The critical and distinct needs of girls continue to be a priority at the Metrowest Women’s Fund.

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Right now, girls are experiencing threats to their physical and mental health and general well-being at unprecedented levels.

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• Gender-based violence is of significant concern. According to the CDC, 18% of girls experienced sexual violence.* That is one in five girls.

• Domestic violence incidences rose 8% during the pandemic lockdown.**

• Commercial exploitation including sex trafficking of girls is happening in our community of Metrowest.***​

• Organizations lack adequate funding to meet survivors’ needs. Family and gender-based violence organizations receive less than 1% of foundation grant making.**

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The Spruce Fund Grant Opportunity 2025:

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The Metrowest Women's Fund accepts grant applications annually for programs serving women and girls from low incomes in Metrowest. The Spruce Fund Grant opportunity will be part of the 2025 grant application process. It will support programs for girls and their safety from violence. The grant application opens on January 21, 2025 and closes on March 14, 2025.  

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Grant information found here.

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To share this opportunity, click here for a PDF of this announcement.

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* CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report: 2011-2021

** The Chronicle of Philanthropy: https://www.philanthropy.com/article/expected-scotus-decisions-could-endanger-domestic-violence-victims-wheres-philanthropy

*** Data from My Life, My Choice

Join us in a Gift Drive for girls, ages 12 - 18, living in an emergency residential program in Framingham.

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November 12 - December 15

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Click here for easy shopping via the Amazon Wish List.

New upwrapped items can be shipped or delivered to

11 Byron Road, Weston, MA 02493.

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• Craft or activity kits

• Jewelry

• Books

• Gloves

• Body care items

Please welcome Emily Mason, Development Manager, to the Metrowest Women's Fund.

Emily shares, "What a pleasure it is to be joining the Metrowest Women's Fund! It is incredibly heartening to work alongside a group of folks so dedicated to making our community a safer, better place for women and girls."

Our programs are growing fast as the need increases. Thanks to the Middlesex Savings Bank Charitable Foundation for the capacity building grant that makes this possible.

The Metrowest Women’s Fund recently received a Capacity Building Program grant from the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation.  This grant will fund an initiative that will grow the organization's development capacity in order to better fulfill our mission: to improve the lives of women and girls in Metrowest. 

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MWF is one of 18 grants recipients representing a wide range of nonprofit organizations that act as a vital support system within the community that Middlesex Saving Bank serves. As noted by Middlesex Savings Bank, our innovative programs and dedication to social impact leads to the creation of meaningful, lasting solutions to address the most urgent needs of our community. 

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. 

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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.”

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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.

​$115k to 2024 Grantee Partners

$60k to Single Mother Student Emergency Fund

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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:

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• 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.

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Click here to see all 2024 Grantee Partners.

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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.

The Metrowest Women’s Fund, a philanthropy investing in women and girls through community building, education and grant making, was honored with a Presidential Award at the Massachusetts Bay Community College commencement ceremony at Wellesley Hills Campus on May 23, 2024 in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

The Metrowest Women’s Fund created the Single Mother Student Emergency Fund to assist single mother students at risk of leaving school. These funds provide crucial aid for non-tuition-related emergencies the students may encounter while pursuing their degrees, including childcare expenses, housing costs, transportation, and more. The Metrowest Women’s Fund has contributed more than $231,000 to the Single Mother Student Emergency Fund since its creation.

“We are proud to support single mom students at MassBay Community College,” Metrowest Women’s Fund Co-Founder and Co-Director Rachel Sagan states. “Their education can be derailed by expenses such as car repairs, broken computers, or other emergencies. We are thrilled that our community has come together to support these women as they seek to further their education and support their families.” 

Anna, a student at MassBay, shares the impact of this program: “This grant will help get my car fixed so my daughter and I can get to school. I am very grateful for this program. It can be so hard to manage life expenses on a single income while attending school. The help is very appreciated.”

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Photo: (L to R) MassBay President David Podell and Metrowest Women’s Fund Co-Founder and Co-Director Rebecca Parkhill. Massachusetts Bay Community College commencement ceremony at Wellesley Hills Campus on May 23, 2024 in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Photo by Ann Hermes.

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A single financial emergency can derail the educational pursuits of single mother students. We created the Single Mother Student Emergency Fund in 2022 to support women at risk of leaving school because of a serious financial burden. The Fund provides crucial aid for non-tuition-related emergencies such as rent, childcare, transportation and more.

