Final AAC Program 2025

29

TH Annual

Awards Ceremony

February 13, 2025 • 6-8 pm Royal Sonesta Hotel 40 Edwin H. Land Blvd. Cambridge The Lenny Zakim Fund’s 29th Annual Awards Ceremony | 1

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 LENNY ZAKIM FUND GRANT RECIPIENTS. As one of the earliest supporters of The Lenny Zakim Fund, we are especially proud to join in celebrating its 30th anniversary this year!

For three decades, The Fund has championed grassroots organizations advancing social, racial, and economic justice throughout eastern Massachusetts. We applaud the tireless efforts of this year’s grant recipients and the entire LZF network for continuing to create meaningful change where it’s needed most.

THE FRIEZE FAMILY FOUNDATION

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DEAR FRIENDS OF THE LENNY ZAKIM FUND, The week before the presidential inauguration, I had the opportunity to gather with Black leaders from around the country in Montgomery, AL for a Black leadership retreat. Montgomery was specifically chosen as the location for our retreat as the city and its people have long played a central role in our country’s history of racial injustice: from the enslavement of Black people from the early 1500s to their eventual, long-overdue emancipation in the mid-1860s to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. While in Montgomery, we met with and heard from several people who shared first-person accounts of their participation in and as witnesses to moments in the Civil Rights Movement, such as 1961 Freedom Rides and the 1965 March from Selma to Montgomery.

They also shared the following advice for how together we rise to meet and overcome the racial, social, and economic injustices of the present day: Resist: Courageous moral leadership requires that individuals be able to take some risk, Re-energize: Look to and stay rooted in history as a source of inspiration and to challenge disinformation and the re-writing of history, and Re-arm: Find and select the most effective weapons for resistance, recognizing that the weapons used in the past (for example, the bus boycotts and sit-ins of the 1950s and 1960s), might not be as effective today. We must be thoughtful and strategic about the weapons we choose to use, knowing we are trying to appeal to a moral compass that no longer exists.

The stakes of LZF’s work, that of our grassroots partners, are perhaps the highest they have been since The Fund was founded in 1995. Knowing this, we remain steadfast in our commitment to this work and our communities.

Tonight, as we gather at our 29th Annual Awards Celebration, LZF would like to congratulate the 53 incredible grassroots nonprofit organizations who make up our 2025 grant portfolio. The nearly 400 grassroots organizations with whom The Fund has had the privilege of partnering with since 1995, are a mighty social justice force for good.

LZF is honored to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you on the front lines of this 21st Century Civil Rights Movement!

In solidarity, Allison E. Picott, Executive Director

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PROGRAM WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS Allison Picott, Executive Director, The Lenny Zakim Fund

SPEAKERS AND PERFORMERS Gratis Healthcare, Inc.

Refugees & Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts (RICEMA) Dragon Dance Troupe and Fan Dance Troupe

Kassandra Brandao Board President

The History Project: Documenting LGBTQ Boston Joan Ilacqua Executive Director

INTRODUCTION OF 2025 LENNY ZAKIM FUND’S GRANTEE PARTNERS Access to Food, Housing, and Economic Security

Civil and Human Rights Advocacy and Support

Children and Youth Development and Education

Health Promotion and Accessibility for All LGBTQIA Community Support and Organizing

Organizing and Support for Immigrants and Refugees Violence Prevention, Criminal Justice Reform, and Family Outreach

SPECIAL REMARKS Felicia Heywood

Joyce Zakim

Board Chair, The Lenny Zakim Fund

Board Member, The Lenny Zakim Fund

CLOSING REMARKS Allison Picott Executive Director, The Lenny Zakim Fund SPECIAL THANKS The Lenny Zakim Fund’s Board of Directors and staff would like to thank the following for making our 29th Annual Awards Ceremony possible: Kassandra Brandao of Gratis Healthcare, Inc. Joan Ilacqua of The History Project: Documenting LGBTQ Boston Dragon Dancers, Fan Dancers, Holly Ashton, Boa Newgate, and Hai Nguyen of RICEMA DJ Kerr and Eternal Visuals

Annette Grant Photography Tammy Torrey and Gill Fishman Design Maureen McGoldrick and Grossman Marketing Group KVL Audio Visual Services Boston Linguistics Partners Interpreting

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Royal Sonesta Hotel The Lenny Zakim Fund’s Community Investments Committee The Lenny Zakim Fund’s 2025 Site Visitors The Lenny Zakim Fund’s 2025 Board of Director

FEATURED SPEAKERS & PERFORMERS

THE HISTORY PROJECT BOSTON, HISTORYPROJECT.ORG The History Project is focused exclusively on documenting and preserving the history of New England’s LGBTQ communities and sharing that history with LGBTQ individuals, organizations, allies, and the public. The History Project is a community archives - a repository, historical society, and museum for the LGBTQ+ community’s history. THP is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1980 that holds LGBTQ+ historical records and ephemera, supports LGBTQ+ history research, and shares LGBTQ+ history through public exhibits and events.

Joan Ilacqua Founder and Executive Director Joan Ilacqua (she/her) became The History Project’s inaugural Executive Director in January 2020. She previously served as Co-Chair of The History Project’s board of directors and as Harvard Medical School’s Archivist for Diversity and Inclusion.

Joan is a graduate of UMass Boston’s Public History master’s program and earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Puget Sound. In her free time, Joan likes to read queer romance novels and spend time with her wife and two cats.

You can learn more about Joan’s work at ilacquajoan.com

REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS CULTURAL EMPOWERMENT MASSACHUSETTS (RICEMA) WORCESTER, RICEMA.ORG Refugees & Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts (RICEMA) uses performance art and education to preserve the culture of refugee and immigrant communities, while deepening individuals’ connection to their heritage. RICEMA also offer English as a Second Language (ESL) courses for adults and Youth Effect International Trip’s to offer global cultural experiences for youth.

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FEATURED SPEAKERS & PERFORMERS

GRATIS HEALTHCARE FRAMINGHAM, GRATISHEALTH.ORG In recognition of the growing need for access to basic health care for those communities that are uninsured or underinsured in the MetroWest and Greater Boston area, Gratis Healthcare provides free medical and mental health services to those in need. By using volunteer clinicians in multiple specialties with Portugues and Spanish interpreters, they aim to remove barriers to basic health care and strive to connect patients to the Massachusetts health care system and community resources.

Kassandra Brandao Board President Kassandra Brandao is the Vice President of Gratis Healthcare, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free medical services to those in need. As a former patient and Brazilian immigrant, Kassandra offers a unique perspective on the organization’s mission and operations. Under her leadership, Gratis Healthcare continues to be a trusted source for individuals seeking medical services.

In addition to her role at Gratis Healthcare, Kassandra is the Designer and owner of Pedrakut Stone Design Studio, an award-winning natural stone company based in Natick. Her diverse experiences in both nonprofit healthcare and successful entrepreneurship highlight her commitment to the community and her passion for helping others thrive. Outside of her work, Kassandra finds inspiration in art and nature, which fuel her creative spirit and deepen her connection to the world around her.

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LZF Mission Statement The Lenny Zakim Fund works to develop deep relationships and builds bridges among people and communities to advance social, economic, and racial justice. Our mission is to listen to those most impacted by inequity and provide the funding, essential resources, and support they need to create lasting change.

LZF Vision Statement The Lenny Zakim Fund envisions a more just and equitable world where communities thrive because of the contributions and leadership of grassroots organizations.

“We have the power to change things. It doesn’t take much to start a revolution of thought and spirit. It takes one person and then another.

When it works, it’s a work of art.”

– Lenny Zakim, Founder

LZF Core Values The work of The Lenny Zakim Fund is guided by the following principles: SOCIAL JUSTICE All that we do is based in our deeply held belief that social justice is equity and that the fundamental rights, well-being and dignity of all people must be recognized, upheld, and celebrated.

GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP LZF is inspired by and respects the power and ability of those most impacted by injustice to bring about change.

DIVERSITY AND BELONGING We embrace a culture of inclusion and belonging, one that seeks out and welcomes the voices of those with diverse life experiences and intersectional identities.

LEARNING We firmly believe that continuous, active and reciprocal learning is critical to promoting awareness and creating a solid foundation for change.

