Dad’s Home
Mural in Fall River
Credit: Fall River Arts and Culture Coalition (FRACC)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2023 COMMITTEES
YEARS OF
SERVICE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Gail Fortes Board Chair
Rebello Korn Vice Chair Linda Bodenmann Past Chair Carl Cruz Clerk (through June 2023) Maria Rosario Assistant Clerk (through June 2023; Clerk after June 2023)
Jonathan
Dear Friend,
What a remarkable year it has been! The Community Foundation, with the unwavering support of our dedicated board members, staff, volunteers, community leaders, and philanthropic partners, achieved significant milestones. We are thrilled to announce that we hit a high watermark of $53 million under our management, a testament to our collective dedication to supporting our southeastern Massachusetts communities for generations to come.
This year, with the help of volunteers, we distributed over $700,000 in scholarships, and we will continue to make improving access to postsecondary education and training our priority. Our collective efforts have also led to the distribution of over $5 million in grants to regional nonprofits, supporting capital campaigns, youth, and workforce development programs, improved economic opportunity for newcomers, and the sustainability of the creative economy. We continue advocating for a strong and vibrant nonprofit sector through our capacity-building efforts and championing the crucial role that arts, culture, and creative thinking play in our daily lives and emerging industries.
In addition to supporting our communities financially, we embarked on an incredible learning journey this year that will shape our future grantmaking strategies and community leadership role over the next five years. Our board and staff collaborated with national experts in strategic planning, people-centered change, racial equity, and evaluation. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Foundation’s 30-year history, surveying many community members to understand our strengths and areas for growth. This collective effort provided invaluable insights and a clear vision for our future.
Our region holds tremendous potential. With 41 cities and towns, including the five gateway cities of New Bedford, Fall River, Brockton, Taunton, and Attleboro, and over one million residents, we remain committed to the challenges and inspired by the opportunities that await us. We have ambitious plans for growing philanthropy to catalyze systemic change and foster sustainable progress. These plans fill us with hope and excitement for the future.
We thank each of you, our dedicated board members, staff, volunteers, community leaders, nonprofit professionals, and philanthropic partners, for your unwavering support and commitment to the SouthCoast Community Foundation. Your generosity and belief in the future of our region are the driving forces behind our success. With your help, the SouthCoast Community Foundation will continue uniting people, organizations, and resources to create lasting, positive change in our communities.
Sincerely,
Dr. Melanie Edwards-Tavares PRESIDENT AND CEO
Gail Fortes BOARD CHAIR
TOTAL NET ASSETS
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
9,478,399 6,071,831 37,332 15,587,562 8,591,359 851,248 510,174 9,952,781 5,634,781 47,862,958 53,497,739
nonprofit grant recipients
3rd Eye Youth Empowerment
AHA New Bedford Fund
All Hands and Hearts
Alma del Mar Foundation Inc.
American Friends Service Committee
Arc of Bristol County
Art Center Sarasota
Assawompset Elementary School PTO
Attleboro Area Interfaith Collaborative
Attleboro Arts Museum
Bethel AME 200th
Concert Fund
Bethel AME Church
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South
Boys and Girls Club of Fall River
Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Bedford/Wareham
The Bridge - A Center for Hope and Healing
Bristol Community College Foundation
Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc. (BAMSI)
Brockton Day Nursery, Inc.
Brockton Family & Community Resources
Brockton Farmers Market
Brockton Interfaith Community
Brockton Neighborhood Health Center
Browning the Green Space
Burgo Basketball Assocation
Buttonwood Park Zoological Society
Buzzards Bay Coalition
Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford, Inc.
Cape Verdean Association of Brockton, INC / The Immigrant Assistance Center of Greater Brockton
Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River
Catholic Charities South
Catholic Social Services - Sr. Rose House
Community Economic Development Center
Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores
Change Makers Network
Child & Family Services, Inc.
Children’s Advocacy Center, a program of JRI
Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation
Children’s Museum Easton
Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River
Citizens for Citizens
City of New Bedford- Parks Recreation & Beaches
Coastal Foodshed Inc.