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We launch the campaign this year with deep appreciation to Liz and Phill Gross who will match your gift, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000 in support of the Fund this month.

Give today and double your gift!

Read the full announcement here.
 

Girls: The Next Generation is a priority for the Metrowest Women's Fund.

Erica Young , a leader in youth services, is dedicated to creating programs that meet the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of children and teens in grades K-12.

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Waltham Boys & Girls Club

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Today we honor Marybeth Fletcher. Marybeth assists students experiencing food and housing insecurities and other obstacles to their education. She has been an integral member of the team that implements the Metrowest Women’s Fund Single Mother Student Emergency Fund, a program that supports women whose education is at risk because of a serious financial burden.

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Marybeth is a Case Manager and Resource Specialist at MassBay Community College.

Safety from Violence is a priority for the Metrowest Women's Fund. We are proud to highlight the work of Amarely Gutierrez Oliver.

Amarely leads a critical domestic violence nonprofit, REACH Beyond Domestic Violence , which offers immediate services for survivors of domestic violence. She is an advocate focused on ending domestic violence and the broader systems of oppression that perpetuate it.

The Metrowest Women's Fund is pleased to celebrate Women’s History Month by honoring local leaders whose work advances gender equity in Metrowest.

Harleen Singh is the Director of the Brandeis Women's Studies Research Center and teaches South Asian Literature and Women's Studies at Brandeis University . Her research and writing concerns sexuality, feminism and gender violence. Harleen serves on the Metrowest Women’s Fund Advisory Council.

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Join the Metrowest Women's Fund for a program on women in the public sphere and women’s voices. Tiziana Dearing of WBUR and Women’s Studies Research Center director Harleen Singh will be featured.

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"Voices on Air: Talking to Tiziana Dearing, host of WBUR’s Radio Boston"

Wednesday, March 20th

4:00 - 5:00pm EST

Reception to follow

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At the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis

515 South Street, Waltham

Parking is free and easily accessible in a lot adjacent to the WSRC

Registration is encouraged but not required.

http://tinyurl.com/45njkyx2

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Our Community Impact: 2023

The Metrowest Women’s Fund awarded $170,000 to 17 nonprofits serving the needs of women and girls in Metrowest in the areas of:

• Educational Opportunity

• Girls: The Next Generation

• Safety From Violence

Click here to access the report and see the full scope of our work.

The Metrowest Women's Fund is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations serving women and girls in the Metrowest area.

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NEW! The application is electronic and completed online. 

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We welcome applications from first time applicants, those who have applied before, and organizations that have received MWF grants previously.

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Applications close at 5 PM EST on April 1, 2024.

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Supporters of MWF play an important role in our grants process: Please share this opportunity with organizations that are making a difference in the lives of women and girls in your Metrowest community.

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Applicants can visit our Grants page for details.

Announcing the Metrowest Women's Fund Advisory Council

The Metrowest Women’s Fund (MWF) is honored to partner with these leaders and experts on gender.

“The Metrowest Women’s Fund is committed to assessing the needs of women and girls in Metrowest as well as larger trends that impact our local community,” says MWF Co-Founder and Co-Director Rebecca Parkhill. “We are thankful to have the expertise of this impressive group to add to those conversations.”

ChaeRan Y. Freeze

Chair, Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Professor, Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies 

Faculty Associate of the Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry

Brandeis University

Harleen Singh

Senior Associate Provost, Faculty & Global Affairs

Director, Women's Studies Research Center 

Brandeis University

Jackie Jenkins-Scott

Interim President

Roxbury Community College

Linda Charmaraman

Director/Principal Investigator, Senior Research Scientist

Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab

Wellesley Centers For Women

Wellesley College

The Metrowest Women’s Fund is Pleased to Welcome Sashell Thebaud to Our Board

Sashell Thebaud is a Human Resources professional. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Human Resources from Framingham State University as well as her certification in Professional Human Resources from the Human Resource Standards Institute.  

Sashell states: “I feel incredibly blessed to be associated with the Metrowest Women's Fund which is dedicated to empowering women and girls through education, community building, and grant making opportunities. It's heart-warming to see how this movement is transforming lives and I'm honored to be a small part of it.”

***

The Metrowest Women’s Fund invests in women and girls through education, community building, grantmaking, and strategic partnerships. Our mission is to identify the needs of women and girls in the Metrowest and raise resources to meet those needs.