BRIDGE BUILDING We are committed to bridging real and perceived difference, and to creating strong and lasting relationships that are fundamental to progress.

RESPONSIVENESS Emerging challenges that impact those we serve require an acceptance of risk and an ability to adapt and respond as rapidly as possible.

LOVE Love is at the heart of philanthropy. Love and compassion motivate and sustain the spirit of those who partner with LZF and remain dedicated to justice for all.

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About The Lenny Zakim Fund The Lenny Zakim Fund strengthens grassroots organizations and community leaders through technical training, coaching and counselling, pro bono legal services, networking, and grantmaking.

The Fund is a trusted partner and convener of social justice programs and enables grassroots leaders to create powerful change in their own communities.

The Lenny Zakim Fund Board of Directors & Staff Leonard Zakim Founder

Felicia Heywood Chair

Michael Eckton Treasurer

Josh Zakim Secretary

Joa Ahern-Seronde Nick Bates Mo Castillo Ben Echevarria Mark Irvings Alex Leventhal Elizabeth May Emmanuel Owusu Erika Rodriguez Deborah Seidel Rob Sherman Loren Van Allen Aprylle Wallace Chris Weirup Deena Zakim Joyce Zakim Shari Zakim-Yacouby

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Allison Picott Executive Director

Carla Beaudoin Interim Director of Development

Madelyn Vining Grants Administrator

Claire Molinich Program and Development Intern

Maggie Goldsmith Administrative Assistant

THANK YOU! The Lenny Zakim Fund Bridge Builders The Bridge Builders honor and recognize the contributions of our donors, volunteers, former board members, and other important friends of the fund. The board deeply appreciates all that they do for the Lenny Zakim Fund.

Joa Ahern-Seronde Asha Abdullahi Barr Foundation Jessica Baylor Keturah Brewster Hehershe Buseuego Lina Cañon Alan Chebot Debby Cherry Fracisco De La Miyar George Earley Naheed Esar Lisa Flores Linda Frieze Michael Frieze Josie Greene

Ellen Heller Kalman Heller Jessica Hennessey Mark Irvings Josephine and Louise Crane Foundation Suzi Kaitz Carol Kanin Linda King and CAMI Klarman Family Foundation Krupp Family Foundation Douglas Krupp Judi Krupp Liana Krupp Amanda Miller

Gabriella Mora Charlayne Murrell-Smith Rory Neuner Heidi Price and Heidi Price Design Shanique Rodriguez Elaine Sager Bobby Sager Deborah Seidel Amy Shulman Weinberg Ellie Starr Temple B’Nai Israel Tre’Andre Valentine Robert Weinberg

Community Investments Committee The Community Investment Committee is critical to The Fund’s annual grant program whose responsiiblities include reading, reviewing all grant proposals, evaluating site visit feedback, and recommending grants to the board. We thank the members for their selfless dedication.

Joa Ahern-Seronde Nick Bates Carla Beaudoin Hehershe Buseuego Mo Castillo Debby Cherry Aditi Dholakia Ben Echevarria Varsa Ghosh John Graham Ellen Heller

Felicia Heywood Olu Ibrahim Mark Irvings Carol Knox Alphonse Litz Hilary Maguire Elizabeth May Claire Molinich Emmanuel Owusu Allison Picott Marynee Pontes

Betsy Rigby Sharon Sankey Deborah Seidel Gary Smith Lynne Smith Madelyn Vining Chris Weirup Joyce Zakim Deena Zakim Shari Zakim-Yacouby Alice Zimelman

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THANK YOU! Site Visitors Site visits are “inspirational due diligence,” essential to the LZF grantmaking process.

Thank you to all of our volunteers for the work, wisdom, caring and compassion they give.

Joa Ahern-Seronde Carla Beaudoin Mo Castillo Aditi Dholakia Ellen Heller Felicia Heywood

Mark Irvings Alphonse Litz Elizabeth May Claire Molinich Allison Picott Marynee Pontes

Amy Seeherman Deborah Seidel Madelyn Vining Chris Weirup Joyce Zakim

Board Members Emeriti The Lenny Zakim Fund is eternally grateful to our board member emeriti for their incredible leadership, commitment, and generosity while serving on The Lenny Zakim Fund board and beyond.

Miki Akimoto Jennifer Winn Aronson Amy Belkin Monfenson Mary Carty Former Executive Director Clementina Chery Joseph Chery Gregg Croteau Yasmin Cruz Ferrine Lilee Dethchan Beth Dill Janice Ditchek Asmaa Donahue Eric Esteves Former Executive Director Donna Latson Gittens

Joseph Goodman Jude Goldman Former Executive Director Lisa Gordon Steve Grossman Tim James Jon Jennings Angela Johnson Suzi Kaitz Caren Keller Judith Krupp Richard Krupp Celeste Reid Lee Sofia Lingos-Papaliodis Ron Marlow Peter Meade Charlayne Murrell-Smith Kevin O’Malley Joe Rodio

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Gabriela Romanow Michael Ross Glenn Rothman Susan Rothman Elaine Sager Harold Schwartz Michael Schwartz Sam Slater Jill Snider Mark Sokoll Ellie Starr Jonathan Samen In memoriam Martin E. Kantor Honorary Lucille S. Kantor Honorary

THANK YOU! For their tremendous support, The Lenny Zakim Fund board extends our eternal gratitude to:

TEMPLE B’NAI ISRAEL And special thanks to this evening’s sponsors:

THE FRIEZE FAMILY FOUNDATION And our valued Community Partners:

The Lenny Zakim Fund is deeply grateful to the following for their support to strengthen our grant recipients and nonprofit leaders through seminars and the Transformational Leadership Cohort (TLC) program: Asha Abdullahi Joa Ahern-Seronde Kelly Baker Barr Foundation Donna Bivens Brianna Boggs Boston Linguistics Boston Women’s Fund Keturah Brewster Ariel Brooks Lina Cañon Robin Carton DLA Piper Francisco De La Miyar Maria DominiqueFernandes

George Earley Ben Echevarria Heidi Elneil Episcopal City Mission Naheed Esar Martin Familia Monifa Robinson Groover Haymarket People’s Fund Hyams Foundation Olu Ibrahim Mark Irvings Rebecca Jackson Josephine and Louise Crane Foundation Robin Kane Krupp Family Foundation

Lawyers Clearinghouse Elena Letona Madeline McNeely Amanda Miller Annika Morgan Partners Interpreting Fred Ritzau Shanique Rodriguez Jeff Rogers Deborah Seidel Sachi Takahashi-Rial Judy Tso Tre’Andre Valentine Aprylle Wallace Marianne Midori Yoshioka

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2024 YEAR IN REVIEW

WE BEGAN 2024 BY AWARDING

$690,000 TO 60 GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS

2/3

of whom are led by people of color

and nearly

1/2

by women

The Lenny Zakim Fund began 2024 by awarding $690,000 to 60 grassroots organizations to 51 renewal and 9 grantee partners. Two thirds of the grassroots organizations are led by people of color and nearly 1/2 by women. The average grant award was $11,500. Over the past 29 years, LZF has awarded over 1,600 grants totaling approximately $13 million to close to 400 organizations.

In 2024, we continued offering not just financial support, but technical assistance and community building to all grantee partners. LZF Board Member Deborah Seidel hosted virtual weekly office hours, drawing upon her expertise as a nonprofit executive and board member, to serve as a sounding board and resource to numerous current and former grantee partners, providing them with advice on a variety of nonprofit and leadership topics. Towards the end of last year, we expanded our offerings with the introduction of our new Catalytic Consulting Program, allowing our grantee partners to access several hours of good quality consulting at no cost to them. This kind of tailored consulting can be a game changer for nonprofit leaders and their organizations, in anything from leadership coaching to developing fundraising plans, to dealing with HR and Board issues. We have provided our grantee partners with a list of LZF trusted consultants and are happy to also support their sessions with any consultants with whom they are already working.

After taking 2023 off to revamp and reimagine our Transformational Leadership Cohort (TLC) Program, LZF ran the third cohort of the TLC program in 2024 with 12 leaders representing various current and former LZF grantee partner organizations. For the first time, we welcomed co-leaders of an organization to participate in the TLC program, recognizing the benefits of each having their own executive coach – on occasion meeting together as a group – to not only support them with their own leadership growth, but their shared leadership of the organization they co-founded.