Coastal Neighbors Network, Inc.
Community Boating Center
CurePSP
Cuttyhunk STEAM Academy, Inc
Dartmouth Natural Resources
Dartmouth Public Schools
Dennison Memorial Community Center
Dream Out Loud Center
East Bay Food Pantry
Entrepreneurship for All Escuela Agricola Panamericana (Zamorano University)
Fall River Arts and Culture Coalition
Fall River Deaconess Home
Fall River Fabric Festival
Family Pantry- Damien’s Place
Family Pantry of Cape Cod
Farm and Community Collaborative
Father Bill’s & MainSpring
FCNL Education Fund
Fellowship of Reconcilliation
First Baptist Church - Fall River
Florida Studio Theater
Freetown Council on Aging
Freetown Elementary School PTO
Freetown-Lakeville Middle School PTO
Friends of Jack Foundation
Fundação Faialense, Inc.
Gallery X, Inc.
George R. Austin Intermediate School PTO
Global Learning Charter Public School
Gnome Surf
Gosnold Grantmaking Fund
Greater Fall River Community Food Pantry
Greater Fall River Recreation
Greater New Bedford Youth Alliance
Greater New Bedford Youth Development Inc.
Groundwork Southcoast
Health Imperatives, Inc.
Hockomock Area YMCA
Immigrants’ Assistance Center, Inc.
Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford
Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts, Inc.
Katie Brown
Educational Program
Leadership SouthCoast
Little Compton Food Bank
LLoyd Center for the Environment
GRANTS BY AREA
HEALTH AND WELLNESS, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENT
(continued on next page)
EDUCATION, INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS
ARTS AND CULTURE
Courtesy: Fall River Arts and Culture Coalition (FRACC)
(continued from previous page)
Loft School of Marion, Inc
M.O.L.I.F.E., Inc.
Marion Institute
Martha Briggs Educational Club, Inc.
Massachusetts Design Art & Technology Institute
Mattapoisett Community Sailing Association
Mercy Meals and More
My Brother’s Keeper
Nancy and Jack Braitmayer Fund for Innovative Educational Excellence
Nativity Preparatory School of New Bedford
New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks!
New Bedford Ballet Foundation, Inc.
New Bedford Education Foundation
Program and Operating Fund
New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center
New Bedford Light, Inc.
New Bedford Ocean Cluster
New Bedford Public Schools
New Bedford Rowing Center, Inc
New Bedford Star Kids
Scholarship Program
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
New Hope, Inc.
NorthStar Learning Centers
Oberlin College & Conservatory
Old Colony YMCA
Old Dartmouth Historical Society
Old Rochester Regional School District
Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island
OneGoal
Our Daily Bread Food and Resource Center
Our Sisters’ School
PACE, Inc.
People Incorporated
Portsmouth Abbey School
Portuguese United for Education
d/b/a/ Discovery Language Academy
PRASAD Project
Prince Henry Society of Massachusetts, Inc.
Reach Out and Read
River to Recovery
Rochester Council on Aging
Roger Williams University
Roots 2Empower
Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum
Salvation Army Canton
Salvation Army Fall River
Santa Cecilia Band
Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation
School on Wheels
Schwartz Center for Children
Seaglass Theater Company
Self-Reliance Corp
Seven Hills Behavioral Health
Seven Hills Food Pantry
Sound Explorations
South Shore Community
Action Council
Southcoast Health
Southcoast Health Systems - VNA
Southeastern Massachusetts
SER-Jobs For Progress Inc.
Southern Poverty Law Center
Spirit of Somerset Festival
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Chuch
St. Francis Xavier Elementary School
St. John Neumann Parish
Steppingstone, Inc.
