$60k for the Single Mother Student Emergency Fund

Thanks to our generous community, the recent match campaign raised $60,000 to support hard working single moms attending Massachusetts Bay Community College.

The Single Mother Student Emergency Fund supports women whose education is at risk because of a serious financial burden. The Fund provides financial assistance for non-tuition related emergencies that students may encounter while pursuing their studies including: childcare expenses, housing costs, living expenses, and other basic needs. 

Callie, a student at MassBay, shares the impact of this program:

“I'm currently between jobs and my car needs repairs. This grant will allow me to focus on school and job interviews without having to worry about how I'll provide for my children. I just want to let the donors know that I am extremely grateful. Thank you.”

The Metrowest Women's Fund was honored with a Presidential Award at the Massachusetts Bay Community College commencement ceremony in May 2024 for the creation and support of this fund.

Announcing $175,000 Investment in Metrowest Women & Girls

$115k to 2024 Grantee Partners

$60k to Single Mother Student Emergency Fund

Our Grant Allocations Committee is pleased to announce the Metrowest Women's Fund 2024 Grantee Partners.  Grants were awarded for programs serving women and girls from low incomes in Metrowest. Supported programs include:

• Educational Opportunity - equipping young immigrant mothers with the skills and resources to continue their education, pursue job training and achieve family stability.

• Safety from Violence - providing legal representation for women who have survived domestic violence.

• Girls: Our Next Generation - providing digital wellbeing workshops for middle school girls focused on designing healthier social media experiences.

Click here to see all 2024 Grantee Partners.

Metrowest Women's Fund Co-Founders Honored as Commonwealth Heroines

Rachel Sagan and Rebecca Parkhill, Co-Founders and Co-Directors of the Metrowest Women’s Fund, honored as 2024 Commonwealth Heroines. The duo founded the Metrowest Women’s Fund in 2019 to invest in Metrowest women and girls through community building, education and grant making.

“We are pleased to receive this honor recognizing the founding of the Metrowest Women's Fund five years ago,” says Sagan.  Parkhill adds, “The mission of the Metrowest Women’s Fund is to make our community a place where women and girls are supported and get the services they need and deserve. We are thankful for the recognition of this important work.” 

The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) partners with state legislators to identify women who make outstanding contributions to their organizations and in their communities. Elected officials are encouraged to submit one woman from their constituency as a means of recognizing their invaluable efforts and extraordinary acts of service, who are making a big difference in their communities but not necessarily making the news. This year, the Class of 2024 Commonwealth Heroines comprises more than 125 women from across the state, leaders in industry, business, nonprofit, advocacy, and more. Sagan and Parkhill were nominated by their individual elected officials.

“The Commonwealth Heroines are women who don’t make the news, but make all the difference in their communities,” said MCSW Chairwoman Dr. Sarah Glenn-Smith. “Thousands of women in every community across the Commonwealth perform unheralded acts on a daily basis that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities, and towns better places to live. Commonwealth Heroines use their time, talent, spirit, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others in their community. They are mentors, volunteers, and innovators - they are the glue that keeps a community together.”

Sagan is dedicated to public interest law and philanthropy.  She is the recipient of the John R. Heerwagen Award for Nonprofit Leadership by the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation and the Outstanding Non-Profit Executive Director of the Year by the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce. She holds degrees from Northeastern University School of Law and Harvard University.

Parkhill is an ordained Unitarian Universalist community minister who has worked in churches in the US and England and with non-profits, schools and in town government social services. She holds a BA from Brown University and an MDiv from Yale University.

The 21st Annual Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2024 was celebrated on Friday, June 14, 2024 at the Massachusetts State House in the Gardner Auditorium.