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Full Press Release

Child Care Is a National Emergency

Elizabeth Barajas-Román and Shannon Rudisill
September 19, 2023

The Metrowest Women's Fund sees the childcare crisis impacting women in our communities who are in the workforce while also enrolled in higher education. Our Single Mother Student Emergency Fund offers grants for non tuition related emergencies, including childcare, and keeps hard-working single moms in school. To learn more about our program:  www.metrowestwomensfund.com/projects

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Nonprofit Quarterly is a magazine publication providing research-based articles and resources to educate the nonprofit sector.

Investment includes Single Mother Student Fund, 2023 Grantees, and Girls' Mental Health

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Thanks to our generous community, we raised $60,000 to support the non-tuition needs of single mother students at MassBay Community College. 

• We are deeply appreciative of Liz and Phill Gross for their tremendous generosity.

• Thank you to the Litowitz Foundation for their strong, ongoing support.

• We are thankful for leadership gifts from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation and Kyra Grenier, James Clayton Fund.

Together, we are supporting students like Amy achieve her dreams: 

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“I am so appreciative of this help. The grant will allow me to continue to focus on my education and my son as I finish school and begin my career as a registered nurse. 

Being a recipient of this grant has taken weight off my shoulders. Please know that your support has a huge impact on myself and others. Thank you.”

The Metrowest Women’s Fund Grant Allocation Committee awarded a total of $85,000 to fifteen (15) non-profits serving the needs of women and girls in Metrowest.

Grant Impact Areas: Educational Opportunity, Girls: The Next Generation, and Safety From Violence.

Meet our 2023 Grant Recipients:

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• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass and Metrowest

• Boys and Girls Club of MetroWest

• Center for Women & Enterprise

• Dignity Matters

• DOVE, INC

• Family ACCESS of Newton

• Family Promise Metrowest

• Living in Freedom Together

• MetroWest Legal Services

• Project Just Because

• REACH Beyond Domestic Violence

• Rotary Club of Marlborough

• Voices Against Violence

• Women's Bar Foundation

• Women's Money Matters

Girls' Mental Health Impact Grant

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This exciting new grant will support the expansion of a free digital well-being and STEAM summer workshop for middle school girls in Metrowest from low incomes.

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The workshop is designed and run by the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Lab at Wellesley Centers for Women.

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We are honored to announce a matching gift from Liz and Phill Gross. Thanks to their generosity, your gift will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000 in support of the Fund for Single Mother Students in Community College.

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The Metrowest Women’s Fund’s emergency Fund for Single Mother Students supports women whose education is at risk because of a serious financial burden.

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Give today and double your gift!

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Read the full announcement here.

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The program on Girls' Mental Health and Social Media, sponsored by the Metrowest Women's Fund and the Wellesley Centers for Women, is now available. 

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Watch Now

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Leading experts discuss the mental health challenges that middle school girls face in the digital world and highlight ways to support their wellbeing. 

The Metrowest Women's Fund co-hosts Social Media & Mental Health webinar with the Wellesley Centers for Women

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Please join the Wellesley Centers for Women and the Metrowest Women’s Fund for a powerful discussion panel on middle school girls' mental health and social media.

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Thursday, March 16th 
1:00 - 2:30 pm ET 
Register Here

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Leading experts will discuss the mental health challenges that middle school girls face in the digital world and highlight ways to support their wellbeing.

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We hope you can attend!

The Metrowest Women's Fund Continues to Prioritize Girls' Mental Health

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The Metrowest Women’s Fund is committed to continue our work in support of girls’ mental health. The recent CDC report raises alarming concerns about the mental health of girls. Identifying and amplifying the needs of girls is integral to our mission, and girls’
mental health and their safety from violence is a priority. The MWF Needs Assessment of Middle School Girls: Metrowest identified the growing concern for girls’ mental health during the pandemic.

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The Metrowest Women's Fund recently awarded a new Girls' Mental Health Impact Grant in support of a program for Metrowest middle school girls to improve mental well-being on social media. This exciting new grant will support the expansion of a free digital well-being and STEM summer workshop for middle school girls from low incomes in Metrowest. The program focuses on improving healthy digital relationships that will promote positive self-image and healthy habits.

