Awards given to 28 organizations decreasing economic and opportunity gaps
Life Science Cares Boston today announced $1.5M in grants awarded to 28 nonprofits working to fight poverty across Greater Boston. With programs designed to decrease food insecurity, provide resources to children and adults experiencing homelessness, promote science education, and offer job training to those recovering from substance use disorder – among many other missions – all are implementing impactful, data-driven solutions in three key areas of need: basic needs, education, and economic opportunity.
Grant recipients and members of the 2022 Life Science Cares Boston nonprofit partner cohort include: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, CASPAR, Children’s Services of Roxbury, Circle of Hope, CitySprouts, Enroot, Inc., FamilyAid Boston, Food For Free, Healthy Waltham, Horizons for Homeless Children, Household Goods, Jeremiah Program, Just-A-Start Corporation, Kids In Tech, New England Culinary Arts Training, School On Wheels Massachusetts, Science Club For Girls, Tech Goes Home, The Food Project, The Possible Zone, The Wily Network, Victory Programs, We Got Us: A Community Empowerment Project, Young Man with a Plan, and Youth Enrichment Services.
Additionally, Life Science Cares Boston provides grants to organizations they partner with to run Project Onramp, a summer internship program for underresourced and under-represented students. This year’s Project Onramp grant recipients include Bottom Line, Minds Matter and Thrive Scholars.
Read more about all of the partner organizations.
Life Science Cares Boston is committed to reducing disparities that occur along lines of race and ethnicity, and which were markedly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As an anti-poverty organization, Life Science Cares’ work demands the dismantling of systemic and institutional racism, which has and continues to fail communities of color. As such, more than 25% of the 2022 funding is directed to BIPOC-led organizations, six of which are led by women.
A new partner to Life Science Cares Boston, Jeremiah Program employs a two-generation approach which invests in mothers and their careers, as well as the education of their children to disrupt the cycle of poverty. “Life Science Cares is an apt name for a donor that seeks to give back in generous, equitable and transparent ways. I have been thrilled and pleasantly surprised by how thoughtfully their team has considered Jeremiah Program’s mission and impact and accompanied us in growing our reach,” said Alison Marlow, Executive Director of Jeremiah Program Boston. “JP Boston, and the single moms we champion, are fortunate to be recipients this year and genuinely grateful for this opportunity!”
One of this year’s grantee organizations, Food For Free, is continuing their partnership with Life Science Cares Boston to improve access to healthy food for under-served populations within the Greater Boston community. “The support we’ve received from Life Science Cares so far has enabled us to further deliver on our mission to provide year-round access to fresh fruits and vegetables, reduce food waste, and implement direct service programs that bring food to students, seniors, and others most at risk of hunger,” said Sasha Purpura, CEO of Food for Free. “This year’s additional grant funding will enable us to expand our existing programs and move closer to a future where everyone in our community has consistent access to fresh, healthy, and delicious food.”
Founded in 2016, Life Science Cares Boston has partnered with more than four dozen community organizations to direct financial resources, donated goods, and tens of thousands of volunteer hours from life science employees to reduce the immediate and long-term impacts of poverty. Made possible by companies and passionate leaders within the life science community, these grants and partnerships further Life Science Cares Boston’s goal to leverage the intellectual, financial, and human capital of the industry to collectively reduce the impacts of poverty, while helping companies build connections with the community and internally between employees.
“This year’s partners represent a passionate group of diverse Boston-area nonprofit organizations who are making a measurable impact in the fight against poverty in our local community,” said Sarah MacDonald, Executive Director, Life Science Cares Boston. “Today’s announcement begins a two-year collaboration and collective effort to provide basic human needs, educational programs, and economic opportunities to our most vulnerable neighbors.”
“Life Science Cares provides a platform for companies and their employees to make a difference on issues of poverty in our local community,” said Abe Ceesay, Life Science Cares Boston’s Board Chair and President of Cerevel Therapeutics. “Our nonprofit partners have extensive knowledge, expertise, and strong relationships with their constituents. By working together, we can leverage the power of the life science industry to reduce the effects of poverty both now and over the long-term.”
