As a fund of the Community Foundation for MetroWest, the SCF is a source of funding to support community needs and opportunities in the areas of Education, Health and Human Services, Arts and Culture, and Environment, and provides ways for residents to make an immediate impact in their community.
SCF accepts grant applications from registered nonprofits and town organizations operating in Southborough. The fund supports programs that increase volunteerism and community involvement, strengthen civic engagement, and emphasize collaborations that enhance community initiatives.
SCF accepts grant applications from registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations, organizations with an eligible fiscal sponsor, and town agencies serving Southborough. At this time, SCF will not accept applications from youth sports programs, as they are currently well-funded and stewarded.
To support families, youth, seniors, and underserved populations in creating pathways that improve the overall quality of life.
To support the cultural vitality of the Southborough community, including the visual arts, the performing arts, and historic preservation.
To support programs that preserve the natural resources of Southborough and to increase environmental awareness, education, and engagement.
To support and continue SEF’s mission of fostering educational excellence by providing funding for innovative programs and enhancing the educational experiences of learners in Southborough.
To support increased volunteerism and community involvement, to strengthen civic engagement, and to emphasize collaboration that enhances community initiatives.
As a fund of the Foundation for MetroWest, the Southborough Community Fund (SCF) is a source of funding to support community needs and opportunities in the areas of Human Services, Arts & Culture, Environment, Community Building, and Education, and provides ways for residents to make an immediate impact in their community. The SCF, with the leadership, expertise and support of the Foundation, will provide a source of funding exclusively for the town of Southborough. It is the Community Board’s goal to fund projects that bring innovative thinking to big issues and small ones – for the benefit of Southborough.
Through its annual Community Grant program, SCF supports organizations that create solutions for current needs and implement new ideas that will improve Southborough for the future.
Focus areas: Education, Human Services, Arts & Culture, Environment, and Community building.
To learn more, email [email protected]
One-time grants to enhance the core and supplemental parts of the Southborough Public Schools’ curricula, integrate new educational paradigms, as well as create rich learning experiences for learners of all ages in Southborough. The goal of the grant program is to fund educational projects that are innovative, relevant, creative, effective, and inspiring.
This grant will support the production and presentation of the Assabet Valley Mastersinger’s concert “The Poet Sings” to be held March 19, 2017, at St. Mark’s School, Southborough.
This grant will fund the cost of conference attendance (fees and travel expenses) for three buddy ambassadors and a teacher chaperone to attend the Best Buddies Leadership Conference during July 2017.
This grant will enable the Council to provide meals twice a month for seniors and their primary caregiver(s).
This grant will provide funding to pilot a new Extended Day Program for young adults with developmental disabilities who would benefit from a structured educational and recreational program in the hours following the young adult’s school, work, or day program.
This grant will support New Hope’s continued work to build a network of local community resources and direct outreach to Southborough residents, making them aware of the free services available through their local advocate and through their 24-hour, toll-free hotline.
This grant will assist with immediate needs for organizational support and preservation of historic resources due to flood and subsequent mold damage.
This grant will fund a series of art workshops and classes for children, covering an age range from preschool to middle school.
This grant will once again provide Youth Camperships for those in need so that more children in town can receive a positive and meaningful camp experience.
This grant will support estate planning workshops with property owners about the advantages of placing a conservation restriction on property and/or donating land to a land trust.
This grant will once again create a pool of emergency funds designated to assist with urgent, essential services for Southborough residents in need. Areas of assistance include food insecurity, utilities, transportation, heating fuel, medications, and other essential services.
This grant will support the hiring of professionals to remove the most dangerous obstructions from a recent microburst on Town trails and assist with the purchase of posts and “blazes” to mark trails clearly.
This sponsorship & matching grant challenge will once again support the 2016 performance of Handel’s “Messiah” at Pilgrim Church in Southborough.
This grant will support funding for Handel’s “Alexander’s Feast” to be performed at St. Mark’s Performing Arts Center on March 13, 2016.
Two grants were received:
Grant #1 will help fund six “Art 4 Healing Workshops” for seniors, helping them express feelings related to bereavement and loss through painting and the language of color.
Grant #2 will fund a program of eight healthy nutrition education sessions specific to seniors’ needs, including healthy breakfast ideas, making soup from scratch, and other ways to prepare meals with healthy food options. It will be open to all seniors and held at the Senior Center kitchen.
This grant will support the performance of “Shakespeare & Friends” at St. Mark’s Performing Arts Center on May 14, 2016. This performance is part of a series targeted to children and families in the MetroWest area.
This grant will provide support for healthier options for clients (which includes many Southborough families,) including a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables to augment the processed and packaged foods traditionally offered by most food banks.
This grant will support New Hope in its continuing efforts to build its network of local community resources, specifically distributing information and building awareness of its services in Southborough.
This grant will provide Youth Camperships for those in need so that more children in town can receive a positive and meaningful camp experience.
This grant will support an environmental education program for residents to learn about the growing beaver population in Southborough and what appropriate strategies can be employed to address problems for homes near an increasing number of beaver lodges and dams.
This grant will provide partial support for the funding required to replace the Fay Memorial Playground on Central Street.
This grant will create a pool of emergency funds designated to assist with urgent, essential services for Southborough residents in need. Areas of assistance include food insecurity, utilities, transportation, heating fuel, medications, and other essential services.