Innovative New Grant on Girls' Mental Health from the Metrowest Women's Fund

The Metrowest Women's Fund announces a Girls' Mental Health Grant in support of a program for Metrowest middle school girls to improve mental well-being on social media. This exciting new grant will support the expansion of a free digital well-being and STEM summer workshop for middle school girls in Metrowest from low incomes. The program focuses on improving healthy digital relationships that will promote positive self-image and healthy habits. The workshop is designed and run by the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Lab at Wellesley Centers for Women.

"Girls' mental health is of significant concern," states Rebecca Parkhill, Co-Founder of the Metrowest Women's Fund. "The constant presence of social media in the lives of middle school girls raises questions about its impact on mental health. We chose to support this project as it uniquely addresses the critical needs of middle school girls by providing social and emotional learning in conjunction with project-based collaboration skills and STEM career exploration."

The Lab, led by Dr. Linda Charmaraman, studies a breadth of issues related to youth, the media in which they are immersed, and implications for social, emotional, academic, and physical well-being. The Lab is well-positioned to attend to the unique needs of girls during a critical developmental and transitional period in their lives, including their first smartphones, their introduction to social media, and their independence from caregivers.  

"The Metrowest Women’s Fund, in partnership with the Center for Social Research at Framingham State University, conducted a Needs Assessment of Middle School Girls: Metrowest. Girls’ mental health was identified as a priority concern,” adds Rachel Sagan, Co-Founder. “The report raises questions about the effects of social media on girls’ lives.” 

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Maximizing Our Impact

The Metrowest Women's Fund grant of $25,000 will be fully matched by the Wellesley Centers for Women.  

The Metrowest Women’s Fund invests in women and girls through education, community building, grantmaking, and strategic partnerships. Our mission is to identify the needs of women and girls in the Metrowest and raise resources to meet those needs. This Impact Grant is awarded in addition to the annual grants program for non-profits serving women and girls in Metrowest.
 

The Metrowest Women's Fund is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations serving women and girls in the Metrowest area.

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We welcome applications from first time applicants, those who have applied before, and organizations that have received MWF grants previously.

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Applications close on Friday, March 24, 2023.

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Supporters of MWF play an important role in our grants process: Please share this opportunity with organizations that are making a difference in the lives of women and girls in your Metrowest community!

​

Applicants can visit our Grant Making page for details.

The Metrowest Women’s Fund recently received a Capacity Building Program grant from the Middlesex Savings Charitable Trust.  This grant will fund an initiative that will grow the organization's marketing and communications capacity in order to better fulfill their mission: to improve the lives of women and girls in Metrowest. 

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By investing in an improved marketing and communications capacity, the Metrowest Women’s Fund will educate the community about the particular needs of women and girls in Metrowest, thereby increasing philanthropy with a local gender lens. 

Thank you to the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation for the grant that makes this possible.

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Kristin O'Neil, a Boxborough resident, joins our team as Communications and Marketing Manager. Kristin comes to us with unique professional and volunteer experience in the non-profit sector, a background in event services, and various local organizations.

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She shares, "I am thrilled to join the Metrowest Women's Fund Team as we continue to support women and girls in our shared community.  I look forward to continuing to raise the profile of this hardworking organization and, in turn, growing the impact it has!"

For Immediate Release

The Metrowest Women’s Fund has generously donated $71,000 to MassBay Community College to support students who are single mothers. These funds will provide financial assistance to these students for non-tuition related emergencies they may encounter while pursuing their studies, including childcare expenses, housing costs, living expenses, and other basic needs. This is the second consecutive year The Metrowest Women’s Fund has supported single mother students for a combined total of $96,000 for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years.

“We are delighted to support single mom students at MassBay Community College as they pursue their educational dreams,” Metrowest Women’s Fund Co-Founder Rebecca Parkhill said.

“Many single moms can be derailed by expenses such as car repairs, broken computers, or other emergencies. We are thrilled that our community has come together to support these

women as they seek to better themselves educationally and support their families.” 

“We are extremely grateful for the Metrowest Women’s Fund’s generous donation that will allow our single mother students, who have many responsibilities outside the classroom, to continue their education,” said MassBay President David Podell. “By relieving a sizable portion of their financial stress, the Metrowest Women’s Fund has ensured dozens of our single mom students are able to remain in school and pursue the skills training and educational credentials that lift them and their families into sustainable careers and steady wages. These funds are truly transformational.”