Straight Ahead Ministries
Swansea School Department
Teach for America - Greater Boston
Tifereth Israel Congregation
Tougaloo College
Town of Dartmouth
Town of Dartmouth
School Department
Town of Gosnold
Town of Marion
Town of Westport
UMass Dartmouth Foundation
United Neighbors of Fall River
United Way of Greater Fall River
United Way of Greater New Bedford
United Way of Plymouth County
United Way of Rhode Island
Veterans Association of Bristol County
Veterans Transition House
Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless Inc. dba Turning Point
Westport Community Schools
Westport Education Foundation
Westport Food Pantry
Westtown School
Whitfield-Manjiro
Friendship Society, Inc.
Women’s Center
Women’s Fund SouthCoast
YMCA Southcoast
Your Theatre, Inc.
Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Inc.
YWCA of Southeastern MA
Zeiterion Theatre, Inc.
$5,814,654
GRANTS TO 158 188 ORGANIZATIONS TOTAL FUNDS
$700,833 SCHOLARSHIP TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED 122
NEW FUNDS IN 2023
NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH OF NEW BEDFORD COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
SANDRA L. CASTALDO DECAS SCHOLARSHIP FUND
MILESTONE GIVES FUND
LEONARD H. CHACE, JR. AND ELEANOR B. CHACE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
KRUGER SCHOLARSHIP FUND
OUR REGION
1.027 MILLION RESIDENTS IN OUR REGION
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SERVES 41 CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS FOUR COUNTIES OF SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS, INCLUDING THE FIVE GATEWAY CITIES OF ATTLEBORO, BROCKTON, FALL RIVER, NEW BEDFORD AND TAUNTON.
Fall River
Taunton
New Bedford
Attleboro
Brockton
BROCKTON
What is the purpose of the Rose Conservatory?
We are trying to make a musical shift in the lives of the kids in Brockton. We want to provide access to an exceptional arts education, focused on music theory. We have a heavy emphasis on our kids enriching our large community.
What inspired the creation of the Rose Conservatory?
It wasn’t always the coolest thing to play an instrument growing up in Brockton. As a kid who played violin and piano from the age of three, it wasn’t cool. I was bullied. When I was young, and I went to a conservatory, I was the only person who looked like me. When I played in a concert, I was the only person who looked like me. I heard comments from kids when I was a kid. I heard comments from adults when I was a kid. I really wanted to create a space for kids to feel comfortable, to feel safe, to feel they could express themselves, to appreciate classical music – and so, we have. We are trying to reclaim and rename the ‘school to prison pipeline’ – to forge a new path, a new pipeline of musicality, scholarship and education. We created a space where playing violin is the coolest thing. It’s a culture where there’s so much for them to try – and they do. These kids want to practice, they want to get better. They’re confident, and we’re reinforcing that.
What brought you to this role?
For years, I was a teacher in private, so-called ‘elite’ schools. I worked for schools that pushed kids to be great, to be better, that provided all these resources. When COVID hit, all the schools shut down, and I had nothing to do. I ran into an old friend running a mentor program, and he asked me if there was anything I could do outdoors with music for them, and I said ‘of course there is!’ So, from there the program began...it started by taking old tires and turning them into drums that we could play outside. And, now it’s grown into a nonprofit with 43 students, seven types of musical instrument instruction (with free use of instruments), and academic and other supports. The same way they did at those private schools, we push them to be great in many ways. And they rise to the occasion.
What’s a day like for a student at the Rose Conservatory?
We think of a single parent, and what they would want their child to have done by the time they arrive. A typical day is academics/homework for the first hour, music for the next hour and a half, and a STEM or arts project to stimulate their minds after that. We always include a full, hot meal for our students. So, when a parent picks them up at 7:00, they can just go home and spend time with their child.
What’s the most surprising part of this work?
The results we’ve seen in such a short time are amazing. Kids who had aggressive behaviors in school, and this program has changed them – in academics, in behaviors, and in their ability to be their true, creative selves. The most rewarding thing is that when 7 pm comes, no one wants to go home. They want to be here and to play their instruments.
