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Our community history is one of people who have made a difference
Wellesley is unique — offering its residents natural beauty, safe neighborhoods, superior educational opportunities, a variety of recreational and cultural events, and a rich history. But what really sets Wellesley apart are the extraordinary people who live here. Beginning with Horatio Hollis Hunnewell, who built the Town Hall for use as a town hall and library in 1887, Wellesley’s leaders have been engaged and philanthropic. Today, we all benefit from their engagement in local affairs, their commitment to building a strong community and their vision in imagining a better world for future generations.
HOW HAVE WE MADE A DIFFERENCE?
Our grantmaking has been focused on three key areas — seniors, youth, and community building — and demonstrates the breadth of grant-making opportunities in our community.
The Fund focuses its grants on three areas:
- Community Building & Civic Engagement
- Grants in this area are aimed at increasing volunteerism and community involvement, reaching out to engage diverse diverse age groups and new residents in serving the community.
- Seniors—Engagement and Enhanced Services
- These grants are meant to reach out to the growing, yet underserved, senior population and to expand services to meet their needs.
- Youth Development and Opportunity
- Grants in this category are intended to help young people, particularly the uninvolved, unaffiliated youth, realize their full potential.
Here are some of the highlights of our activities:
- Wellesley Volunteers Our grant provides funds to establish a volunteer clearinghouse for Wellesley, to better meet the needs of both volunteers and the organizations they serve.
- Volunteer Drivers Program The grant for this program, launched in the first quarter of 2011, has proven successful in addressing many of the transportation needs of Wellesley seniors who are unable to drive. It has provided the opportunity for building relationships among drivers and riders and for reducing potential isolation for our seniors. A second grant ...
- After-School Programming for Youth Our grant to Babson College and the Wellesley Housing Authority expanded their existing after-school opportunities, run by Babson students. They engaged the children and teens living in residences under the Housing Authority in new and vibrant programming, and doubled the number of children served. With a second grant, this program has expanded further to include ...
- Wellesley ESL Program Our grant to the Wellesley Free Library supports the development of a comprehensive ESL program to address the increase of non-English speakers in our community and to help them become more a part of our community. The program will include training for additional tutors, conversational classes, one-on-one tutoring and cultural education.
- Suicide Prevention Our grant enabled the Wellesley Board of Health and the Youth Commission to certify twenty community instructors in suicide prevention techniques and to launch a comprehensive suicide prevention website.
- Luminary Night Our grant to Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club enabled that organization to expand the December Luminary Night celebration to all of the diverse neighborhoods of our town and to residents of Wellesley Housing locations.
- Support for Wellesley ABC Program Wellesley A Better Chance (ABC) will enhance its donor communication and website to advance and support programming for promising students of diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
By making a contribution to The Fund for Wellesley, you are helping to build an endowment that strengthens the community, creating pride of place among residents today and for years to come.