Jennifer, a single mother student at MassBay, describes how the Metrowest Women’s Fund assisted her last year, “In February of 2019 when life as I knew it changed forever, I went from

living in a house, engaged, and raising three small children to facing homelessness as a domestic violence survivor and a single parent. At that point, I made the decision to go back to

school and obtain an associate degree in paralegal studies.”

Jennifer added, “When the pandemic hit, I found myself struggling financially to keep up with rent, car payments, and my children’s necessities. Last semester my prayers of finding financial

help were answered when the Metrowest Women’s Fund’s program provided single mothers like myself with $1,000 to help cover any non-tuition costs. This money helped me to put food on the table, pay for gas to get them to and from school and catch up on overdue bills. I am so grateful to have been granted this money by such an inspiring organization that really acknowledges the

hardships that single mothers face while trying to better our lives through education."

Dover Living Magazine recently highlighted MWF’s new board member Ann Gorson and her work to support women and girls in our community. 

To read the article, please click on this PDF link.

Thanks to our generous community, we raised $71,000 to support the non-tuition needs of single mother students at MassBay Community College. 

With deep appreciation to Liz and Phill Gross for their generous matching gift and special thanks to the Litowitz Foundation. 

Together, we are supporting students like Jennifer achieve her dreams. 

“It was in February of 2019 when life as I knew it changed forever. I went from living in a house, engaged, and raising three small children to facing homelessness as a domestic violence survivor and a single parent. At that point, I made the decision to go back to school and obtain an associate degree in paralegal studies. 

When the pandemic hit, I found myself struggling financially to keep up with rent, car payments, and my children’s necessities. Last semester my prayers of finding financial help were answered when the Metrowest Women’s Fund’s program provided single mothers like myself with $1,000 to help cover any non-tuition costs. This money helped me to put food on the table, pay for gas to get them to and from school and catch up on overdue bills. I am so grateful to have been granted this money by such an inspiring organization that really acknowledges the hardships that single mothers face while trying to better our lives through education."

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The Metrowest Women’s Fund announces grant awards for a total of $60,000 to thirteen (13) non-profits serving the needs of women and girls in Metrowest. 

Meet our 2022 Grant Awardees:

Boys and Girls Club of MetroWest: Support the SMART girl program at three locations for teen girls providing mentorship and self-esteem enhancement education.

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center: Support case management for sexual assault survivors in Metrowest communities.

Big Sister Association of Greater Boston: Support the Big Sister one-on-one mentoring relationship program for girls in Waltham and Dedham.

Budget Buddies: Support the financial wellness program for women in Metrowest.

Chica Project: Expand comprehensive youth programming and culturally affirming social emotional learning with a focus on Latina and other girls of color attending Framingham High School.

Dignity Matters: Provide free access to period protection and underwear for women and girls who are homeless and economically disadvantaged.

Family ACCESS of Newton: Support counseling and consultation services for multi-lingual women and their children who have experienced trauma.

FamilyPromise Metrowest: Support mothers and teens, at risk of homelessness, pursuing advanced education.

Girls on the Run:  Expand the Girls on the Run program to economically disadvantaged girls in Milford.

MetroWest Legal Services: Legal representation to victims of domestic violence and their families of low incomes.

My Life, My Choice:  Expand the GROW program, which serves young survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, into Framingham High School.

REACH Beyond Domestic Violence: Support their community advocacy program for domestic abuse survivors.

RIA House: Support a direct services Peer Mentor for survivors of the commercial sex-trade.

The Metrowest Women’s Fund is Pleased to Welcome Ann Gorson to Our Board

Ann Gorson retired from corporate management to raise her two children who are now young adults.  Large-scale project and database marketing management were her primary roles. She has volunteered throughout her adult life for nonprofits, mostly schools in development, and is currently Board Chair at the Cambridge School of Weston, a day and boarding high school.  

Ann states, "The Metrowest Women's Fund mission resonates with me because it strives to educate us about the needs of women and girls from low incomes within a few miles of where I live and find resources to meet those needs. You don't need to travel far to make a huge impact on the lives of women and girls that will dramatically transform their future. Reading the testimonials from grant recipients inspires me to increase our donor base to allow for more women and girls to get the resources they need. I am impressed by how in just two years the MWF has more than doubled the amount raised to support the needs in Metrowest.  Joining the Board of MWF in its third year is an honor and I am very excited to spread the important work to our greater community and raise awareness of the needs of women and girls that we serve.”

