Winning Home Foundation Funds New Programs in Woburn Schools

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WCEF is pleased to announce receipt of a $15,000 charitable grant from Winning Home, Inc. to support the 2022 Educator Grants Program as well as a new out-of-school time program for Woburn’s low-income and English-language learner students. This year’s generous award brings the total investment from Winning Home, Inc. to $55,000 in just 6 years; past grants provided critical support to Woburn Schools during COVID-19, as well as funding for 35 innovative school-based projects that continue to benefit every student in the Woburn Public Schools. 

“Woburn educators are concerned about their most at-risk students, many of whom have experienced learning setbacks due to the loss of in-person instruction during COVID-19, explains WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis. “To address this educational disparity, they have developed a new program, designed to offer engaging and educational experiences during school vacation and summer breaks to low-income and English language learner students. We were pleased to invite Winning Home to partner with us to fund this important new initiative.”

“Access to meaningful learning activities during out-of-school time has been shown to level the playing field for those who may otherwise academically fall behind their peers,” confirms WPS Superintendent Matt Crowley. “This grant will allow us to bring students in Grades 4-12 on excursions to local museums and places of historical interest across Greater Boston during school vacations, providing supplemental learning opportunities for our most at-risk students.”

Winning Home grants are helping to improve the educational achievement of Woburn’s most at-risk students, opening doors of opportunity in the future. These funds are making a difference for these students in every grade and at every school in the district.   We are grateful to the board of Winning Home for its continued commitment and investment in the potential of Woburn’s children.

About Winning Home:  The Winning Home Foundation was formed through the sale of land assets of what was locally known as “Winning Farm for Children”.  The sale process produced cash assets for long-term investment, and preserved approximately 50 acres of the farmland as permanent open space.  Winning Home, Inc. remains true to the spirit and intent of its benefactor by working “for the benefit of children who are economically, socially, physically, emotionally or mentally handicapped or disadvantaged and their families.” Since its conversion from a landowner to a charitable trust, Winning Home has made grants over $4.8 million to area charitable organizations.  Learn more at www.winninghome.org

Photo Caption:  Members of the Winning Home and WCEF at the recent check presentation. Pictured are (l-r):  Winning Home Board Member Michael Maher, WCEF Board Member Nancy Whalen, Winning Home Board Chair Robert E. Maguire, WCEF Board Member Colleen Cormier, WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis, Winning Home Treasurer Chip Curran.           

Presenting Woburn’s Awesome Teachers!

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WCEF is proud to present the list of Woburn Educators honored this year with a Woburn’s Awesome Teacher Tribute.  This year’s campaign was our most successful ever, with 271 tributes received, 189 individual educators honored, 5 whole school tributes and more than $6,700 raised to support WCEF’s Educator Grants Program. 

This year, honored educators received their tributes via email, and they are posting selfies with their tributes on social media with the hashtag #WATT2021.     

Thanks to the inspiring work of our educators, the WATT program has grown more than 50% during the past two years.  WCEF is pleased to provide this opportunity for our Woburn community to publicly recognize the extraordinary efforts of our educators, and the difference they have made for their students and their families, especially this year.  All funds raised through the WATT program directly support Educator Grants in our schools and will be made available to all Woburn Educators during the next school year.

The mission of WCEF is to increase private investment and community involvement in the Woburn Public Schools.  Our goal is to support educational programs and initiatives that empower teacher creativity and drive innovation in the classroom beyond that which is possible with public dollars.  We are a volunteer organization which works to bring new resources to our schools.  To see the full list of honored educators and view the Awesome Teacher Tribute Gallery as we build it, visit www.woburnedfoundation.org/fundraising/teacher-tribute.

WCEF Receives Cummings Foundation 10 Year Grant

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The Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) is proud to announce that it has been chosen as one of 140 local nonprofits to receive a grant through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. WCEF was selected from a pool of 590 applicants during a competitive review process.  This substantial investment by Cummings Foundation will provide $200,000 over 10 years to support the Lexia Reading Program in the Woburn Public Schools. 

“We are honored and excited to be chosen to receive a 10-year grant from the Cummings Foundation”, expressed WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis, “This generous investment raises our capacity to partner with our educators, and has the potential to advance the educational achievement of an entire generation of students in the Woburn Public Schools.” 

