WOBURN, MA– Confetti flew, horns were blown, and banners were waved at TradeCenter 128 IN Woburn, MA, Thursday evening at the Cummings Foundation’s annual Grant Winner Celebration.
The event drew 400 attendees, including Governor Maura Healey and—of course—Cummings Foundation co-founders Joyce and Bill Cummings. The Foundation is the philanthropic affiliate of suburban commercial real estate firm Cummings Proprties.
Joyce and Bill Cummings have donated the majority of the 11 million-square-foot portfolio managed by Cummings Properties to the Foundation. One hundred percent of all rental profits are dedicated for charitable purposes.
Healey lauded this unique model.
“To the Cummings, thank you for your innovative and thoughtful and, dare say, courageous leadership,” said Healey. “As somebody whose pretty focused on economic development in the state, we want to see buildings full, we want to see those leases taken up, and those rents coming in.”
The Commonwealth’s top elected official also praised representatives from the 150 nonprofits sharing in $30 million in newly announced Cummings grants.
“You are the lifeblood of our communities,” said Healey. “Every person deserves to have their worth and their dignity respected, and that’s what you all empower every day.”
Builders of Color Coalition executive director Colleen Fonseca and board president Taylor Pederson attended to celebrate the Coalition’s $75,000 grant. It will be used over the next three years to promote diversity, access, and opportunities in real estate through training for disadvantaged businesses and industry best practices.
Pederson, marketing director at Colliers, previously served as vice president of programs and education for NAIOP.
This year’s grant-winning organizations represent a wide variety of causes, including immigrant and refugee services, education, housing and food insecurity, workforce development, social justice, and mental health services.
“We are so inspired by the local nonprofit professionals and volunteers who work every day in service to others,” said Cummings Foundation executive director Joyce Vyriotes. “They really move the needle on issues facing our communities, and we are so pleased to support their efforts.”
A total of 125 organizations were awarded three-year grants of up to $300,000 each. The remaining 25 nonprofits received 10-year funding of $300,000 to $1 million each. The full list of new and past grant recipients can be found at CummingsFoundation.org.
One of the largest private foundations in New England, Cummings Foundation has awarded more than $500 million to greater Boston nonprofits to date.