The Metrowest Women’s Fund Welcomes Community Ambassadors 

Our mission at The Metrowest Women's Fund (MWF) is to invest in women and girls through community building, education and grantmaking. We identify the needs of women and girls and raise resources to meet those needs.
 

The MWF Community Ambassadors are grassroots volunteers who spread the word in their community about the Fund and the needs of women and girls. Join our Team as a MWF Community Ambassador in your town. Help us weave the threads of community to make a difference in the lives of women and girls.

"In the tapestry of life, we're all connected. Each one of us is a gift to those around us helping each other be who we are, weaving a perfect picture together." - Anita Moorjani

MWF community philanthropy focuses on 33 Metrowest towns: Acton, Ashland, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Dedham, Dover, Framingham, Harvard, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Needham, Sherborn, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Walpole, Waltham, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, Weston and Westwood.

VOLUNTEER JOB SUMMARY
 

MWF Community Ambassadors will: 

• Educate the general public and their personal network about the MWF by actively sharing MWF social media posts 

• Reach out to personal networks about our programs including drives for immediate needs of women and girls in Metrowest

• Attend events and convenings. 
   

Training and Support:  
The MWF Community Ambassadors will have access to the Fund’s publications to keep abreast of all information and receive Community Ambassador Training and Orientation as well as meetings to meet other Ambassadors and supporters.
 

Commitment: 

• Minimum one-year commitment to the MWF Community Ambassador program 
   

IS THIS YOU?

• Proactive and passionate about the mission of the MWF

• A connector

• Strong interpersonal communication skills 
   

Help us get the word out about our vision, the needs and impact!

Contact us with about your questions and interests.

For Immediate Release

The Metrowest Women’s Fund Announces 

A Needs Assessment of Middle School Girls: Metrowest

The Metrowest Women’s Fund, in partnership with the Center for Social Research at Framingham State University, conducted a Needs Assessment of Middle School Girls: Metrowest. The report, which can be found at www.metrowestwomensfund.com, identifies the needs of girls in Metrowest and produces critical data on issue areas including emotional and mental health, self- image, gender identity, social relationships, physical activity and COVID concerns. 

The Report states that middle school is a critical juncture for all girls and especially those of low and moderate income who have limited access to resources ranging from menstrual health to mental health services. 

“The Metrowest Women’s Fund initiated a needs assessment of middle school girls in Metrowest to provide needed data and ultimately to help girls thrive,” said Rebecca Parkhill, Co-Founder of the Metrowest Women’s Fund. 

The goals of the study, identified in the report, were to ascertain the needs of middle school girls in Metrowest and to identify unmet needs. An electronic questionnaire regarding the needs of middle school girls was prepared in 2020. In January and early February 2021, the questionnaire was sent to principals from 37 middle schools in the Metrowest catchment area. The response rate of 54% (principals at twenty of the thirty-seven schools responded) was strong. The report presents the results of the survey. 

The greatest areas of concern are as follows:

1.    Mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, are of considerable concern. Issues with self-esteem and bullying are associated with both depression and anxiety.  In addition, depression was found to be associated with dating violence, obesity, issues with gender identity, sleeping difficulties and lack of exercise/physical activity. An additional factor associated with anxiety was issues with self-assurance/feeling competent.

2.    Three aspects of self-image issues are of considerable concern: body image, self-esteem, and feeling competent/self-assured.  

3.    In terms of social issues and relationships, bullying is of moderate concern and peer pressure is of considerable concern.

4.    More than half (58.3%) of the respondents said the services provided were NOT adequate to meet the needs of middle school girls. 

5.    Half of respondents felt the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting alterations in academic conditions would create problems for girls with respect to academic issues, including a lack of confidence in educational abilities. 

The Metrowest Women's Fund invests in women and girls through education, community building, grantmaking and strategic partnerships. Our mission is to identify the needs of women and girls in the Metrowest and raise resources to meet those needs. Our mission includes educating the community about the critical needs of women and girls from low incomes. 

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (July 15, 2021) – MassBay Community College and the Metrowest Women’s Fund are creating a new fund with a $25,000 grant from the Metrowest Women’s Fund to assist MassBay’s single mother students with their emergency financial needs. These funds will provide financial aid for non-tuition-related emergencies these students may encounter while pursuing their degrees including childcare expenses, housing costs, living expenses, and other basic necessities.