Greg Fernandes
Executive Director
The Rose Conservatory
Greg, a former private school music teacher, envisioned a place where kids from his hometown of Brockton could practice playing their instruments without fear of ridicule, learn classical music theory, and be supported to excel academically, all while being in a nurturing, enriching afterschool program. In 2021, he founded the Rose Conservatory.
Younes, a 10 year old Brockton Public School student says, “On my violin, I can make so many different sounds, from high to low, and I can play really fast. That’s what makes the violin so cool. It’s also cool that none of my friends can play violin, maybe I can teach them. “
Meet the Changemakers
Rose Conservatory, Brockton
GEORGE MATOUK & THE MATOUK STAFF
Matouk, a designer and manufacturer of fine linens based in Fall River, has set an innovative example in their charitable giving program, by establishing an employee-driven approach to determining what nonprofit organizations receive donations from the company.
Why did you establish a charitable giving program?
Our goal is to grow our impact by allocating a portion of our profits annually to the Matouk Company Fund. We’re committed to expanding our philanthropic reach and making a significant difference in our community.
Can you describe the charitable giving process, and how it is led by employees?
Our Charitable Giving Committee, which consists of about ten employees from various levels and functions, meets as needed, and employees can nominate local non-profits for grants. These nominations are then evaluated and grants are awarded through the SouthCoast Community Foundation, with almost all nominated organizations receiving funding. Recently we’ve focused on workforce development, food and housing security. We encourage all employees to get involved, making the process more efficient and inclusive.
How important is employee engagement in your community involvement?
Employee engagement is crucial. It enriches their sense of purpose and aligns with our company values. For example, one of our employees was inspired to nominate the the Stepping Stone shelter after a personal encounter with someone receiving services there. This kind of initiative not only benefits the community, but also fosters a deeper connection among our employees.
Why did you decide to work with the Community Foundation?
We chose to partner with a trusted organization like the South Coast Community Foundation to ensure our philanthropic efforts are well-directed. Our employees are deeply connected to the community, and we believe in empowering them to guide our company’s charitable activities. This sense of responsibility towards improving the community is vital.
fall river
George Matouk, Jr. CEO, Matouk
Why did you open a scholarship fund?
My father, Manuel S. Pina, Sr., had been the valedictorian of Wareham High School class of 1940. At that time, despite being valedictorian, he didn’t receive any scholarships. His intentions were to become a lawyer. So, he started school at Suffolk University, and worked waiting tables, but ultimately left college to join the military due to financial barriers. Eventually, he finished college in the service and became the first Cape Verdean to achieve the rank of colonel in the Army.
Like my father, I went to college in Boston and also left for financial reasons. I joined the Marine Corps, and later, with the GI Bill, I went to college at night for many years. I ended up being the president of National Lumber, and hard work really paid off for me. It has now put me in a position to be able to provide some help for others. So, two years ago, on what would’ve been my father’s 100th birthday, I decided it was a good time to start something – to address an issue that had bothered him his whole life, and to open the scholarship fund.
Who do you hope to help with the scholarship?
I want to support Cape Verdean students, and while I would like to expand the reach, for now, I included students from Wareham, New Bedford and Old Rochester because those are the schools where my father, my sons and I graduated from.
What do you hope to achieve through providing college assistance?
Because of the high cost of education, it’s a great opportunity to contribute to young people and to give them the opportunity to further their education. I hope they can access college and obtain a better job. Maybe my father would’ve been a lawyer if there had been scholarships for him back then. I’m just fortunate that I can help.
“It helped with the adjustment from high school to college. I was more relaxed about expenses which made me more focused on doing what I was there for.”
CORINNE ROBERT, 2023 MANUEL S. PINA, SR. SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
MANUEL S. PINA, jr. Scholarship Fund Founder, Manuel S. Pina, Sr. Scholarship Fund
In 2023, the first Manuel S. Pina, Sr. Scholarships were awarded to two students of Cape Verdean descent to support their attendance at four-year colleges: Allyson Canuto from New Bedford High School and Corinne Robert from Old Rochester Regional High School.
