Looking at a New Year for Community
The beginning of a new year at the Community Foundation of Middlesex County (CFMC) is a time to pause and reflect on the many acts of kindness in 2020. Yes, the pandemic presented challenges and tested our ability to pivot and proactively address the immediate needs of local nonprofits and all who rely on their critical programs and services. Yet, those very challenges gave us opportunities to do more than we ever imagined, thanks to the enduring support of our valued donors who chose to go above and beyond.
It takes a good deal of work and partnering to get things done and build a strong foundation to support and enhance the work of our donors and nonprofit organizations. It takes leadership, compassion, a dedicated staff, and financial support. At CFMC, critical help for our organization comes from Leadership Circle members whose gifts fund CFMC’s work. We’re enormously grateful for their behind-the-scenes support that allows us to continue to steward donor funds, award grants, and connect with the greater community. Each member’s annual gift allows us to work directly with donors to personalize their giving and maximize their impact in the community through grants to the nonprofits. This year, two Leadership Circle members decided to honor their fellow members with an extraordinary grant award. Realizing the value and positive impact that our local libraries have on people of all ages, Sharon and Bill Griffin of the Peach Pit Foundation funded a $1,000 grant award to each of our 18 public libraries in Middlesex County. The grant funds can be used where they’re needed most—current programs, new initiatives, or library operations—it’s up to the libraries! The grants are just one example of how so many good people are stepping up and making great things happen here in Middlesex County.
More than ever, Leadership Circle contributions are a big factor in our ability to plan and react to the changing needs of our local community. CFMC staff, with the help of volunteers, evaluates and awards grants to local nonprofits while overseeing more than 285 funds. We’re grateful for Leadership Circle members and their commitment to supporting our work. Their generosity allows us to go beyond the grant, hosting workshops and seminars for nonprofits and providing one-on-one consulting to address specific needs. We’re able to actively engage the community and respond to new and rising issues through initiatives such as the Live Local Give Local Emergency Fund. We value each of our donors, nonprofits, and neighbors for their collective passion to improve the quality of life for all.
We look forward to a new year of new connections and new initiatives. We can’t predict what tomorrow will bring, but we do know that the future will be brighter thanks to the abundance of kindness and compassion we see practiced every day. You can count on CFMC to help connect you with your area of interest and a community need. Call 860-347-0025 or visit MiddlesexCountyCF.org to learn more.