View a photo slideshow of the the 2019 Annual Dinner Watch the remarks from the 2019 Annual Dinner The Cambridge Community Foundation’s ‘We are Cambridge’ Annual Dinner on May 6, 2019 drew 350 civic leaders to the Charles Hotel to celebrate our city—its kindness and caring, inclusive diversity, and sense of possibilities.  The community gathering drew the who’s who of Cambridge from all sectors—universities, nonprofits, businesses, philanthropists, as well as local artists celebrated for their spoken word represented by Regie Gibson, who opened the evening with a reading about what is to be American. The changes that Cambridge is facing, with its booming economy and escalating real estate costs, and pride in our city’s values were underscored by all speakers. “One measure of the justness of society is how it treats the least fortunate, the most vulnerable among us. When I look out tonight, I see many, many people who are committed to trying to do more for those who are less fortunate,” said President Lawrence S. Bacow. “That’s why you are here, that’s why I am here with you. We know we have the responsibility to leave the world a better place.” Superintendent Elow, who grew up in

April 30, 2019—Cambridge, MA The Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF) has announced its first ever CCF Social Innovation Award, a new competition identifying and supporting the emerging innovators developing solutions to urban problems in Cambridge. The competition is open to all—individuals, students, groups, entrepreneurs and nonprofits—who are making a difference in the quality of life in Cambridge. Applications are due May 10. “In a city like Cambridge--an epicenter of innovation and home to socially-minded residents--we know there are original, creative and daring ideas that could, with small resources and light touch interventions, have huge impact in our community,” said Geeta Pradhan, president of the Cambridge Community Foundation. “The CCF Social Innovation Award is an opportunity to fuel these ideas and create a pipeline for social innovators with the next great idea for Cambridge and beyond.” Applications will be judged by an expert panel of local civic leaders, including Cambridge Mayor Marc McGovern; Mary Ann Bates, executive director of Poverty Action Lab at MIT; Conan Harris, senior vice president of policy and external affairs at College Bound Dorchester;  Risa Mednick, the former director of Transition House; and Lori Lander, artist, founder of Many Helping Hands and CCF Board member. Awards range

The Cambridge Community Foundation has appointed Jessica Martin, former director of the Boston Foundation’s think-tank The Boston Indicators Project to a new role: Cambridge Community Foundation Fellow. This year-long appointment will support research on the intersection of innovation and equity in Cambridge. “We are delighted to add Jessica to our team,” said Geeta Pradhan, president of the Cambridge Community Foundation.  “Jessica’s knowledge of and passion for advancing social impact through open data and civic technology will be incredible assets as we dive into the impact of our innovation city—Cambridge—and the relationship between innovation, growth and issues of equity.” As the Cambridge Community Foundation Fellow, Jessica will support CCF’s role as a civic leader in the community, by providing the research support and analysis for the Foundation’s upcoming report, titled Equity and Innovation Cities, to be released this fall. The report is supported in part by Microsoft New England Research & Development Center’s Civic Technology initiative. Jessica has been working closely with Geeta Pradhan to develop a framework for understanding the nuanced relationship between income inequity and economic vitality in thriving innovation cities like Cambridge.  In her role as fellow, Jessica will continue the effort and help lead the partnership

Gail Roberts is a force for good in the world. Widely admired for her work with Gail Roberts, Ed Feijo & Team at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, she is a Cambridge resident with an unending commitment to young people, to those in need, and is a powerful advocate for nonprofits in Cambridge and Boston. In her role as a Director of the Cambridge Community Foundation, Gail is known for her ability to connect people, to advocate for their needs, and for her unparalleled flair with our annual dinners. When asked what matters to her, Gail always says “the ability to give back to the community.” Her eyes sparkle with joy as she describes how organizations have helped a young mother in distress, a family, or a community of people seeking support. And, she’s always quick to defer credit to the hard work and passion of nonprofits. At the Foundation, Gail leads the strategy for our Annual Dinner, and she serves on the Development Committee; this year, she established the Gail Roberts Fund. In addition to her work with CCF, she is active with UNICEF USA, the Mount Auburn Hospital, the Huntington Theatre Company, and Furnishing Hope of Massachusetts. In

On Monday April 22, 2019, the Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF) and Facebook partnered to bring free refurbished computers along with job search and interview skills training to nearly 100 low-income Cambridge residents participating in local workforce programs and seeking jobs in the city. The CCF program, Tech-cellerate, works with corporate partners to put computers and technology into the hands of residents who need them most. Facebook Boston donated the laptops and provided in-person training led by Facebook staff, including technical recruiters and local talent recruiters, at their Cambridge-based offices. City Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui joined CCF and Facebook to welcome recipients. Kia Floyd, Facebook Head of Public Policy, Northeast, addresses the group CCF worked with local nonprofits in Cambridge to identify program participants who would benefit most from the training. Participating nonprofits and workforce programs included the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, Parenting Journey, Heading Home, Compass Working Capital, as well as the City of Cambridge’s Community Learning Center, Office of Workforce Development, Youth Centers, and the E-Team Machinist Training Program of MassHire Metro North Workforce Board  which received a 10-laptop mobile lab. “We are delighted to be able to work with our community and corporate partners and make

