For Immediate Release:
June 26, 2007
United Way opens new office in Lowell; announces investments of $1.5 million
LOWELL – United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley (UWMB/MV) will today mark the progress of the new organization since its merger and announce the opening of its new regional office in the City of Lowell. United Way of Massachusetts Bay and United Way of Merrimack Valley announced their merger last fall, a move aimed at leveraging regional resources for local solutions to community issues. The celebration will take place this afternoon (Tuesday) at its new office at 59 Composite Way in Lowell from 3 to 5 p.m. Members of the community and press are welcome to attend.
The celebration today will include the announcement of more than $1.5 million in United Way investments in Merrimack Valley, including more than $76,000 for summer programming in Lowell, a $250,000 investment in local math, science and technology programs for Merrimack Valley youth, and $1.2 million in funds to new and existing programs throughout the Merrimack Valley region.
Today’s celebration, which was sponsored by Lowell Five Cents Savings Bank and Enterprise Bank, marks the organization’s official launch as the region’s United Way. In its first nine months as a unified organization, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley worked to integrate its functions as an organization, held community meetings to learn more about the issues facing the region and established a Merrimack Valley Regional Advisory Committee to consult and advise United Way’s Board on issues that are relevant to Merrimack Valley, including fund raising efforts, investments and raising community awareness of United Way’s work. UWMB/MV has also recruited Merrimack Valley business and community leaders to serve on its Board of Directors, including Nancy Donahue, of Lowell, Leonard Wilson, of Sovereign Bank, and Thomas Tulip, of Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging.
“The new United Way provides a tremendous growth opportunity to invest in quality programs in the Merrimack Valley,” said Nancy Donahue, Board member of UWMB/MV. “With the strength of a larger organization but the insight of local representation, United Way can more effectively work with the community on targeted issues that will result in a stronger, more stable region, vibrant economy, and ultimately provide a more promising future for all.”
Today, through its Summer Experiences in Greater Lowell 2007 initiative (SEGL) United Way will distribute $76,000 in grants to support existing summer programs for Greater Lowell youth ages six through sixteen and will continue to allocate grants this summer as more dollars become available. The initiative not only provides children safe and productive programs in which to spend their summer days, but also provides affordable daycare for many working parents. This year’s fundraising efforts were led by co-chairs Ginger Pearson, of Butler Bank and Christopher Dick, of Enterprise Bank. The SEGL program began in the year 2000 and has since invested more than $600,000 in summer programming for youth. United Way is still accepting donations for SEGL. *Please see the attached list of 2007 award recipients. (-more-)
2-2-2-2 New United Way opens new office in Lowell; announces investments of $1.5 million
Delivering on a commitment made last fall as part of the merger agreement, UWMB/MV announced last week it is investing $250,000 to expand and support 10 programs serving Merrimack Valley youth that engage young people in the fields of math, science and technology and to provide technical assistance to the organizations receiving the grants. Grants will:
· Expand programs serving older youth to third- and fourth-graders;
· Support and expand efforts to foster girls’ interest in math, science and technology fields;
· Enhance science and technology programming for blind and visually impaired young people;
· Support efforts that partner college students with middle school students;
· Enable young people living in emergency housing shelters to participate in exciting after-school programs geared toward learning in these fields; and
· Support efforts to foster science learning among immigrant youth.
In addition to the investment of these new funds into the region, United Way has ensured that current funding levels for programs throughout the Valley remain protected. United Way will be investing $1.2 million in 58 programs with the following three targeted goals: 1) ensuring that adults have family-sustaining employment, 2) parents and families are equipped with awareness of healthy child development and the skills to resolve conflicts, and 3) youth are provided healthy alternatives to risky behavior so they succeed in school and future employment. United Way’s larger goal is to partner with programs that will improve the quality of life for all individuals living in our region.
Summer Experiences in Greater Lowell 2007 award recipients:
African Assistance Center of Greater Lowell
AACGL summer program teaches youth arts and crafts of the African culture, including drumming, hair braiding and bead work. This year youths will also learn African cloth patterns.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lowell
Summer Peace program engages youth in leadership training, team building, outdoor retreats and violence prevention, with a focus on children and youth, ages 10 through 18.
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell, Inc.
During the summer, the club serves approximately 625 youth each day at four locations, with a focus on programs that teach life skills, provide MCAS preparation, and team building skills.
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Billerica, Inc.
The summer camp program serves middle school students and offers swimming, arts and crafts, group games and computer training. This program is a collaborative effort between the boys club, the Police Athletic League and the Billerica Recreation Department.
Girls Incorporated of Greater Lowell
Program features daily activities divided into swimming, local field trips and group projects. Girls Inc. collaborates with Healthy Summers, the City of Lowell, and Pollard Memorial Library.