This grant from the Cummings Foundation will fund the Lexia Core 5 Reading Program in the Woburn Public Schools as a district-wide initiative, with the goal to advance the reading proficiency of under-performing students in Woburn elementary schools.  A 5-year pilot of the Program showed that Lexia is a valuable and effective tool in helping Woburn students develop foundational skills and a love of reading that supports future success in school and in life.  As our schools assess the impact on learning COVID-19 has had on our students, the support of the Cummings Foundation will advance the ability of our educators to meet the needs of our most-at risk students at this most historic time.  

The Cummings $25 Million Grant Program supports Massachusetts nonprofits that are based in and primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties.

Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate, Cummings Properties. This Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages 10 million square feet of debt-free space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.

“We aim to help meet the needs of people in all segments of our local community,” said Cummings Foundation executive director Joel Swets. “It is the incredible organizations we fund, however, that do the actual daily work to empower our neighbors, educate our children, fight for equity, and so much more.”

With the help of about 80 volunteers, the Foundation first identified 140 organizations to receive grants of at least $100,000 each. Among the winners were first-time recipients as well as nonprofits that had previously received Cummings Foundation grants. Forty of this latter group of repeat recipients were then selected to have their grants elevated to 10-year awards ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 each.

“We have adopted a democratic approach to philanthropy, which empowers an impressive roster of dedicated volunteers to decide more than half of all our grant winners each year,” said Swets. “We benefit from their diverse backgrounds and perspectives; they benefit from a meaningful and fulfilling experience; and the nonprofits often benefit from increased exposure and new advocates.”

This year’s grant recipients represent a wide variety of causes, including social justice, homelessness prevention, affordable housing, education, violence prevention, and food insecurity. The nonprofits are spread across 43 different cities and towns.

The complete list of 140 grant winners, plus more than 800 previous recipients, is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $300 million to greater Boston nonprofits.

Winning Home Grants WCEF $10,000 to Support Woburn’s Most At-Risk Students

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WCEF is proud to announce the receipt of a $10,000 charitable grant from Winning Home, Inc., to fund Educator Grants which address the special educational needs of high-risk students in the Woburn Public Schools.  This year’s award brings the total investment from Winning Home, Inc., to $30,000 in just 5 years; past grants have supported 22 innovative new projects that continue to benefit Woburn students at every elementary school and both middle schools. 

“Winning Home grants are making an immediate and lasting impact on the learning experiences of today’s students”, comments WCEF’s Maureen Willis.  “Winning Home grants have empowered our students to make positive life choices through a district-wide wellness initiative, imagine their future with career exploration in our middle schools, build literacy skills and a love of reading with diversified texts. Winning Home grants have also connected hundreds of students with technology and innovative programs that spark excitement in learning and student achievement.  We are grateful for the continued investment by Winning Home in the potential of Woburn’s most at-risk students, as part of its mission to serve the needs of Woburn’s children and their families.” 

This funding from Winning Home, Inc. will be made available to Woburn Educators as part of this year’s round of grant awards.  Woburn Educators are invited to submit proposals for grants now through January 21, 2020.     

 

Pictured at the check presentation (l-r):

Winning Home Board Member Michael Maher, Winning Home Treasurer/Director Albert “Chip” Curran, WCEF Board Member Nancy Whalen, Winning Home Board Chair Thomas Martin, WCEF Executive Director Maureen Willis, WCEF Board Chair Joe Crowley, WCEF Board Member Robert E. Maguire.   

This Coach Bag is a Must-Have this Fall!

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Presenting the Edie shoulder bag 31 with blocked leopard print!

Edie combines downtown ease with utility. The soft, slouchy silhouette features a three-compartment interior designed for perfect organization. It’s crafted in smooth calf leather with leopard print panels detailed with rivets for rock ‘n roll attitude.   The quality and style are undeniably Coach, updated to fit your day to evening lifestyle!

Made of refined calf leather, this bag features inside zip and multifunction pockets, and a center zip compartment.  Snap closure, fabric lining.

This purse is just one of 15 we will have on the Raffle Table at our 5th Annual Women’s Forum and Purse Raffle!  The event is just one week away, so get your tickets today! Every event ticket includes one free raffle ticket – and your only chance to win!

Special thanks to Michael Martini for sponsoring this purse in our Purse Raffle.

Our 2018 Purse Raffle Preview Continues with Kate Spade On Purpose

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We just love this embellished  pink leather crossbody – and so will you!  This adorable purse features flowers in shades of pink with rhinestones, to add some sparkle to any ensemble.

This bag, like all purses in the On Purpose line,  was made by hand and the tag signed by the artisan.  We are proud to have this beautiful bag on our raffle table this year – thanks to the sponsorship of Robert E. & Karen Maguire.