The Cambridge Community Foundation distributes $944,378 in grants, with $692,878 going to 93 local nonprofits & to scholarships Jump to a list of spring 2019 grants April 3, 2019—Cambridge, MA The Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF) and its donors have awarded $944,378 in grants this spring, with $692,878 going to 93 local nonprofits and to scholarships. The grants are funded through CCF’s Community Fund, our endowment and Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), and investments in ongoing CCF initiatives. The only foundation focused exclusively on the needs of Cambridge residents, CCF supports nonprofit organizations involved in human services, workforce training, housing, hunger, homelessness, elder services, youth and early childhood services, education, and the arts. Through these investments CCF supports shared prosperity, social equity, and cultural richness in Cambridge. “Every year the number of grant requests CCF receives increases; this spring was no exception. It’s clear there is a dramatic need for support for our nonprofit sector, which serves residents of all ages, especially the most vulnerable in our community,” says Geeta Pradhan, president of the Cambridge Community Foundation. “CCF and our donors are committed to helping as many organizations as we can through large and small grants from our Community Fund and

When TFC Financial launched the TFC Financial Charitable Foundation, advancing their commitment to promoting financial literacy and supporting the Greater Boston community, they turned to the Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF) for counsel on funding strategies and a deeper look at organizations that work in the community. Daniel Kern, TFC’s Chief Investment Officer and a CCF Board member, made the connection between Renée Kwok, TFC Financial CEO, Leann Sullivan, a TFC financial planner, and CCF staff. In February, 2019, following the review of several programs, the TFC Charitable Foundation offered grants to organizations supporting Cambridge and Boston-based families: Cambridge Housing Authority’s Work Force Program and uAspire.   There was immediate resonance with the Work Force and uAspire’s work in advancing social equity in distinct areas of people’s lives, specifically through workforce training and college preparation. For young people from low-income families, the opportunity to attend college can be transformational, launching them and their future families on a path to prosperity.  However, navigating the unchartered territories of a college environment, self-advocating, learning how to take leadership, managing tight budgets, and dealing with financial issues and paperwork around loans and financial aid are intimidating challenges, especially for first-generation college students.  For Renée Kwok, TFC’s new philanthropic organization was a move that was ‘on mission.’ “As a wealth management firm, we frequently counsel clients on charitable giving strategies. With the new Foundation, we are establishing our own philanthropic

An essential aspect of ensuring social equity is the focus on individual, family and community well-being.  It is about asking if we have the policies, systems, structures and social supports to buffer the stresses of day to day living and traumas that arise from crisis. Ultimately it is about building our social capital and connections in the community, so everyone feels they have someone to turn to should the need arise.    The 2017 Cambridge Needs Assessment study, co-funded by the City of Cambridge and CCF, highlighted Economic Security; Housing Affordability and Mental Health as three of the city’s top tier needs.   According to the study, Cambridge is a relatively healthy city compared to the state. The city’s parks and open spaces, bicycle pathways, transit access are amenities that support health lifestyles. 99.6% of Cambridge residents are covered by health insurance. However, low- and middle-income households, as well as particular racial groups that face inequity are both most at risk to experience adverse health outcomes and are the most challenged to address them.   The report points to the Cambridge Public Health Department’s Community Health Assessment which identified ‘Mental/Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse’ as the number one health priority for Cambridge.  Recent and ongoing research and thinking are increasingly substantiating

The Cambridge Community Foundation, in partnership with Cambridge Mayor Marc C. McGovern and Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, has expanded its immigrant legal defense fund to support individuals who live and work in the Somerville community, as well as Cambridge.  The expanded fund has been renamed the United Legal Defense Fund for Immigrants, reflecting the growing need for legal support for immigrants across city borders.  By unifying efforts to raise funds for the most vulnerable families in our community, we can help valued neighbors and stabilize families impacted by the stress and uncertainty of ongoing shifts in TPS and DACA status, and those seeking asylum.  CCF expects to distribute grants from the United Legal Defense Fund for Immigrants in the fall of 2019, to address this urgent need. The Cambridge Legal Defense Fund for Immigrants was launched in March 2018 with an ambitious goal of raising $500,000 to help immigrants get the legal services they need to stay, legally, in their community. Last year, the Cambridge Community Foundation distributed $255,000 in grants to four local non-profit legal assistance organizations—De Novo (formerly Community Legal Services and Counseling Center), Greater Boston Legal Services, Irish Immigrant Center (IIC), and Political Asylum Immigration

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife Coretta drove a movement that elevated the people. On February 9, 2019 at the 33rd Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Brunch, a power-house crowd of elected officials, civic leaders, social justice architects, and engaged Cambridge residents, both young and old, came together to honor their legacy and nurture the flame of the civil rights movement, which is very much alive in our community. The Cambridge NAACP entitled the event “A Tribute to Women” and honored and acknowledged six exceptional Cambridge women and their tireless efforts toward social justice and community building, as well as all those in our community who fight for justice. The voice of every speaker was strong and resolute, from the invocation by Reverend Brenda Brown, to remarks by NAACP leaders, including the Cambridge branch’s President Kenneth Reeves and First Vice President Richard Harding, to elected officials and the honorees themselves. But one voice rose up among them all. Photo credit: Seacia Pavao “The oppressed and marginalized are not voiceless, they’re simply unheard,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley in her keynote address. “When we actively listen to the people, when we are motivated and