for the strongest impact.

Based in Natick, Massachusetts, Crossroads is led by a committee of experienced investors, and has distributed over $3 million to nonprofits across MetroWest since its founding in 1996. Crossroads holds $6.5 million in assets comprising more than 45 funds, ranging in size from $10,000 to more than $1,000,000.  These funds promote economic security, create vibrant and safe neighborhoods, foster academic achievement, support human wellness, protect the environment, and enhance the quality of life across MetroWest communities.  Donors can establish endowed or non-endowed funds including:  Donor Advised Funds; Designated Funds; Field Of Interest Funds; Agency Endowments; Scholarship funds; and Discretionary Funds.  The Foundation administers each fund separately, yet pools assets into a large, diversified portfolio for the strongest impact.

The Youth in Philanthropy group consisted of eight high school students in grades 10 to 12. Crossroads educated the youth about philanthropy, community needs and nonprofit organizations. The program empowered students to be active citizens in their community through the vehicle of grant making. The Weston group reviewed 12 grant proposals from local nonprofit organizations, made site visits to selected agencies, and decided which of these nonprofits should be granted funds to support their programs.

As part of the experience, the group successfully raised $1,000 of the grant money. The money was raised over Memorial Day weekend by doing odd service jobs - babysitting, pulling weeds, cleaning cars and dog walking.

"The Youth in Philanthropy program is often a life-altering experience for students," said Jennifer Ubaldino, Youth in Philanthropy coordinator. "It offers students a unique opportunity to explore connections with the community, learn new skills, and build enriching relationships with peers and adults."

She added, "The group’s careful consideration of each grant proposal was admirable. I was able to see each student’s growth and understanding of the community throughout the process. I was very proud of them."

The group weighed many factors from each grant proposal, including impact on children and youth, needs of the population, and the program budget. After extensive debate, the Weston Youth in Philanthropy students chose to fund the following organizations:

A Place to Turn, a food pantry in Natick, with $3,500 to supply food for families in need with an emphasis on providing school-age children with more nutritional support for healthy development.

Communities United Inc. in Waltham, with $3,500 to provide new equipment and materials for the Waltham preschool program to promote fitness and health.

Young Entrepreneurs Alliance, with $3,000 to promote a student-run business initiative with students at Keefe Technical High School in Framingham.

"Crossroads Community Foundation gave us the opportunity to be part of the Youth in Philanthropy program, allowing us to learn about the nonprofit world and open our eyes to our surrounding community’s need," said Lauren Margolis, a senior at Weston High School.

Another member of the group, senior Melea Atkins, said she learned "how much need there actually is in the MetroWest area. It also gave me a chance to learn about myself and what I care about."

This year's participants would like to see the club continue, but it needs funding for another year – so they're using their new-found skills.

Johnson, Olin and Simmons-Stern are now the applicants, to the Fireman Foundation, for a grant so it can continue.

Needham Youth in Philanthropy participants this year were Aaron Girelli, Emily Hagan, Sarah Johnson, Flynn Lincoln, Hannah Okonow, Katie Olin, Deanna Osganian, Xavier Provencher, Sarah Schultz, Nick Simmons-Stern, and Becki Steinberg.

Amy Wyeth can be reached at awyeth@cnc.com