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2024 YEAR IN REVIEW ( CONTINUED) In December 2024, LZF brought together the 3rd and 4th TLC cohorts and their executive coaches for lunch as the former cohort was wrapping up their year and the latter was about to begin their year in January 2025. This opportunity for leaders and executive coaches to gather for conversation and connect with one another over a meal proved to be especially meaningful for all. Created and launched in 2019, TLC is specifically intended to benefit small, grassroots organizations and leaders, primarily from historically excluded populations, through executive coaching, workshop-based, skill-building trainings around leadership development, and capacity building. To date, LZF’s TLC program has supported 43 leaders representing 38 current and former grantee partners organizations through 4 cohorts.

LZF’s semi-annual Bridge Builder is an opportunity to convene members of the nonprofit sector around a topic of common interest. We had two wonderful Bridge Builders this year and look forward to what’s to come in 2025! Both panels were moderated by LZF’s Aditi Dholakia.

On April 10th, LZF hosted “Embracing the Movement: Uplifting and Supporting Grassroots Organizing in an Election Year”. This Bridge Builder featured panelists Shanique Rodriguez, Executive Director at Massachusetts Voter Table, Tre’Andre Valentine, Executive Director at Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, and Keturah Brewster, Executive Director at I Have A Future. Panelists led a robust discussion about the state of movement building and organizing in the nonprofit sector, how the election year impacts this work, and how philanthropy can better support organizers to reach their goals.

On October 16th LZF hosted its second Bridge Builder of the year titled, “Voices of Resilience: Immigrant Stories in Greater Boston’s Nonprofit Sector”. Panelists Asha Abdullahi, Executive Director at Somali Parents Advocacy Center for Education, Naheed Esar, Executive Director at Asian Women for Health, and Francisco Mendoza De La Miyar, Cooperative Developer at the Center for Cooperative Development and Solidarity, engaged attendees in a rich conversation about the influences of culture and heritage on the nonprofit sector, how their culture has shaped their leadership, and the ways in which philanthropy can better support and uplift immigrant-led and -serving organizations.

Throughout 2024, LZF offered numerous seminars to our current grantees, and where able, also made these learning opportunities available to our former grantee partners and more broadly to the nonprofit community. Some of those seminars included: • Employment Law with LZF Board Members Mark Irvings and Aprylle Wallace • HR 101 with Fred Ritzau of Northpoint Human Resource Consulting • Board 101 with Robin Carton, nonprofit facilitator

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2024 YEAR IN REVIEW ( CONTINUED) • High Quality Feedback Loops with Heidi Elneil and Sachi Takahashi-Rial from Listen4Good • Fundraising for Challenge Match Grants with LZF Deputy Director Aditi Dholakia, LZF Board Member Ben Echevarria, and nonprofit leader Olu Ibrahim • Board Reports with LZF Board Member Joa Ahern-Seronde. Following this seminar, Joa hosted weekly virtual office hours to assist current grantee partners in completing their year-end grant report to LZF. In June, LZF hosted a day-long Institute for our grantee partners on board management and governance, designed to build both participants’ knowledge and confidence. The day began with a group activity on Needs and Offers, followed by a session on The Power of Storytelling, hosted by Lina Cañon, co-founder of Nur Group. Attendees spent the remainder of the day engaged in a series of roundtable discussions facilitated by LZF Board Members Deborah Seidel and Mark Irvings, George Earley of GE Campaigns and Events, Naheed Esar of Asian Women for Health, Amanda Miller of Social Capital Inc., and LZF Executive Director Allison Picott who each shared invaluable information and helpful resources on a variety of board management and governance topics.

On September 7th, The Lenny Zakim Fund (LZF) proudly hosted our inaugural annual fundraising event, Light the Night. Beneath the iconic Zakim Bridge, over 200 members of the LZF community came together to enjoy delicious food and drinks, lively dancing, and meaningful connections—all in support of our work with grassroots organizations across Eastern Massachusetts.

The evening featured incredible highlights, from spirited bidding on auction items by supporters to an electrifying opening performance by LZF grantee partner DEAFinitely dance crew, whose energy and style set the tone for a truly memorable night.

This event would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our planning and host committees. We are also immensely grateful to Boston Common Magazine for their support as exclusive print media sponsor of Light the Night.

Mark your calendars! Light the Night 2025 will take place on Saturday, September 6th, 2025, at Alcove Boston. As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Lenny Zakim Fund, we look forward to gathering once again under the glow of the Zakim Bridge for another unforgettable evening. Save the date, we can’t wait to see you there!

On November 16th, we were honored to co-host an annual grantee gathering in collaboration with the Boston Women’s Fund, Episcopal City Mission, Haymarket People’s Fund, Hyams Foundation, and Krupp Family Foundation. We were joined by nearly 170 leaders, representing dozens of grassroots organizations doing work in cities and towns throughout New England. The day was not just about communitybuilding, but featured seminars on nonprofit leadership, healing opportunities, and dedicated breakout groups.

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2024 YEAR IN REVIEW ( CONTINUED) On November 17, on what would have been Lenny’s 71st birthday, we proudly hosted our 23rd annual No Show Ball, with over 150 families and individuals joining in the celebration through their generous donations to The Fund throughout the month-long fundraising effort. This unique event invited participants to enjoy a quiet evening at home, free from the need for formal attire or the hassle of traffic and parking. Guests dined wherever and whenever they liked, embracing the spirit of the evening without the usual fanfare of an open bar or catered meals—making it a truly personal and meaningful way to honor Lenny’s legacy.

In December, we welcomed a new member to the board: Alex Leventhal of Brookline.

Board Vice-Chair, Felicia Heywood transitioned to Board Chair, replacing departing board member Tim James. We also said goodbye to Jill Snider who completed her board service. LZF begins 2025 – our 30th anniversary year – with a 20-person board.

The Lenny Zakim Fund extends our deepest gratitude to our donors for their generous support and proudly celebrates our grantee partners for their tireless efforts to advance social, economic, and racial justice within their communities. Together, we can make Lenny’s belief that extraordinary social change can be created at the grassroots level more of a reality with each year - and decade - that passes.

Thank you and onward!

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LZF GRANTS 2018-2025: BY FUNDING CATEGORY Violence Prevention, Criminal Justice Reform & Family Outreach

Access to Food, Housing, & Economic Security

11% Organizing & Support for Immigrants & Refugees

LGBTQIA Community Support & Organizing

15%

22% 26% 6%

14%

Children & Youth Development & Education

6%

Health Promotion & Accessibility for All

Civil & Human Rights Advocacy & Support

LZF ANNUAL GRANT CYCLE The Lenny Zakim Fund maintains an active portfolio of ~ 50 grassroots nonprofit organizations, typically welcoming 5 to 10 new grantee partners into our portfolio each year. To be eligible to receive funding from LZF, prospective grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (or have a fiscal sponsor) and be based in and serve eastern Massachusetts.

LZF prides itself on being a practitioner of trust-based philanthropy, which is central to our work as a funder. We recognize that our grassroots, communityled applicants are most knowledgeable about the challenges in their own communities and are best suited to create solutions. Accordingly, all of our grants are unrestricted in nature to

allow our grantee partners to determine how best to deploy the money.

Our Community Investments Committee, which consists of LZF staff, board members, and volunteers from the community, is responsible for evaluating and making grant award decisions as part of a six month process that includes a written grant application and site visit with a select number of applicants.

The goal after five years is that an organization is no longer eligible to receive funding from LZF and is able to flourish and leverage the skills and support acquired during their time with LZF to secure new and diverse areas of funding.

