Foundation for MetroWest & MathWorks Provide $285,000 to 57 Local Nonprofits

NATICK – The Foundation for MetroWest, the community foundation serving the cities and towns of MetroWest, and MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have adapted and accelerated their 25th Anniversary Grant Program partnership to provide immediate support to all eligible program applicants.

The Grant Program, which was originally slated to provide $250,000 in funding to a select few non-profit organizations chosen through a community voting process, is instead delivering $5,000 grants to 57 MetroWest-serving nonprofits, increasing the total amount awarded to $285,000.

The grants will help an array of nonprofits address any pressing needs they themselves identify, including family support, food insecurity and youth development.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is putting significant additional strain on community organizations that were already working to support so many neighbors in need,” stated Judy Salerno, executive director of the Foundation for MetroWest. “The decision to accelerate the grant program was immediately apparent and we are grateful to MathWorks for their partnership and their ongoing dedication to this community.” 

The launch of the 25^th Anniversary Grant Program coincided with the launch of Impact MetroWest, an interactive website designed to identify the area’s strengths and challenges and to jumpstart investments in long-term solutions and programs.

The initiative highlighted strong civic engagement, generous open land and low crime rates as successes in the region while population changes, financial hardships, and educational disparities were noted as challenges impacting the daily lives of MetroWest residents.

The Foundation, in partnership with MathWorks, planned to award $250,000 in grants to organizations that used the Impact MetroWest findings to create positive change in their community. In February, dozens of nonprofits submitted their innovative ideas through creative video applications, and a community-wide vote was scheduled for mid-April to select the winners.

“In difficult times like these, it is especially important that MathWorks supports our local community through the non-profit organizations serving it,” said Jeanne O’Keefe, senior vice president and CFO at MathWorks. “Adjusting the Grant Program to benefit more organizations sooner was simply the right thing to do.”

“The Foundation is grateful to all applicants for rising to the challenge and creating thoughtful and inspiring videos, and sharing their vision for a better, stronger MetroWest. COVID-19 has shown us that their passion and determination to better their community is truly indispensable,” added Salerno.

“We are humbled by the generosity and support of the Foundation for MetroWest and MathWorks,” said Lino Covarrubias, CEO of Jewish Family Service of Metrowest. “The 25^th Anniversary Grant has enabled us to continue doing our important work, even in the face of the extraordinary challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re committed to helping our neighbors endure and emerge from this period stronger than before.”

Here’s a list of all the nonprofits:

• A Place To Turn
• Advocates, Inc.
• Asperger/Autism Network, Inc.
• Bethany Hill Place
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest, Inc.
• Boston Area Gleaners
• Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest
• Boys for the Better
• CareGroup Parmenter Home Care & Hospice, Inc.
• Charles River Watershed Association
• Commonwealth Green Low-Income Housing Coalition
• Community Investors
• Cultural Alliance of Medfield
• Daniel’s Table
• deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
• Dignity Matters Inc.
• Discovery Museum
• Doc Wayne Youth Services, Inc.
• Employment Options, Inc.
• Family ACCESS of Newton
• Framingham Downtown Renaissance
• Fresh Start Furniture Bank
• Friends of 2Life Communities
• Friends of the Waltham Family School, Inc.
• Gaining Ground
• Gore Place Society
• Hoops and Homework
• Hope and Comfort

• Jeff’s Place Children’s Bereavement Center
• Jewish Family & Children’s Service
• Jewish Family Service of MW
• John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation
• Land’s Sake
• Lovin’ Spoonfuls Inc
• Massachusetts Audubon Society
• Massachusetts Bay Community College
• Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress
• Mental Health Collaborative
• MetroWest Legal Services
• Milford Youth Center
• Minding Your Mind
• Natick Center Associates, Inc.
• Needham Community Farm, Inc.
• Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston, Inc.
• RIA House, Inc. — Ready.Inspire.Act
• Rise Above Foundation
• TCAN (The Center for Arts in Natick)
• The Arc of Massachusetts
• The Marlborough STEM Council
• The Salvation Army
• The Umbrella Community Arts Center
• The Wayside Inn Foundation
• Waltham Partnership for Youth
• Waypoint Adventure
• Wayside Youth & Family Support Network
• Worcester Natural History Society dba EcoTarium
• YMCA of Greater Boston/Waltham Branch