As I reflect on it, and that I put the scholarship in my father’s name, I think maybe it’s because he could’ve realized his dream and been a lawyer, if he had a little financial help.”
MANUEL S. PINA, JR.
Meet the Changemakers
new bedford mattapoisett, marion, rochester wareham
$100,000+
Anonymous (2)
BankFive
Barr Foundation
Boston Foundation
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Maureen E. Flaherty
Paul E. Ford
Brian Halligan
Dr. Irwin M. and *Joan K. Jacobs
Klarman Family Foundation
Cynthia G. Kruger
Revocable Trust
Mindy and George Matouk
Barney Shauble
Lisa and James Valone
Rich Ziade and Samaya Boueri
$50,000 - $99,999
Island Foundation
Shifting Foundation
Jacques Louis Vidal
$25,000 - $49,999
Anonymous (1)
Acushnet Foundation
BayCoast Bank
Eric Braitmayer
Nancy Braitmayer
Bristol County Savings
Charitable Foundation
Charles and Phyllis Decas
Jeanne and John Fabian Jr.
Hewey Family
Massachusetts Development
North Baptist Church of New Bedford
Jonathan and Eve Rounds
Joe Van Sloun
Marjorie Waite and Neal Weiss
Weatherlow Foundation
Edith B. Wislocki
$10,000 - $24,999
Anonymous (1)
Barry Investment Advisors
Carney Family
Charitable Foundation
Sherilyn Driscoll Coleman*
Ralph Eustis
Greenwald Family Foundation
Hillman Street LLC
Kathleen Mahoney
Phalarope Foundation
Schrafft Charitable Trust
Tetreault Insurance Agency, Inc.
Tua Walter Thomas Jr.
Webster Family Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999
Anonymous (2)
Alsan Foundation Inc.
Nancy Ames Baldwin Brothers Inc.
Claremont Companies
Dr. John A. and Merry B. Conway
Janet and Bill Coquillette
Ralph and Heidi Derbyshire
Priscilla and Allan Ditchfield
Fairhaven Shipyard Companies
Michael and Megan Falvey
Elsie R. Fraga
Jayne Rebello Korn and John F. Korn
Christopher Makepeace
New Bedford Cultural Council
New Bedford Economic Development Council
Thomas and Jill Pappas
Perfect Pizza, Inc
Rockland Trust
Howard and Fredericka Stevenson
Carol Taylor and John Deknatel
Vineyard Wind LLC
$2,500 - $4,999
Patricia and Christopher Arnold
Stephan and Maureen Baptista
R.William and Mary Jean Blasdale
Linda and John Bodenmann
Brockton Family & Community Resources
Elizabeth Brulport
Irene and Norman Buck
City of Fall River
Zelinda and John Douhan
Downey Family
Kathleen and James Feeney
Julie and Jordon Hitch
Nelson F. Hockert-Lotz and Susan Goldsmith
James S. and Dr. Bess Hughes
Elizabeth Huidekoper
IMTRA Corporation
Raymond and Helen Killian
Kim McCabe
Sean and Stacy Mullaney
My Brother’s Keeper
Joop and Ria Nagtegaal
PACE, Inc.
Dianne and Manuel M. Pina, Jr.
Prime Buchholz & Associates
Rite-Solutions, Inc.
Saunders-Dwyer
Home for Funerals
June A. Smith and Ken Schwartz
Southcoast Health
Suzanne Bennett Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Sylvia Group,
An Alera Group Agency, LLC
UMass Dartmouth Foundation
John Vasconcellos and Bill Barr
VIBRA Hospital of Southeastern Massachusetts
White’s of Westport
Marcy Wintrub and Duane Barton
Jane F. Young
$1,000 - $2,499
Anonymous (4)
Abington Bank
Acushnet Company
William M. Ames
Amy J. Bare Charitable Trust
APC Auto Body
Talbot Baker, Jr.
Lisa Balaschak
Christina Bascom
Sarah and Andrew Bishins
Bristol Community College
Bristol County Savings Bank
Burr Brothers Boats
Benjamin and Karyn Campbell
Cape Yachts and South Wharf
CEO Resources, Inc.