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GRANT RECIPIENTS ALPHABETICALLY

2Gether We Eat 365Dad, Inc. African Community Center of Lowell (ACCL) Boston LesBiGay Urban Foundation, Inc. Brockton Workers Alliance (BWA) Bryce’s Journey, Inc. Cape Ann Art Haven Circus Up, Inc. City Strings United CodeSquad Community Caring Clinic, Inc. Cultural Exchange Through Soccer (CETS) DEAFinitely, Inc. DeeDee’s Cry Suicide Prevention & Family Support East Boston Community Soup Kitchen Eritrean American Civic Association (EACA) Gratis Healthcare, Inc. Heart of a Giant Foundation, Inc. I Have A Future JOYWeavers, Inc. KodeConnect, Inc. Lamplight Women’s Literacy Center Love Life Now Foundation Mercy Meals & More Mount Olives Community Center My Brother’s Keeper 617 (MBK617) Neighborhood Counseling and Community Services, Inc. (NCCS) Neighbors United for a Better East Boston (NUBE) New England Medical Association, Inc. (NEMA)

New Lynn Coalition Nigerian American Multi-Service Association (NAMSA) Open Door Immigration Services (ODIS) Our Deaf Survivors Center, Inc. OutstandingLife P&O Behavioral Health Initiative, Inc. Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center, Inc. Pride Productions, Inc. Reclaim Roxbury Refugees & Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts (RICEMA) Revive in Action, Inc. Right To The City Boston SCIboston Sisters Unchained, Inc. Somali Parents Advocacy Center for Education, Inc. (SPACE) South Boston En Accion Teen JUST-US at Temple Israel of Boston The Dream Network The History Project: Documenting LGBTQ Boston The Upward Project Think Outside The Vox, Inc. Translate Gender Urban Powerhouse Vong Tay Cha Me Viet

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GRANT RECIPIENTS BY MISSION AREA ACCESS TO FOOD, HOUSING, & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY 2Gether We Eat CodeSquad East Boston Community Soup Kitchen Lamplight Women’s Literacy Center Mercy Meals & More, Inc. New Lynn Coalition Reclaim Roxbury The Upward Project

CHILD & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION Bryce’s Journey, Inc. Cape Ann Art Haven Circus Up, Inc. City Strings United Cultural Exchange Through Soccer (CETS) DEAFinitely, Inc. JOYweavers, Inc. KodeConnect, Inc. My Brother’s Keeper 617 (MBK617) Pride Productions, Inc. Sisters Unchained Somali Parents Advocacy Center for Education, Inc. (SPACE) Teen JUST-US at Temple Israel of Boston Vong Tay Cha Me Viet

CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY & SUPPORT Neighbors United for a Better East Boston (NUBE) Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center, Inc. Right to the City Boston

HEALTH PROMOTION & ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL Community Caring Clinic, Inc. DeeDee’s Cry Suicide Prevention & Family Support

Gratis Healthcare, Inc. Heart of a Giant Foundation, Inc. Neighborhood Counseling and Community Services, Inc. (NCCS) New England Medical Association, Inc. (NEMA) SCIboston Think Outside the Vox, Inc. Urban PowerHouse

LGBTQIA COMMUNITY SUPPORT & ORGANIZING Boston LesBiGay Urban Foundation, Inc. OutstandingLife The History Project: Documenting LGBTQ Boston Translate Gender

ORGANZING & SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANTS & REFUGEES African Community Center of Lowell (ACCL) Brockton Workers Alliance (BWA) Eritrean American Civic Association (EACA) Mount Olives Community Center Nigerian American Multi-Service Association (NAMSA) Open Door Immigration Services (ODIS) P&O Behavioral Health Initiative, Inc. Refugees & Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts (RICEMA) Revive In Action, Inc. South Boston en Accion

VIOLENCE PREVENTION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM & FAMILY OUTREACH 365Dad, Inc. I Have A Future Love Life Now Foundation Our Deaf Survivors Center, Inc. The Dream Network

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THANK YOU! A SPECIAL WORD OF GRATITUDE TO TEMPLE B’NAI ISRAEL In October 2023, The Lenny Zakim Fund (LZF or The Fund) received a very generous gift from the former Temple B’nai Israel of Revere to support LZF grantee partner organizations who are doing work to advance social, racial, and economic justice in Revere, Chelsea, Lynn, and other communities along the North Shore.

Established in 1906 in the Beachmont neighborhood of Revere, Temple B’nai Israel (TBI) has the distinction of being one of the oldest original synagogues in Massachusetts. In 2019, Temple B’Nai Israel made the decision to close its doors. Desirous to create a lasting legacy, Temple B’nai Israel chose LZF to receive the proceeds from the sale of its former temple building recognizing that the two organizations share Jewish values and a strong commitment to social justice.

TBI’s gift has been invested in a special endowed fund which will be drawn down by LZF each year over a period of next 18 years (through 2041) to provide critical grant funding to LZF grassroots partner organizations in Revere, Chelsea, Lynn, and along the North Shore who share the Temple’s Jewish values and strong commitment to social justice.

The Lenny Zakim Fund is eternally grateful to the congregants of Temple B’Nai Israel for their belief in The Fund and our work with grassroots organizations.

The Fund congratulates the following 2025 LZF grantee partners whose grants are funded by Temple B’nai Israel’s generosity:

East Boston Community Soup Kitchen

New Lynn Coalition

Neighbors United for a Better East Boston

Open Door Immigration Services

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

2GETHER WE EAT WORCESTER, 2GETHERWEEAT.COM

Providing food, education, training, and employment using hydroponics to help fight the food crisis in food deserts across our communities.

2Gether We Eat teaches hydroponics and uses green energy as a tool to provide healthy eating while preserving natural resources. By doing this, 2Gether We Eat teaches their communities about healthy eating habits and the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables through their youth farming and STEM program.

365DAD, INC. BOSTON, 365DAD.NET

Empowering fathers to be positive influences and examples in the lives of their children.

365Dad empowers fathers through affirming guidance and equips them with the tools to develop and maintain loving relationships to produce personal, academic, and socialemotional outcomes that positively impact the lives of their children.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

AFRICAN COMMUNITY CENTER OF LOWELL (ACCL) LOWELL, ACCLOWELL.ORG

Helping to foster a welcoming and inclusive community for African immigrants and refugees in the Greater Lowell area.

African Community Center of Lowell’s mission is to equip African immigrants and refugees in the Greater Lowell area with resources to be actively engaged community members, through educational, social, and cultural initiatives. Since 2016, ACCL has assisted more than 2,000 immigrants make a strong and healthy start in the Greater Lowell area.

BOSTON LESBIGAY URBAN FOUNDATION, INC. DORCHESTER, LESBIGAYURBANFOUNDATION.ORG

Fostering positive futures of LGBTQ+ youth of color.

The Boston LesBiGay Urban Foundation utilizes workshops, mentorship programs, social events, and more to improve social and emotional outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth of color. They support LGBTQ+ youth of color to dream big by connecting them with the necessary resources, security, and community support.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

BROCKTON WORKERS ALLIANCE (BWA) BROCKTON, BROCKTON-WORKERS-ALLIANCE. BLOGSPOT.COM

Empowering immigrant workers to lead the fight for their rights.

Brockton Workers Alliance educates, supports, organizes, and empowers immigrant workers to confront long-term workplace abuses and to lead the fight for their rights through the development of better local, state, and national policies to make the Brockton community and beyond a better place for immigrants to work and live.

BRYCE’S JOURNEY, INC. BOSTON, BRYCESJOURNEY.ORG

Devoted to helping underserved kids with autism.

Bryce’s Journey provides free or lowcost services and support to inner-city Boston families with children who are living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It also provides guidance, informational resources, support groups, and workshops for parents and caregivers.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

CAPE ANN ART HAVEN GLOUCESTER, ARTHAVEN.ORG

Providing high quality art education and community building to all.

Cape Ann Art Haven utilizes the powerful education of art to offset inequity inherent in their diversity society by leveling the playing field for all students through their open accessibility of art to all.

Cape Ann Art Haven offers a wide range of benefits that enhances individual learning and overall well-being to all individuals of their community.

CIRCUS UP, INC. BOSTON, CIRCUSUP.COM

Using circus arts and skills to create stronger, kinder, and more resilient communities.

Circus Up uses circus arts to overcome social barriers and build community with people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Circus Up partners with community-based organizations and Boston Public schools to offer its youth development programs which build confidence, communication, leadership, and self-advocacy skills in children and youth.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

CITY STRINGS UNITED BOSTON, CITYSTRINGS.ORG

Transforming young lives through stringed instruments.