“Our single mothers have many responsibilities outside the classroom, and we want them to have the peace of mind knowing there is a support system behind them while they earn their degree,” said MassBay President, David Podell. “The support of the Metrowest Women’s Fund will allow our students who are single moms to focus on their education by lifting the crushing burden of fiscal stress. For these remarkable single mothers, the funds will make a tremendous difference in helping them overcome the sizable challenge of managing their life expenses while they pursue the education that can transform their lives and the lives of their children. We are truly grateful to the Metrowest Women’s Fund and anticipate these funds having a tremendous impact.”

The Metrowest Women’s Fund invests in women and girls in the Massachusetts Metrowest area through education, community building, grant making, and strategic partnerships. The Metrowest Women’s Fund programs focus on education inequality, safety from violence and uplifting the next generation of girls.

“The pandemic has highlighted the childcare crisis that impacts women who are in the workforce while enrolled in higher education,” said Metrowest Women’s Fund Co-Founder, Rachel Sagan. “This fund for non-tuition-related emergencies will keep hard-working single moms in school.”

The Metrowest Women’s Fund was founded by Rebecca Parkhill of Weston, MA and Rachel Sagan of Sudbury, MA, who were driven by a single goal of doing their part to make the community of Metrowest a place where women and girls are supported and have access to the services they need and deserve.

“We are inspired and proud to support  as many financially vulnerable students as possible at MassBay, the community college in our service area,” said Metrowest Women’s Fund Co-Founder, Rebecca Parkhill. “The fund will bring new resources in support of the needs of women and girls in Metrowest.”

To learn more about the Metrowest Women’s Fund visit www.metrowestwomensfund.com.

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MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020-2021 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.

To learn more about MassBay visit www.massbay.edu

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For Immediate Release

The Metrowest Women’s Fund Announces Grant Awards

The Metrowest Women’s Fund announces grant awards to twelve (12) non-profits serving the needs of women and girls in Metrowest. The Metrowest Women's Fund invests in women and girls in Metrowest through education, community building, grant making and strategic partnerships. 

“We are extremely inspired and proud to support our community through these grants and to bring new resources in support of the needs of women and girls in Metrowest,” said Rebecca Parkhill, Co-Founder, of Weston.

“Our grants support several programs concerned with the crisis of domestic violence. The pandemic has caused an escalation of violence and barriers to finding resources,” added Rachel Sagan, Co-Founder, of Sudbury.

Grants are awarded to the following organizations:

Boys and Girls Club of MetroWest: Support the Framingham Clubhouse for girls providing homework assistance, career development, STEAM programming.

Congregation Beth El of Sudbury: Scholarships for first-generation students at Framingham State University.

Dignity Matters: Provide free access to period protection and underwear for women and girls who are homeless and economically disadvantaged.

Discovering Hidden Gems: Support the Sister Circle program, a youth-led program serving teen and college-age young women in underserved communities.

DOVE: Support YouthSpeak program into the Middle and High Schools in Walpole. Which teaches teens about healthy relationships and dating violence prevention.

Family ACCESS of Newton: Support counseling and consultation services for multilingual women and their children who have experienced trauma.

Family Promise Metrowest: Support mothers and teens, at risk of homelessness, pursuing advanced education.

MassBay Community College Foundation: Emergency childcare needs of students who are single mothers from low incomes.

MetroWest Legal Services: Legal representation to victims of domestic violence and their families of low incomes.

REACH Beyond Domestic Violence: Support their community advocacy program for domestic abuse survivors.

RIA House: Support a direct services Peer Mentor for survivors of the commercial sex-trade.

Voices Against Violence: Support their School Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention Program, their primary prevention training in schools.

The Metrowest Women’s Fund grants program focuses three impact areas:

Education with a focus on opportunity for low-income women and girls including first-generation.

Girls: The Next Generation with a focus on particular needs of girls from low incomes.

Safety From Violence with a focus on domestic violence, senior abuse, sexual assault, and survivors of the commercial sex trade.

As Co-Founders of the Metrowest Women's Fund, Rachel of Sudbury and Rebecca of Weston are driven by a single goal: to do their part in making our community a place where women and girls are supported and get the services they need and deserve.