Girl Scouts of Spar and Spindle Council, INC.
In partnership with the Lowell Parks and Recreation Dept and the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Spar and Spindle offers free Youth Risk Behavior Prevention programs in four public parks. Programs will focus on life skills, effective communication, leadership and science.
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Greater Lowell Family YMCA
The YMCA serves 150 youth on a daily basis and collaborates with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell and CTI during the summer months. Sports, arts and crafts and field trips are offered.
Light of Cambodian Children, Inc
The Futures Stars Camp offers youth considered to be at-risk the opportunity to participate in sports activities, arts, and positive interactions with community members. Funding is used for salaries of Camp Counselors who are former campers.
Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT)
MRT’s Young Artist at Play (YAAP) program will serve 150 youth and provide an introduction to new concepts in critical thinking and analysis while strengthening their communication skills.
The Paul Center
The Center offers an extended school year, day and evening overnight camping and social/education activities for children with significant developmental, physical and cognitive disabilities. This summer, 90 youth are slated to participate in the program.
Spindle City Corps (CTI)
Spindle City provides a service learning experience for ethnically and financially diverse youth. Spindle City serves the city of Lowell by helping the National Park Service with back-logged maintenance.
University of Massachusetts, Lowell
National Youth Sports Program
NYSB provides low-income youth the opportunity to participate in the sport of rowing on the Merrimack River, providing an enriching, educational and athletic program as an alternative to unhealthy youth behavior. The program serves 250 youth, and is offered free to all eligible participants.
University
of
Massachusetts
Lowell
String Project
The Lowell String Project is a music program in which youth have the opportunity to learn the art of music, playing and perform before audiences. The one-month program is offered to all members of the UML string program. Members of the Boys and Girls Club are also invited to participate.
United Teen Equality Center, Inc. (UTEC)
UTEC will serve 200 youth, ages 13 to 23 six days a week. Programs will include a Farm Project, two city-wide basketball tournaments and mediation classes to help resolve conflicts occurring among gangs.
YWCA of Lowell
Serves multicultural, low-income children with a goal of engaged them in a structured, full- day camp experience. The camp provides an interactive way of encouraging campers to discuss and better understand issues such as peer pressure, bullying, smoking and gangs.
*All programs are provided at little or no cost to the recipients.
Merrimack Valley Math, Science and Technology Initiative (MSTi) grant recipients:
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lawrence -- United Way funds will be used to expand its current All Things Scientific initiative to serve third- and fourth-graders. All Things Scientific is a multi-year math, science and engineering initiative underwritten by Philips Medical Systems.
YWCA of Greater Lawrence -- Funding will support Zoey’s Room, a technology community for fifth- to eighth-grade girls to explore math, science and technology in a creative, safe, web-based environment. Club members learn how to use the Internet safely, how to build a personal web site, how to program computers, animate and use digital media and images to make movies and creative presentations.
Girls Incorporated of Greater Lowell -- The United Way MSTi grant will support SCOPE (Science Can Open Pathways for Exploration), which seeks to expose girls to positive math, science and technological experiences and professional role models in these fields.
Girl Scouts of Spar and Spindle Council -- Funds will support Leading Girls to Math and Science in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. The program is an after-school curricula that consists of experiments in the life, physical and earth sciences.
Merrimack College -- The Lawrence Math and Science Partnership will receive funds to enhance its efforts to expand scientific literacy and engage students in the “process” of science. In this model, service-learning undergraduate students from Merrimack College are matched with youth at partner agencies where they work together to learn about math and physical science.
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell -- Funds will support ZOOMsci, research-based learning activities and experiments associated with the PBS ZOOM program. Activities are designed to give youth opportunities to “do the things that scientists do – observe, ask questions, make predictions, test ideas, collect data, change one variable and share results.”
Lowell
Association for the Blind – This organization will expand Explore It After School! Technology and Science for Students with Visual Impairments by offering it as a summer program. Programming will include workshops, lessons and field trips to appropriate science and technology venues.
YWCA Greater Newburyport – United Way funds will support the establishment of “Zoey’s Room” for middle school girls at the Nock Middle School in Newburyport and in the elementary schools of Newbury, Rowley and Salisbury. Zoey’s Room is a technology community and key technical skill-building program for girls ages 10-14.
Alternative House – United Way funds will enable Alternative House to meet the agency’s long-held goal of enhancing the math, science and technology components in its youth programs.
Asian Center of Merrimack Valley – The MSTi grant will build upon its current efforts to provide after-school activities in the fields of math, science and technology by supporting new summer programming for Merrimack Valley youth.
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