City Strings United inspires and challenges children, ages 6-18, from underserved communities to develop leadership and life skills and a passion for excellence through the discipline of a music ensemble. CSU was founded on the belief that access to high-quality youth programs can create positive change and foster the social, emotional, and educational development of youth.

CODESQUAD BOSTON, CODESQUAD.ORG

Building a pipeline of talent and stable careers in low-income communities.

CodeSquad is an intensive STEM bootcamp and occupational skills training program that trains talented, low-income adults, particularly people of color and women, to become full-stack web developers and launch a new career.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS COMMUNITY CARING CLINIC, INC. BOSTON, COMMUNITYCARINGCLINIC.ORG

Holistic care to promote and strengthen the mental, spiritual, and physical health of the community.

Community Caring Clinic provides cost-effective behavioral and mental healthcare services to children, young people, families, and individuals through counseling, education, social skills training, motivation, and access to treatment.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE THROUGH SOCCER (CETS) WORCESTER, PSNNC.ORG/ YOUTH-OPPORTUNITIES

Empowering youth from diverse communities to play, share, and teach soccer and to become leaders to improve Worcester.

Beginning as a neighborhood-based community building program, CETS has grown to provide youth leadership development through soccer. Mentoring and training primarily immigrant youth, CETS aims to produce a pool of young leaders with the tools for a successful life and community.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

DEAFINITELY, INC. BOSTON, DEAFINITELYINC.COM

Changing the paradigm for deaf and hard of hearing youth.

DEAFinitely empowers Deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, deaf-disabled and hearing youth through mentorship, performing arts, and American Sign Language (ASL). DEAFinitely youth learn to communicate and work together as a team, expressing positive messages through dance and ASL. Through Deaf-to-Deaf mentoring, youth engage in regular ASL-rich outlets to deepen connections and develop fundamental skills to interact in the world.

DEEDEE’S CRY SUICIDE PREVENTION & FAMILY SUPPORT DORCHESTER, DEEDEESCRY.ORG

Providing resources on suicide prevention and loss & mental health education.

DeeDee’s Cry supports families impacted by suicide by creating a safe space for conversation and lifting the stigma on suicide and mental health within BIPOC communities. DeeDee’s Cry offers event programs, projects, and activities within BIPOC communities focusing on family, mental health, and suicide prevention.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

EAST BOSTON COMMUNITY SOUP KITCHEN EAST BOSTON, EBCSK.ORG

Providing nourishment in all forms to those facing adversity.

The East Boston Community Soup Kitchen offers nourishment and a community space for those experiencing challenging life circumstances, such as food insecurity, addiction, and homelessness. They hold a holistic understanding of the varied needs of their community and serve as a place of dignity and compassion for all who enter their space.

ERITREAN AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION (EACA) BOSTON, EACABOSTON.COM

Promoting civic engagement, community organizing, social and cultural interactions among Eritrean-Americans.

The Eritrean American Civic Association aims to support migrant communities through language training, workforce development, cultural programming, civic engagement, and professional networks. EACA develops programs that respond to the needs of Eritrean and other immigrant communities from Africa and helps increase awareness about refugees and immigrant issues locally and statewide.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

GRATIS HEALTHCARE, INC. FRAMINGHAM, GRATISHEALTH.ORG

Removing barriers to basic health care and strive to connect patients to the Massachusetts health care system and community resources.

Gratis Healthcare acknowledges the expanding need for access to basic health care within communities that are uninsured or underinsured in the MetroWest and Greater Boston area. Gratis Healthcare provides free medical and mental health services while offering Portuguese and Spanish interpreters.

HEART OF A GIANT FOUNDATION, INC. MILTON, HEARTOFAGIANT.ORG

Empowering people to become active agents in their healthcare and well-being and improve their quality of life and health outcomes.

The Heart of a Giant Foundation amplifies patient voices to receive better health education, care plans, and greater community involvement. Focusing on improving health outcomes and preventing chronic heart diseases, Heart of a Giant Foundation fosters better health outcomes on a global level.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

I HAVE A FUTURE STATEWIDE, IHAVEAFUTUREMA.US

Empowering the next generation of community organizers.

I Have A Future is a statewide community of youth organizers and allies building power to ensure that every young person has an opportunity to thrive by increasing youth jobs and ending mass incarceration through transformational leadership development, direct public action, and policy change.

JOYWEAVERS, INC. CAMBRIDGE, JOYWEAVERS.ORG

Celebrating joy, learning, and the wonder of childhood.

JOYweavers offers families affected by trauma, disability, or school challenges, accessible programming for children, work experiences for teens, advocacy and resources for caregivers, and most importantly, community for all to feel welcomed, known and valued. Through their five-week summer camp and year-long family support and community building programming, JOYweavers provides community, mentoring relationships, and programming that promotes social-emotional development, learning and JOY.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

KODECONNECT, INC. BROCKTON, KODECONNECT.ORG

Inspiring a generation of problem solvers, collaborators, and innovators.

KodeConnect’s mission is to Expose and Engage underserved youth in dynamic STEM learning experiences so that they Envision themselves as problem solvers, collaborators, and innovators.

It works to systematically break down existing barriers to underrepresented students in STEM, foster creative learning environments, and ultimately increase minority presence in the critical fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

LAMPLIGHT WOMEN’S LITERACY CENTER ARLINGTON, LAMPLIGHTLITERACY.ORG

Providing adult education programs to support the advancement women with limited incomes.

Lamplight Women’s Literacy Center partners with women of limited economic resources, encouraging them to envision ambitious futures and responding with tailored educational programs that support their goals. Lamplight’s programs advance students’ English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills while providing them with career advising, job search assistance, and referrals for other social service needs.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

LOVE LIFE NOW FOUNDATION AVON, LOVELIFENOW.ORG

Supporting survivors of domestic violence through year-round initiative and direct assistance to domestic violence programs.

As a global awareness and education organization, Love Life Now Foundation provides resources to those seeking help regarding domestic violence through educational workshops, panels, presentations, and year-round awareness. Love Life Now Foundation participates and holds events that aid domestic violence shelters.

MERCY MEALS & MORE NEW BEDFORD, MERCYMEALSANDMORE.COM

Providing a nutritious beginning to the day for neighbors in need.

Mercy Meals & More provides free meals, clothing, and foot care to those in need while simultaneously creating an atmosphere cultivating friendships and building a stronger community. Offering a hot breakfast program Monday through Saturday, Mercy Meals & More treats their guests with dignity and respect.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

MOUNT OLIVES COMMUNITY CENTER HYDE PARK, MOCCENTER.ORG

Providing opportunities to build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.

Mount Olives Community Center provides computer literacy classes, financial literacy services, and parent education programming to Boston’s Haitian community to help families create a nurturing, stable, and culturally-diverse family environment.

MY BROTHER’S KEEPER 617 (MBK617) BOSTON, MBK617.ORG

Providing opportunities for new experiences, connections, and community.

MBK617 creates a community network group for youth by mentoring and building community relations and exploring other environments. Through this, MBK617 aims to decrease the number of young boys who join gangs, provide them with the necessary skills to become successful, and empower them to reach their full potential.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

NEIGHBORHOOD COUNSELING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. (NCCS) SOMERVILLE, NEIGHBORHOODCOUNSELINGSERVICES.ORG

Improving the quality of life of anyone who feels vulnerable.

NCCS provides much-needed accessible and affordable counseling for individuals, children, adolescents, adults, families and groups in Somerville, Medford, Malden, Everett, and Chelsea. It seeks to improve the quality of life of anyone who feels vulnerable and is looking for ways to better the relationship they have with themselves, their families, and their communities.

NEIGHBORS UNITED FOR A BETTER EAST BOSTON (NUBE) EAST BOSTON, NUBEASTBOSTON.ORG

Envisioning a community where neighbors co-exist, support, and encourage each other.

NUBE develops abundant leaders who support social transformation and shifting political power by organizing and advocating for inclusive democratic processes and just public policies to create a vibrant economy and environment for all East Boston.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, INC. (NEMA) BROOKLINE, NEMA-NMA.ORG

Mobilizing the Black physician community to shape a just future for medicine.