Service area includes the 33 towns in the Metrowest: Acton, Ashland, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Dedham, Dover, Framingham, Harvard, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Needham, Sherborn, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Walpole, Waltham, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, Weston and Westwood.

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The Metrowest Women's Fund and Womenade Boston jointly sponsored a program on "Victim, Witness, Offender: Women and the Criminal Justice System." Our inspiring key note speaker, Suffolk County DA Rachael Rollins, and the General Counsel Donna Patalano addressed many complex issues and answered thoughtful questions from over 60 attendees. Here is another chance to catch this great event. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tlv9WB48jI

Rachel Sagan & Rebecca Parkhill, Metrowest Women’s Fund Co-Founders

As co-founders of a new, community-based social venture, we are inspired and guided by the concept of “locavore philanthropy.” We created the Metrowest Women’s Fund because we think that supporting local non-profits is the best way to meet the significant needs of women and girls in Metrowest Boston.

Locavore philanthropy is a lot like the locavore food movement. During the pandemic, the locally grown food movement is increasingly relevant. People are focused on where their food comes from and many are making a conscious effort to consume locally grown foods as much as possible. The reasons to eat locally grown food include sustainability, support of local economies, and reduction in waste and energy involved in transporting food. Some advocates believe that locally grown food even tastes better.

We believe that the principles driving the local food movement apply to our giving and illustrate the power of local giving, i.e. Locavore Philanthropy.  

Locavore philanthropy includes supporting the issues that are close to your heart and home. Local dollars are arguably “fresher.” There is less distance between the community group, the people in need and the donor who makes the gift. Rich relationships can grow and develop between those who give and those who work or volunteer at local organizations, even on Zoom. Just as we meet the farmer at a Farmer’s Market, community-based non-profits offer donors many opportunities to meet fellow supporters, staff and volunteer leadership -- at Town Meeting, the baseball field, or a local business. These connections help us better understand the benefits these local agencies provide and the real needs facing children and families in our community. Local giving also holds the donors accountable to those they support. As members of a community, it is harder to turn our backs and look away.

There is tremendous power in giving locally to our smaller non-profits. Together, by giving locally, we can create sustainable results that support the most vulnerable in our community.

For Immediate Release

The Metrowest Women’s Fund Announces Inaugural Grant Program 

The Metrowest Women's Fund, a newly created social venture, invests in women and girls in Metrowest through education, community building, grant making and strategic partnerships. 

“The Metrowest Women's Fund is in the business of improving the lives of women and girls in Metrowest,” said Rebecca Parkhill, M.Div., Co-Founder. 

With a mission to identify the needs of women and girls in the Metrowest and raise resources to meet those needs, the Metrowest Women’s Fund recently completed its inaugural grants program. In partnership with Jewish Family Services of Metrowest, grants are awarded to the following organizations:

Domestic Violence Services Network: Support individualized tutorials to help and educate high-risk victims of domestic violence. 

Dignity Matters: Provide free access to period protection and underwear for women and girls who are homeless and economically disadvantaged.

Family Promise Metrowest: Support mothers and teens, at risk of homelessness, pursuing advanced education.

Mass Bay Community College Foundation: Expand sexual violence prevention programs for students.

MetroWest Legal Services: Legal Representation to victims of domestic violence and their families of low-incomes.

RIA House: Support a direct services Peer Mentor for survivors of the commercial sex-trade.

“Metrowest women and girls need us to come together and invest in the community. We have big goals – matching the resources in our community with those in need,” said Rachel Sagan, JD, Co-Founder.

The Metrowest Women’s Fund focuses on three social impact areas:

Education with a focus on opportunity for low-income women and girls including first–generation.

Girls: The Next Generation with a focus on particular needs of girls from low incomes.

Safety From Violence with a focus on domestic violence, senior abuse, sexual assault, and survivors of the commercial sex trade.

Only 1.6% of all philanthropic giving is dedicated to issues of women and girls. 

“Metrowest women and girls need us to come together and invest in the community,” added Sagan

As Co-Founders of the Metrowest Women's Fund, Rachel of Sudbury and Rebecca of Weston are driven by a single goal: to do their part in making our community a place where women and girls are supported and get the services they need and deserve. 

Service area includes the 33 towns in the Metrowest: Acton, Ashland, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Dedham, Dover, Framingham, Harvard, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Needham, Sherborn, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Walpole, Waltham, Wayland, Wellesley, Westborough, Weston and Westwood.