City of New Bedford
Clear Water Pools and Spas, Inc.
Community Nurse Home Care, Inc.
D.Allen Conaway
D.Schumacher Landscaping, Inc.
Gail Davidson
Robert and Patricia Deangelis
Matthew J. and Diane F. Downey
ENSTAR
Douglas and Lisa Errico
Falconer Family Fund
Michael Fernandes
Fiber Optic Center, Inc.
First Citizens Charitable Foundation Inc.
First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union
Chris and Maureen Fletcher
George C. and Suzanne Gebelein
Philip and Marcia Giudice
Ann Gold
Tom and Nancy Gravina
Chris Haley
Home and Key Real Estate
Lance and Shaina Humphrey
Elizabeth Isherwood-Moore
Justice Resource Institute
Michael B. and Martha Keating
Thomas and Anne Kelly
John and Nancy Kendall
David King
Anna Whitcomb and Sam Knight
Koreen A. Santos 2008
Revocable Trust
Nancy Kurtz
Ann Mandel
Steven and Christine Manfredi
Marvin and Susan
Raskin Charitable Trust
Laura E. McLeod
Milhench Supply Company
Kevin Mohan and Anne Williams
Nick and Barbara Mucciardi
New Bedford Day Nursery
New Bedford Pub
Crawling Minions
NorthStar Learning Center
Plimoth Investment Advisors
Retro Entertainment LLC
dba Play Arcade
Cecilia and Lewis C. Ross
Rua-Dumont-Audet
Insurance Agency, Inc.
Barbara Ruhman
SERVPRO of
New Bedford/Dartmouth
Louis E. Sousa
Jauna Souza-Quatrano DMD
St. Anne’s Credit Union
Lara and Jeffrey Stone
William Straus and Kerry Shortle
SYD & Associates
UMASS Unified Procurement
Services Team
Veterans Transition House
Marion and Henry Wainer
Kathleen Shaw Wallace Wamsutta, LLC
Richard B. and Susan Wolfson
G.Stewart Young
Ann and Hans Ziegler
*Deceased
LEGACY BUILDING
WHY CHOOSE
the SouthCoast Community Foundation?
ESTABLISHING A FUND
Opening a fund to make your charitable gifts or scholarship awards at the SouthCoast Community Foundation offers many advantages.
Establishing a fund — whether to make gifts to nonprofits or provide scholarships for students — at the SouthCoast Community Foundation enables you to create a lasting legacy. You can involve family members in philanthropy, pass down values, and even involve successive generations in recommending grants from the fund.
Your fund, and your vision for its impact, can be seen and felt for generations.
EXPERTISE IN LOCAL GRANTMAKING
The SouthCoast Community Foundation specializes in understanding and addressing local needs. We serve southeastern Massachusetts and make it our business to know the nonprofit community like no one else — particularly those nonprofits based in Attleboro, Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton. Partnering with us, you gain access to our expertise in effective grantmaking and in-depth knowledge of local nonprofits, ensuring your contributions have a meaningful and targeted impact.
Your fund can be instrumental in quickly addressing local challenges, enhancing community services, and driving positive change in southeastern Massachusetts.
PROFESSIONAL FUND MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT
We work with a team of deeply experienced investment advisors at Prime Buchholz, LLC who manage your fund’s investments. This professional management can help optimize returns, allowing your philanthropic dollars to go further and have a greater impact.
Our team handles administrative tasks related to your fund, including investment oversight, grant and scholarship processing and compliance, allowing you to focus on the joy of giving without the burden of administrative complexities.
Opening a fund at the Community Foundation provides a strategic and effective way to make a positive impact on your community while enjoying the benefits of simplified giving, professional management, and expert support.
QUESTIONS OR READY TO SET UP A FUND?
Contact: Tricia Grime, Director of Philanthropy, at 508-996-8253 ext. 203 or pgrime@southcoastcf.org.
Photo courtesy: Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.), New Bedford