The New England Medical Association is an organization that connects Black physicians in the New England area who are passionate about combatting healthcare inequality. NEMA members advocate to eliminate health disparities while building community power through career development, mentorship programs, and community-based projects.

NEW LYNN COALITION LYNN, NEWLYNN.ORG

Organizing working class people into a unified, permanent, political, and economic force.

The New Lynn Coalition is made up of community, faith, and labor activists who organize all sectors of working-class people into a unified, permanent, political, and economic force that is union and non-union, and transcends racial, linguistic, ethnic, citizenship, faith, and gender boundaries. It seeks to redress/address the extreme income inequality that comes from lack of power for working people and directly address white supremacy in organizing and educational activities.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

NIGERIAN AMERICAN MULTI-SERVICE ASSOCIATION (NAMSA) BOSTON, NAMSA.ORG

Dedicated to promoting and preserving the culture and heritage of all people of Nigerian ancestry.

NAMSA works to create a support environment through education, networking opportunities, and other services to help people adapt and thrive. Celebrating the contributions of Nigerian Americans and helping new immigrants integrate into American society, NAMSA aims promote inclusive and lasting socioeconomic progress in their community and beyond using advocacy and philanthropy.

OPEN DOOR IMMIGRATION SERVICES (ODIS) BEVERLY, ODISMA.ORG

Guiding immigrants through the complex journey of the immigration system.

Open Door Immigration Services is a Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited legal services organization that provides affordable and no-cost legal service for immigrants navigating the challenges to obtaining legal immigrant status. ODIS prioritizes delivery of these services to the underserved low-income immigrants in their community.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

OUR DEAF SURVIVORS CENTER, INC. WORCESTER, ODSCMA.ORG

Providing culturally affirmative support services to Deaf victims/survivors of sexual and domestic violence and promoting awareness of cultural and linguistic considerations.

ODSC is a sister agency to Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services as it offers sexual and domestic violence services to Deaf victims/survivors in Massachusetts. Through education, empowerment, and advocacy, ODSC hopes to uplift and provide a platform for its community.

OUTSTANDINGLIFE ROXBURY, OUTSTANDINGLIFE.ORG

Disrupting social isolation of LGTBQ+ elders through virtual community.

OutstandingLife addresses the unique challenges of LGBTQ+ elders through connection building, leading them to live more empowered and joyful lives.

OutstandingLife’s online community offers LGBTQ+ elders a virtual space where they are able to combat loneliness and benefit from educational programming thereby deepening their connections within the community.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

P&O BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INITIATIVE, INC. MERRIMACK VALLEY, POBHI.ORG

Elevating marginalized and underprivileged communities by empowering them to achieve success.

P&O Behavioral Health Initiative addresses mental health challenges and provides a safe place for persons in underprivileged and immigrant communities by offering support and integration. It offers behavioral health services and coordination of resources to marginalized groups, persons with cognitive impairment, and learning disabilities so they can develop and improve life skills to the best of their abilities.

PLEASANT STREET NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK CENTER, INC. (PSNNC) WORCESTER, PSNNC.ORG

Creating a safe, attractive, and livable community with people of various means and backgrounds.

Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center serves to bring people together to bring awareness and prioritize issues in which collective action can create effective change. Forging new partnerships among all individuals within the Pleasant-Piedmont neighborhood and highlighting the unique talents of all, PSNNC aims to achieve and sustain their vision.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

PRIDE PRODUCTIONS, INC. WORCESTER, PRIDEPRO.ORG

Providing opportunities for youth to engage in media production.

With an overall mission to inspire confidence and ambition in young people, Pride Productions offers programs for youth to engage in multimedia creation and production. Their programs offer unique opportunities not often accessible to youth and help to inspire young people to explore different paths and passions, including career development and mentorship opportunities.

RECLAIM ROXBURY ROXBURY, RECLAIMROXBURY.ORG

Improving the quality of life and economic wealth for Roxbury residents by preventing displacement and supporting economic development.

Reclaim Roxbury works to ensure that Roxbury residents are actively involved in the democratic process and have a voice in community planning. Through education and advocacy, Reclaim Roxbury’s mission is to build a more prosperous and resilient Roxbury.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

REFUGEES & IMMIGRANTS CULTURAL EMPOWERMENT MASSACHUSETTS (RICEMA) WORCESTER, RICEMA.ORG

Preserving the culture of refugee and immigrant communities through performance art and education.

Refugees & Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts uses performance art and education to preserve the culture of refugee and immigrant communities, while deepening individuals’ connection to their heritage.

RICEMA also offer English as a Second Language (ESL) courses for adults and Youth Effect International Trip’s to offer global cultural experiences for youth.

REVIVE IN ACTION, INC. WALTHAM, REVIVEINACTION.ORG

Empowering marginalized, low-income, and underserved communities to inspire economic growth, educational excellence, and community engagement.

Revive In Action is a community-based organization committed to empowering and revitalizing urban communities by fostering a generation of resilient, compassionate, and purpose-driven leaders. From youths seeking guidance to migrants, refugees, and asylees in search of support, their initiatives extend a helping hand in diverse ways.

Revive in Action has become a cornerstone of hope and assistance for those navigating challenging circumstances.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

RIGHT TO THE CITY BOSTON BOSTON, RIGHTTOTHECITYBOSTON.ORG

Uplifting the voice of grassroots organizations and residents across the City of Boston.

Right to the City Boston is a multiissue-based alliance of grassroots organizations representing low-income, POC/immigrant communities working together for social justice under platform of value and principles: the right to stable community, the right to economic justice and good jobs, the right to democratic participation, the right to public good, and the right to a healthy environment.

SCIBOSTON GREATER BOSTON, SCIBOSTON.ORG

Supporting the newly injured through their post-injury journeys.

SCIboston offers hope to individuals and families affected by spinal cord injuries or disorders through one-on-one support, peer mentoring, support groups, social connectedness, and educational programs to help the newly injured and their families, transition back into the community and lead fulfilling lives.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS SISTERS UNCHAINED, INC. BOSTON, SISTERSUNCHAINED.COM

Creating space for young women of color to love and improve themselves and their communities.

Sisters Unchained is a prison abolitionist organization dedicated to the collective leadership, healing, and creative expression of young women affected by incarceration. It supports young women and girls, with incarcerated or formerly incarcerated parents, by focusing on radical education, alternative forms of healing, organizing, and art.

SOMALI PARENTS ADVOCACY CENTER FOR EDUCATION (SPACE) GREATER BOSTON, SPACEMA.ORG

Engaging Somali families more actively in the lives and education of their children.

SPACE supports, educates, and empowers Somali families at all levels so that they can successfully access the resources and services in the larger community, and be better advocates for their children in school, in health care, and in their own community.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

SOUTH BOSTON EN ACCION SOUTH BOSTON, SBEACCION.ORG

Empowering community members in South Boston to create positive change.

South Boston en Accion’s mission is to relieve poverty, combat community deterioration, advance civic education and engagement, promote social welfare and justice, and inspire leadership from within the low-income population of South Boston. It develops grassroots leadership from within the community by helping residents to access knowledge and other resources to achieve their goals and develop as leaders to take collective action for improvements to social and racial injustices.

TEEN JUST-US AT TEMPLE ISRAEL OF BOSTON (TEEN JUST-US) BOSTON, TISRAEL.ORG/TEEN-JUST-US-BOSTON/

Providing a substantive and meaningful opportunity for teens who are eager to make a difference in the world.

Teen JUST-US offers a six-week, non-residential, immersive social justice experience for a cohort of rising high school juniors and seniors. Participating in internships across the Boston area while offering Jewish leadership development, Teen JUST-US matches its students with mentors for a mutually productive experience for all to access.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS THE DREAM NETWORK LAWRENCE, THEDREAMNETWORK.ORG

Making connections between incarceration, racism, and social justice.

The Dream Network helps to form a collective vision of what social justice and mobility should look like in Lawrence through collective power, tangible connection, and shared experiences to build community credibility and capital. Its mission is to develop transformative processes that measurably impact poverty, and its goal is to shift culture by addressing systemic inequities in our educational, economic, environmental, social, and carceral systems.

THE HISTORY PROJECT: DOCUMENTING LGBTQ BOSTON BOSTON, HISTORYPROJECT.ORG

Documenting and preserving the history of New England’s LGBTQ communities and sharing that history with others.

