Press Release

At the end of the 19th Century Central Square consolidated its position as Cambridge’s emerging downtown. The business district expanded, erasing the physical distinction between the old villages into a civic center. Cambridge had long since become a heterogeneous city of immigrant working people, college faculty, and commuting professionals, but it was still wrestling with the contradiction between its image as a middle-class city of single-family homes and the presence of a large working class that needed decent affordable housing. Even after the opening of the subway in 1912, Central Square residents continued to shop locally for personal and household goods and services. The number of small businesses continued to grow. Regional and local department store chains sold a variety of clothing and household goods at affordable prices. This was a period where local hardware, furniture, shoe, and drugstores proliferated, and service-orientated businesses flourished. One unique aspect of the place is that many salespeople lived in nearby neighborhoods, contributing to the family atmosphere in the Square.  

As the Cambridge Community Foundation prepares to begin its second century, it has reimagined its offices at 99 Bishop Allen Drive as a convening space for local nonprofit organizations, grown its staff to meet the challenges of life in the 21st century – and created a new logo to encapsulate its identity. “We wanted a new emblem to capture key elements of our vision – a vibrant, diverse and inclusive city with a culture of giving and opportunity for all,” said Richard Harriman, board chairman of the Foundation. “We thought about the variety, complexity and sheer intensity of Cambridge and reached for those qualities.” The Foundation was established in 1916, making it one of the oldest community foundations in the country. The only foundation with the whole city of Cambridge in its purview, it is a key supporter of nonprofit organizations, distributing $1.2 million in grants in 2015 to meet local needs and support the aspirations of Cambridge residents. The Foundation provides advocacy and civic engagement support to deal with urgent local challenges and partners with donors to provide a permanent source of charitable funds for the community. “Logos are a challenge, but this was fun to imagine,” said

Beth Milkovits, chief wealth strategist for Boston-based Atwater Wealth Management, was elected to the board of directors of the Cambridge Community Foundation at its quarterly meeting in September. At Atwater, she creates wealth strategies for clients that integrate elements of philanthropic, tax, and estate planning, and shapes the strategic vision of the firm. Atwater is a comprehensive wealth management firm providing investment management and comprehensive planning. Earlier, Milkovits was vice president at Eaton Vance Investment Counsel where she coordinated specialized planning services and was responsible for business development and marketing. She is a former director of development at the Boston Foundation. A Cambridge resident, she is a member of the board of the Cambridge YWCA, currently serving as chair-elect. Milkovits is also a member and former president of the Boston Business Associates Club. She is a member of Boston Estate Planning Council and the Financial Planning Association of Massachusetts. A graduate of Colby College, she has been an instructor at Northeastern University in the Master of Science in Taxation Program. “Beth brings great professional strengths and personal qualities to the Foundation board,” said Richard Harriman, chairman of the Board of Directors. “A high-energy leader with an instinct for collaboration,

A civic leader of great compassion and wide reach, and an ardent supporter of the Cambridge Community Foundation, Ellen Moot died in Chocorua, N.H., on September 3, 2016. “Ellen was involved in everything in Cambridge,” said Patricia Pratt, who herself served 13 years on the Foundation board with a 12-year stint as president. “She knew so much – so she ran the distribution committee.” After years of helping to shape the Foundation’s grantmaking work, Ellen finally stepped down in May of 2001 after serving for 18 years. Made an honorary board member at that point, she accepted her new status as a professional opportunity – and continued to attend board meetings and contribute from a seemingly bottomless fund of knowledge and compassion. “In spirit and in deed, she shaped the Foundation,” said Robert Hurlbut, longtime executive director of the organization, who retired in 2015. “She urged me to join it after I retired as headmaster of the Park School. Her knowledge of Cambridge and of the nonprofit organizations that served it and contributed to the qualities that make this city so special was truly inspiring.” Her engagement with the Foundation has continued. “I was delighted to meet Ellen earlier