Bob Hurlbut to Step Down after 21 Years at the Helm of the Cambridge Community Foundation; Tribute Raises $220,000 for New Legacy Fund
CAMBRIDGE, MA— About 280 supporters and community leaders gathered this month to honor Bob Hurlbut, Executive Director of the Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF), who has announced his retirement after 21 years. The May 13 tribute at the Microsoft NERD Center raised around $220,000 in support of the newly launched Hurlbut Legacy Fund for Cambridge.
“I was overwhelmed and it has been my good fortune to work with so many good people in Cambridge – agency heads, donors, and those who really care about the city,” Bob Hurlbut said. “It is they who deserve the praise and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Since taking over as executive director, Bob has grown the foundation from $6 million to $33 million, and forged dozens of new partnerships in his tireless effort to build community and make Cambridge a place of opportunity for all. CCF now returns a total of $1.3 million each year to a broad range of social service agencies.
“Bob convened groups, collaborated with all and wove different interests into a strong fabric of support for our entire community,” said Richard A. Harriman, President of the Board of Overseers. “He brought his unique blend of tireless energy, passion, generosity of spirit, wisdom and love of Cambridge to all that he did.”
“Bob Hurlbut has been an amazing asset to the City of Cambridge and has touched the lives of countless people. Bob is a tireless advocate for all residents of Cambridge and has dedicated his career to improving the lives of young people, families and the elderly in our community,” Cambridge Mayor David Maher said. “While Bob is retiring, his legacy will live on for years to come because of his hard work and commitment to Cambridge.”
Founded in 1916, almost 100 years ago, CCF is the only charitable foundation focused on all of Cambridge. The Foundation identifies issues and opportunities in the community, convenes organizations and people to solve community problems, helps donors establish charitable funds to address community needs, and builds a strong network of local services by providing grants and other support.
In the 1990s, the Board of Overseers recognized the need for an executive director who could grow the Foundation and increase its impact on the community. Under Bob Hurlbut’s leadership, the fund has quintupled, and become an essential partner to a range of non-profit organizations serving Cambridge residents. While Cambridge is a city rich in innovators and visionaries, 11 percent of residents live in poverty, too many are homeless or hungry, and many others struggle to reach an American dream that still seems far out of reach.
“For many of us, maintaining Cambridge’s diversity in ALL ways is a passion – one that is not easily satisfied in our dynamic city,” said former Cambridge Mayor and State Representative Alice Wolf. “It is organizations like the Cambridge Community Foundation and leaders like Bob Hurlbut that give us a shot at being able to support those friends and neighbors who might otherwise be at risk.”
A leader in efforts to address Cambridge needs, CCF builds partnerships with a broad spectrum of donors, corporations, nonprofit organizations, municipal agencies, and other institutions and individuals working to improve the quality of life for Cambridge residents in need and to make a difference in the vitality of the community.
Information about the Cambridge Community Foundation, its initiatives, and the organizations it supports can be found on our website at www.cambridgecf.org. Anyone interested in becoming involved with the Foundation, donating, or applying for grants should call the Foundation at 617-576-9966.
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Media contact: Monica R. Jimenez, communications director, Cambridge Community Foundation: 617-576-9966 or mjimenez@cambridgecf.org