As one of the largest independent LGBTQ archives in the nation, The History Project contains more than 250 collections and more than one million documents from organizations and individuals. The History Project offers various outreach activities such as film screenings or exhibitions to engage anyone interested in LGBTQ+ history.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

THE UPWARD PROJECT BOSTON, THEUPWARDPROJECT.ORG

Guaranteeing first-generation students access to competitive opportunities.

With upward mobility as the end goal, The Upward Project is a career development program working to ensure that 1st-generation, low-income, high-achieving college students are well-positioned to enter and succeed in the most competitive career fields. It is a five-year wrap-around program that provides extensive career coaching, internship placement support, cultivation of professional networks, financial resources, and more.

THINK OUTSIDE THE VOX, INC. LITTLETON, THINKOUTSIDETHEVOX.ORG

Increasing disability and cultural access in the arts community.

Think Outside the Vox focuses on combatting ableist marginalization between disabled patrons, BIPOC/AAPI/ marginalized access providers, and art institutions through individual consulting, webinars, referral services, and training programs. They aim to make measurable system-wide change in the field by facilitating and planning ways art institutions can make their spaces more accessible and inclusive.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS TRANSLATE GENDER NORTHAMPTON, TRANSLATEGENDER.ORG

Generating community accountability for individuals to self-determine their own genders and gender expressions.

As a collective-based consensus-run organization, Translate Gender has led efforts to fight gender oppression and educate communities on specific concerns to trans, gender-expansive, and/or gender nonconforming individuals. Translate Gender holds workshops, consultations, mediations, and facilitations of discussions in various settings to accomplish their mission.

URBAN POWERHOUSE HYDE PARK, URBANPOWERHOUSE.ORG

Bringing empowerment and self-growth to those in Boston’s urban centers through strength & power sports.

Urban PowerHouse is the first nonprofit strength-training facility supporting underserved populations in Boston and neighboring areas. They work to increase the exposure and participation of underserved youth and adults in strength sports through training, information access, and financial support and make powerlifting and weightlifting attainable for everyone, thereby keeping the sport diverse and inclusive for years to come.

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2025 GRANT RECIPIENT BIOS

VONG TAY CHA ME VIET DORCHESTER, VONGTAYCHAMEVIET.COM

Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate support and resources to Vietnamese-speaking parents of children and youth with disabilities and autism.

Vong Tay Cha Me Viet, also known as The Circle of Vietnamese Parents, supports Vietnamese-speaking parents of children and youth with disabilities and autism.

Led by parents of children and youth with disabilities and autism, the organization provides emotional support and educational resources that are culturally and linguistically appropriate for Vietnamese speaking families. Their bilingual and bicultural materials are accessed at no cost nationwide and beyond.

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MONDAY NOVEMBER 2025

SAVE THE DATE The Lenny Zakim Fund’s

•

24TH Annual

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Congratulations to all the Lenny Zakim Fund award recipients and thank you to the Lenny Zakim Fund for the amazing work it does to help organizations of all kinds grow and flourish in our community.

-DAVID AND BEN GROSSMAN

www.grossmanmarketing.com 48 | The Lenny Zakim Fund’s 29th Annual Awards Ceremony

25TH ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY | 35 |

2024 LENNY ZAKIM FUND DONORS The Lenny Zakim Fund bridges gaps between need and resources in communities; between donors and individuals striving to make better lives; between complementary organizations otherwise unbeknownst to each other; and between you and your ability to create positive impact in your neighboring communities at risk.

We are deeply grateful to the following donors for making this important work possible.

THANK YOU. Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge ($50,000 & Over)

Cable Bridge ($5,000-$9,999)

Anonymous

Risa and Steven Aronson

Barr Foundation

Eastern Bank Foundation

The Klarman Family Foundation

Goldberg Family Multigenerational

Krupp Family Foundation

Ellen and Kalman Heller Integrated Builders

Cantilever Bridge ($25,000-$49,999)

Alexander and Lianne Leventhal

Josephine and Louise Crane Foundation Scarlet Feather Fund

The Estate of Phyllis Marino Meads Bay Hotel Group Mr. Owl Foundation

Suzi Kaitz & Jonathan Katz

Elaine and Bobby Sager

Temple B’Nai Israel

Joseph Savage

Bowstring Bridge ($10,000-$24,999)

Rob Sherman & Joan Lenington Ellie Starr

Anonymous The Estate of Charlotte Kaitz

Tao Jones Charitable Foundation, Joseph Deitch

Michael and Manisha Eckton

Joyce Zakim & Peter Greenspan

The Frieze Family Foundation

Arch Bridge ($2,500-$4,999)

Jamie Golden Mark and Susan Irvings John and Sonia Lingos Family Foundation Tim Mackey & Carol Lee Rawn Glenn and Susan Rothman The Slater Foundation Stephen and Jane Williamson Arthur Winn

Anonymous Brian and Mary Carty Crestwood Advisors Elizabeth De Lima & Bobby Alter Carol Knox & Phillipe Paul Mark and Ashley Ohanian

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2024 LENNY ZAKIM FUND DONORS Bob and Kathy Curley George Deangelis Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Betsy Feldman Richard and Laura Flynn Debra Fox Gaby and Adam Goldstein Barbara and Steven Grossman Ronald Halterman Heidi Price Design and Heidi Price

Arch Bridge ($2,500-$4,999) continued Ben Stepansky Larry Stiffler & Mary McFadden Gillien Todd & Kingsley Taft Amy Shulman Weinberg & Robert Weinberg Robert White Josh and Grace Zakim

Thomas and Carole Hemnes Jessica Hennessy & AJ Marini Sandy and Roz Hollander Paul Holtzman Lori and Eric Lander Richard Lapchick & Ann Pasnak Celeste and David Lee Blake McLaughlin William McPherson New England Legal Foundation

Double Decker Bridge ($1,000-$2,499)

Allen Palmer & Nancy Feingold-Palmer

Anonymous

Scott Price

Ernest and Christine Adams Miki Akimoto Bob and Helen Alkon Jason and Lucy Amello Joan and Steve Belkin Ed Belove & Laura Roberts The Boston Foundation Ellen Bruce Daniel Caine & Claire Socolovsky Caine Carte Blanche Careers Moris Castillo & Haide Bolanos

Allison Picott & Michael Goldstein Bob and Gabriela Romanow Deborah Seidel Risa Shames & Neil Silverston Fredi and Jack Shonkoff David Stein & Elizabeth March Aprylle and Eric Wallace Maarten and TT Wensveen Michael Whouley & Sally Kerans Mindy Wright Deena Zakim & Jesse Chebot Edward and Judi Zuker

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2024 LENNY ZAKIM FUND DONORS

Double Decker Bridge ($500 - $999)

Daneshvar

Lorrie Anderson

Richard Goldsby & Barbara Osborne

Martha Bacigalupo

Saundra Hall & Judah Weathers

Jim and Clara Batchelor

Sharona Halpern

Mark and Margaret Batten

Felicia Heywood & Hilary Maguire

Alexandra Bean

Barbara Howard & Jonathan Kaufman

Diane and Fred Berk

Jamie and Jessie Husid

BLINK and Stacy Coen

Drew Hyman

Michael and Megan Bowhers Charnice Burns & Todd Mazer

Impact Community Giving and Carla Beaudoin

Robert and Emily Carroll

Rachel Israel & Jason Heiser

Lawrence and Martha Casazza

K. Weill Consulting Group

Anabell Cazariego

Sharon Kaitz & Jonathan Wilson

Terri and Alan Chebot

Richard Kaitz

Jonathan and Elizabeth Coffman

Dennis and Carol Kanin

Dayl Cohen

Alexandra Karasic

Anne Cowie & Amy Graves

Harris and Paul Krupp

Shade Cronan

Lizbeth and George Krupp

Christine and Lee Roy Dixon

David McCarthy

Catherine Donaher & Robert Hollister

Jordan Michaels

Bruce and Mady Donoff

Jennifer Musso Kelly & Matthew Kelly

Lisa Flores

Andrew and Sara Myerson

Chad Freitas

Thomas Neenan & Mih-Ho Cha

Marta Garcia Daneshvar & Daniel

Matthew and Anna Noon

Julia Gittleman & Tom Mendelsohn

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2024 LENNY ZAKIM FUND DONORS Double Decker Bridge ($500 - $999) continued Robert and Leslie Ogan Andrew Ott & Charan Devereaux Sabrina and Mark Particelli Maureen and John Pistorio Poduska Family Foundation Alison Roche Joseph and Ciara Rodio Jake Rosenberg Franklin and Rachel Ross Terry and Wayne Rusch