This sponsorship and matching grant challenge will support the 2015 performance of Handel’s “Messiah” at Pilgrim Church in Southborough
This grant will support a Styrofoam recycling event on April 9, 2016, providing funds for rental equipment during the day.
We are so appreciative of SCF fully funding our Senior Center’s Caregiver Meals program. We’re frequently told that our volunteers are the only people caregivers get to see unless it’s a medical emergency, and the meals make them feel like they haven’t been forgotten. Thank you!
The Southborough Community Fund has played a critical role in sparking educational innovation through its generous grant program. As a result, educators have piloted new programs, techniques, and technologies to better support students’ learning. The SCF has been a tremendous partner and has made a positive impact on helping educate, inspire, and challenge all students.
Chair
Beth is currently retired after being in Finance and Operations at several companies. Her last position was COO/CFO of Stone Temple Consulting, a digital marketing agency, which was sold to Perficient Digital in July 2018. She is currently the treasurer of The Lenny Zakim Fund and works closely with Bethany Hill Place. In addition to her volunteer work, she does some financial consulting in the nonprofit sector and teaches weaving. Beth and her husband Eric have lived in Southborough for the past 27 years and have raised three children.
Founder
Tom recently moved into a Senior Advisor role at Battery Ventures after serving twelve years as Managing Partner responsible for overseeing all investment and operational aspects of the venture capital partnership. He has served as a board member for dozens of companies in the communications, software and ecommerce sectors.
A former executive in sales, Andrew attended Boston College and graduated from Bentley College with a Bachelor of Art’s Degree in Accounting. He joined the real estate industry in 1990, where he has developed a reputation for providing outstanding customer service almost exclusively working by personal referrals from past clients. In September 2004, Andrew parlayed his entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm for the business by forming his own real estate company, Andrew Abu REALTORS. Andrew maintains top five status consistently in our county, but he measures his success by the trust and confidence that his clients place in his company. Andrew is involved with his community as follows:
Sujal Bhalakia is an operations executive in the life-science field with extensive leadership experience in the medical device, pharma and biotech companies. Sujal has served on the board of Town of Southborough Economic Development Committee and is currently an Advisory Board member for the biomedical engineering program at UMass Lowell. Sujal and his family have lived in Southborough since 2004.
Jason Esten has held the position of Vice-President Connection at Global-Serve since 2019. Jason has over 18 years of inside high-tech sales management expertise. A resident of Southborough, he has volunteered his time as a Coach, for Northborough/Southborough Lacrosse as well as served on the Board of Directors, Membership Chair, at the Framingham Country Club.
Karen and her husband met at Boston College on the rowing team and settled down in Southborough soon after they got married. They have lived in Southborough since 2001 where they have raised their two children, Jack and Hadley. Karen works as a Realtor with Andrew Abu Realtors and finds it very rewarding helping people navigate the complex transactions of buying and selling real estate. Karen is also very active in the community leading her daughter’s girl scout troop and volunteering on various town committees. She is a member of the Economic Development Committee, Southborough Youth Commission and The Friends of the Southborough Youth Commission.
With over 25 years of financial leadership and management experience, Kevin leads Third Rock Venture’s non-investment activities, which include running internal operations and overseeing the firm’s finance, legal, communications and administrative functions. He also leads fundraising activities and manages the firm’s limited partner relationships. Kevin earned a BA in history from Brandeis University and an MBA at Bentley University. He is incredibly proud of his wife and two children, and feels grateful to be part of a wonderful extended family.
Cathy currently heads the Southborough Organization of Schools and volunteers with the Senior Center and Meals on Wheels. She managed the second floor of the Boston Lord and Taylor store before moving to Southborough. Additionally, she has worked with Kindergroup, Smiling Kids, Saint Matthews Church and Southborough Youth Soccer.
Andrea grew up in Southborough and returned with her husband Tim to raise their children, Elizabeth and Teddy. A graduate of the University of Vermont, she is the owner and founder of Andrea Thomas Interiors, a residential interior design company. Andrea plays an active role in the Southborough schools and Southborough Kindergroup.
Amy Yazdani has been a member of the board of the Southborough Education Foundation for seven years, and president for the past five. Amy has also recently been elected to the Southborough Library Board of Trustees after serving as an appointed trustee for a partial term. As an avid lover of books and education, she enjoys learning the details of running a library, a municipal facility and working to keep the library productive, inclusive, evolving and supportive of the community. Amy has been a resident of Southborough for almost a decade. She has been a member of the Friends of Southborough Library for five years, four of those as Vice President.
You may make a gift to the Southborough Community Fund by check, stock, mutual fund or real estate, or through a donor advised fund or private foundation. The staff at Community Foundation for MetroWest can work with you and your financial adviser to review various planned giving options. All gifts qualify for the maximum tax benefit offered.
Please make check payable to Community Foundation for MetroWest and note The Southborough Community Fund (SCF) in the memo line.
Southborough Community Fund
c/o Community Foundation for MetroWest
3 Eliot Street
Natick, MA 01760
Please contact us via email or call (508) 647 – 2260 if you are interested in transferring assets.
If you have any questions or would like more information about making your gift, please call us at (508) 647 – 2260 or email us and we’ll be happy to help you.
Thank you! We appreciate your support.
