The Danvers Community YMCA receives $100,000 Cummings Foundation grant to expand their commitment to a healthy community, enhancing their youth space and programs.
Danvers (6/14/19)- The Danvers Community YMCA (Danvers Y) is honored to be 1 of 100 recipients of a Cummings Foundation “$100K for 100” grant. The Danvers Based organization with a camp facility in Boxford, was chosen from a total of 574 applicants during a competitive review process. CEO John Somes and Youth and Family Director Joe Pauline, along with 300 other 2019 recipients, attended an official check presentation ceremony held by Bill and Joyce Cummings on June 6 at the TradeCenter 128 in Woburn. With the conclusion of this grant cycle, Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $260 million to Greater Boston nonprofits alone.
“We feel so grateful to have been selected to receive this grant that will help us grow our mission to support community,” commented John Somes, Danvers YMCA CEO, “Our goal is to create an interactive space to help cultivate positive, social connections among our youth and teens.”
These grant funds will primarily be used to support a much needed Youth-Focused Center that will provide a welcome retreat for young people to meet, grow, and interact with each other. Several areas of the Danvers Y will be enhanced to include a game-room space for relaxing and hanging out with friends, a tech center for homework and teen oriented activities, as well as adding more skills based learning and confidence-building type programs. There will also be more drop-in programs and free community nights to provide a fun, safe place to congregate and bring families together.
The 100K for 100 program supports non-profits that primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate Cummings Properties. Founded in 1970 by Bill Cummings, the Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages 10 million square feet of space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.
“By having such a local focus, we aim to make a meaningful positive difference in the communities where our colleagues and leasing clients live and work,” said Joel Swets, Cummings Foundation’s executive director. “We are most grateful for the nonprofit organizations that assist and empower our neighbors, and we are proud to support their efforts.”
This year’s diverse group of grant recipients represents a wide variety of causes, including homelessness prevention, affordable housing, education, violence prevention, and food insecurity. Most of the grants will be paid over two to five years.
For more information on the Cummings Foundation and complete list of grants, visit www.CummingsFoundation.org.
About the Danvers Community YMCA
The Danvers YMCA is an independent Y supporting communities by offering affordable programs for those of all ages, incomes, faiths, and cultures. Our mission is to provide facilities and programs which promote good health, strong kids, and strong families in an environment dedicated to providing sincere concern for others, for their needs and well-being.
To learn more about the Danvers YMCA, our work on creating a Youth Center, or partner with creating a healthier community, please contact us at 978.774.2055.
About Cummings Foundation
Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including New Horizons retirement communities in Marlborough and Woburn. Its largest single commitment to date has been to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.