Stone Bridge ($250-$499)

Harold and Linda Schwartz

Laura Baldini

Beth Segers William and Ruth Shelley

Benjamin B. and Natalie O. Levin Foundation

Shulman Family Fund

Josh Biren

Madelyn Terbell

Jay Blitzman & Sandra Jaffe

Armani Thao

Brianna Boggs

Loren Van Allen

Stephen and Joanne Camer

Swapna and Nate Vantzelfde

Kendin Carr

Christopher Walsh

Julie Catalano

JoJo and George Wetterau

Rich and Debby Cole

Andrea Wheeler

Kendra Coleman

Anki Wolf & Mark Geer

Cuyana – Jodi Catino

Shari Zakim-Yacouby and Phil Zakim-Yacouby

Kate Dineen Suzanne Dodakian Seth Dugal Megan Dunn Katie Durant Toni Elka Leila El-youssef Bob and Iris Fanger Joseph Giso Mitchell A. and Barbara S. Glazier Ronni Goldsmith and Joe Donelan

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2024 LENNY ZAKIM FUND DONORS Rick Rostoff Suzan Rothschild Jasper Rubino Terry and Susan Rushfirth Tom and Anne Snyder Mark and Marjie Sokoll Matthew and Dana Starr Aland and Laurie Starr Jonathan Stepansky Wat Tyler Laura Van Zandt

Stone Bridge ($250-$499) continued

Rabbi Moshe and Anne Waldoks

Johee Han

Kenneth Weill & Joanna Cataldo

Graham Walters

Sol and Jackie Israel

Ben Whipple & Carol Gladstone

Jessica Jacobs & Michael Culver

Susan Whitehead

Peter and Maddy Jacobson

Foot Bridge ($100-$249)

Matthew Kaplan Lisa Kessler

Anonymous

Jonathan Lee

Carl and Andrea Axelrod

Arlene and Richard Levin

Alice and Michael Baker

Lauren Levy

Kathleen and Bruce Barnett

Ann May

Bob and Marlise Bickel

Sara McCabe

Karen and David Binder

Lauren Michaels

Derek Bird

Greg and Kristen Mucci Charlayne Murrell-Smith Tania Phillips & Jeffrey S. Dover Joel Piton Bill Poznik & Jane Adolph Kurt and Arlene Pressman Kenneth Preuss James Rapoport & Susan Carty Rapoport Sandra and Allan Ropper Ed Rossi

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2024 LENNY ZAKIM FUND DONORS Foot Bridge ($100-$249) continued Neil Birnbaum & Ruth Barnert Joseph Blau Pam and Richard Bliss Martin and Judy Charns Henry and Mary Chidgey Paul Cooperstein Senator Cynthia and Mr. Harvey Creem Jeanne Cutrona Allen and Carole Davis Catherine Dawson Frank and Nancy Dimella Ed and Sheila Doctoroff Marea and Marty Donohue Emily Driscoll Benjamin Duker Marvin and Marilyn Eichner Peter and Maria Eliopoulos Nancy and Kenneth Falchuk Bruce and Kathie Fieldman Gerald Fink Deborah Frank Frank Friedman & Sarah Kianovsky Colleen Galle Jude Goldman & Ed Braverman Charlie Gomes Mark and Janet Gottesman Helena Hartnett Laura Henry Nancy Hill Neil Hodes & Beth Neiman Kuotai Jack Huang & Jenny Chow Janet Kahan & Stan Shulman Sherry Katz & Mark Farmer Paul and Jan Kearns

Deborah Keegan Elisabeth Keller Elayna and David Kirschtel Rebecca Kolias Anthony Komaroff & Lydia Villa-Komaroff Rachel Kulhawik Ryan Kulkarni Steve Lang Gene and Katherine Lee Josh Levin-Scherz Roberta and Alan Leviton Carl and Naomi Lopkin Kristen and Sean Lucht Dan Matthews & Genevieve Hammond Elizabeth May Susan McCoy Neil McKittrick Cynthia Medeiros Sue and Bill Melaugh Christian Meuser Aaron Michlewitz Edmund Mroz & Celia Shapiro Barbara Palant Miriam and Gary Paluba Susan Paresky Marion and David Pollock Janice Reagan & Wally Taylor Peter Rublin

54 | The Lenny Zakim Fund’s 29th Annual Awards Ceremony

2024 LENNY ZAKIM FUND DONORS

Foot Bridge ($100-$249) continued

Keith and Susan Tornheim

Peter Rubino

Joel and Felicia Vargas

Richard Rubino

May Vaughn

Joyce Rubino & Bob Stepansky

Shelley White-Picott

Sam Russell

Bill and Jean Whitney

Joseph and Jean Sabatini

James and Margery Wieder

Dr. Jonathan Sarna & Dr. Ruth Langer

Matt Wilder

Kate Sawyer

Jeffrey Winik

Linda Schwabe

Jerry Wishnow & Pei Pei Wu

Amy Seeherman & Leslie Brody

Jeff Wulfson & Melissa Langa

Deborah Shalom

Jill York

Mark and Judy Shankman

Mariann Youniss

Sherri and Steve Sigel

Jack and Lydia Zakim

Samuel Silverman

Wayne Zarozny

Gary and Lynne Smith

Alice Zimelman

Jonathan Spillane

Patricia and John Zucchi

Toni and Laurence Spitzer Jack Starr Alan and Elissa Stepansky Deane Stepansky Larry Sternberg Andrew Suskin Neil and Denise Swidey Donna Tehel

Ethan Underhill

In-Kind Donations A Street Hospitality Above All Transportation and Boston Car Service Kendin Carr Bar Mezanna Beacon XV

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2024 LENNY ZAKIM FUND DONORS

In-Kind Donations continued

In Memory Of

Cocktails in Hell – Gina Gluoldi

Jon Bonsall

Columbus Hospitality Group – Lisa Flores

Paula “Penny” Hurwitz

Cuyana

Soon and Toy Lee

Douzo Sushi

Robert and Raynee Price

Michael Eckton

Miriam Reinharth

Empire Loan

Marc Rosenfeld

Empire Loan Charitable Foundation

Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji

ESHospitality

Jonathan Zakim

Percy Fortini Wright

Lenny Zakim

Galley Beach Restaurant Ari Hauben Meghan Houle Jessica Diaz Wellness Legendary Restaurant Group Linens on the Hill Meads Bay Hotel Group MIDA New England Development Allison Picott & Michael Goldstein Ashleigh Pizzaloto Heidi Price Salon Capri SPIN Boston Stay Gold Images Tata Harper Skincare Tavistock Restaurant Collection The Urban Grape Boston Total Wine & More Wasik’s Cheese Shop Xenia Greek Hospitality

In Honor Of Sharon Diamond Beth Dill Leslie Dimella & Marc Hammarlund Steven J. Diner Andrew Dreyfus Ben Echevarria For Kids Only Suzi Kaitz Judi Krupp Light the Night Gene and Joan Masse Melissa McCarthy Emmanuel Owusu Allison Picott Kurt and Arlene Pressman Glenn Rothman Sitters for Scholars Harold Schwartz Ellie Starr Ben Stepansky Amy Shulman Weinberg Joyce Zakim and Peter Greenspan Roberta Zimman

56 | The Lenny Zakim Fund’s 29th Annual Awards Ceremony

Save The Dates Please mark your calendars and join The Lenny Zakim Fund for:

129th Boston Marathon Monday, April 21, 2025 Team LZF Runners: Lucy Nash & Reynolds Graves

The Lenny Zakim Fund’s

Saturday, September 6, 2025 A Festive Fundraiser to Benefit The Lenny Zakim Fund

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58 | The Lenny Zakim Fund’s 29th Annual Awards Ceremony