LYNN — Family & Children’s Service of Greater Lynn, Inc. is one of 140 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 to $500,000 each, through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program.
The Lynn-based organization will receive $33,333 of that money over three years. F&CS was one chosen out of a total of 590 applicants during a competitive review process.
The organization is a multiservice community nonprofit which has operated since 1885, and supports underserved and socially-vulnerable populations to build stable, productive and healthy lives. It serves low-income, primarily immigrant families, individuals and children in both group and home settings in English, Spanish and Khmer.
While F&CS has offices in both Lynn and Chelsea, it has grown to serve a wide area including Lynn and communities to the north, as well as communities in Chelsea and the harbor area — including Charlestown, East Boston, Revere and Winthrop.
“The award will not only allow us to raise the standards for the families and communities we serve, but it will also allow us to impact and support more families in the Greater Lynn community,” said Executive Director Selvin Chambers.
Chambers said the funds will be used to grow their Parenting Education and Family Support (PEFS) programs. In these programs, F&CS carries out services in families’ homes, and at the community-based Family Resource Center. At both locations, F&CS offers parenting empowerment in the form of family support services, child development screenings and much more. PEFS programs thrive because, in addition to the resources and information provided by F&CS, there is an inherent element of social support, solidarity and commitment to collective well-being among the participating parents and families.
The Cummings grant program supports nonprofits in Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties. Cummings seeks 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. The Woburn-based commercial real-estate firm leases and manages 10 million square feet of debt-free space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.
“We aim to help meet the needs of people in all segments of our local community,” said Cummings Foundation Executive Director Joel Swets. “It is the incredible organizations we fund, however, that do the actual daily work to empower our neighbors, educate our children, fight for equity and so much more.”
With the help of about 80 volunteers, the Foundation first identified 140 organizations to receive grants of at least $100,000 each. Among the winners were first-time recipients as well as nonprofits that had previously received Cummings Foundation grants. Forty of this latter group of repeat recipients were then selected to have their grants elevated to 10-year awards ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 each.
“We have adopted a democratic approach to philanthropy, which empowers an impressive roster of dedicated volunteers to decide more than half of all grant winners each year,” said Swets. “We benefit from their diverse backgrounds and perspectives, they benefit from a meaningful and fulfilling experience and the nonprofits often benefit from increased exposure and new advocates.”
Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $300 million to Greater Boston nonprofits.