If you MUST HAVE this bag, then you MUST COME to our 5th Annual Women’s Forum and Purse Raffle!  Join us on October 21st to welcome Candy O’Terry to Woburn, take a chance on some fabulous designer purses AND support new programs in the Woburn Public Schools!  Get your tickets today!

 

More about the Kate Spade On Purpose line:

On Purpose supports women-led businesses in underserved communities to make this line of unique handbags.  These women, in turn, empower each other and their families and transform their communities.

In 2014, Kate Spade New York began working with a group of 150+ talented artisans in Masoro, Rwanda. Since then, these women have built a thriving self-run business and they produce all of our on purpose label accessories. their success is re-shaping the lives of 20,000 people in their community.

Presenting our 2018 Purse Raffle Preview – We open with a must-have tote by A. Bellucci

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You will love this stunning black and white A. Bellucci Pelletterie tote with removable interior!  The exterior is stylish and timeless Ruga leather.  The interior is made of beautiful and durable fabric in a herringbone stripe that will handle day-to-day use as well as special occasions.    Made in Italy.

This lovely bag could be yours, but only if you join us on Sunday, October 21st for our 5th Annual Women’s Forum and Purse Raffle!  Your event ticket gets you one free entry in our purse raffle, and additional tickets will be sold at the event only.  Get your tickets today! 

This fabulous bag is generous sponsored by Woburn Travel.

 

Presenting the 2018 Woburn’s Awesome Teachers!

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The Woburn Community Educational Foundation is pleased to present the impressive list of Woburn Educators honored this year with a Woburn’s Awesome Teacher Tribute.  In total, 188 tributes were received for 151 educators, raising $4325 to support the Educator Grants Program.

We wish to thank the Woburn community for their generous support of this important program, which not only raises important funds for the Woburn Public Schools, but also reminds our awesome teachers that their efforts are noticed and appreciated by their colleagues, community, students and families, both past and present.

The mission of the Woburn Community Educational Foundation is to increase private investment and community involvement in the Woburn Public Schools.  Our goal is to support educational programs and initiatives that empower teacher creativity and drive innovation in the classroom beyond that which is possible with public dollars.  We are a volunteer organization which works to bring new resources to our schools.

To view the full picture gallery, visit www.woburnedfoundation.org/teacher-tribute

WCEF Receives Leadership Gift from Winning Home

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The Woburn Community Educational Foundation (WCEF) is proud to announce the receipt of a $10,000 charitable grant from Winning Home, Inc., to fund Educator Grants which address the special educational needs of high-risk students in the Woburn Public Schools.  This generous grant from Winning Home, Inc. represents a 100% increase over previous awards, inspired by the success of projects funded by the local foundation over the last two years.

“Winning Home grants are making a dramatic and lasting impact on the learning experiences of our most challenged students”, comments WCEF’s Maureen Willis.  “We are so grateful for the continued support of Winning Home, as part of its mission to serve the needs of Woburn’s disadvantaged children and their families.”

This funding from Winning Home, Inc. will be made available to Woburn Educators as part of this year’s round of grant awards.  Woburn Educators are invited to submit proposals for grants now through January 22, 2018.

 

Pictured at the check presentation:

WCEF Board Member Robert E. Maguire, Executive Director Maureen Willis; Winning Home Board Chair Thomas Martin, WCEF Board Member Maria Zeqo, Winning Home Treasurer/Director Albert “Chip” Curran

Thank You for Supporting Our 4th Annual Women’s Forum & Purse Raffle!

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WCEF wishes to thank everyone who made this year’s Women’s Forum & Purse Raffle another great success!  Your support helps to fund this year’s Educator Grants, which provides resources for creative classroom-based programs and educational initiatives that support student achievement and that cannot be funded by the regular school budget.

A very special thanks to our featured keynote speaker, Kelley Tuthill, who was charming and funny and spoke so openly of her personal struggles and professional choices.  Her motto to “Get better, not bitter” in her fight with cancer inspired everyone in attendance.   Her daughter Maddie accompanied her mom to the event and helped draw our 16 purse raffle winners.  We thank both Kelley and Maddie for taking time away from family to support the Woburn Public Schools.

And to all those in attendance – thank you for coming to this year’s event, for your generous interest in our raffle, and for you interest in WCEF.  We hope to see you again next year!

Visit Our Event Page for event pictures and the full list of sponsors