Middlesex Community College: Middlesex CC Awarded $100,000 Cummings Grant

Press release from the Middlesex Community College:

Caitlin Buckley

6/2/2021

Middlesex Community College is one of 140 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 to $500,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. Middlesex – with campuses in both Bedford and Lowell – was chosen from a total of 590 applicants during a competitive review process. MCC will receive $100,000 over three years.

Dedicated to student success, Middlesex provides a diverse population of students with opportunities for academic, professional and personal success. Part of MCC’s Business pathway, the Launch Your Business Now program helps entrepreneurs develop their business concept, evaluate market opportunity, test assumptions, and set up systems – including accounting, marketing, sales, operations and finances – to successfully launch a business.

“We are so grateful to receive this funding from Cummings Foundation,” said Stacie Hargis, MCC Professor and Entrepreneurship Coordinator. “The college prides itself on creating relevant and valuable experiences for students to use as a foundation for their futures. With this funding, our students will have even more opportunities, as well as the ability to focus their time and energy on coursework and professional endeavors without worrying about financial hardships.”

As building and maintaining a business can be financially challenging for many, Middlesex is in a unique position to help students achieve their entrepreneurial goals with expert guidance and financial support. Funding from the Cummings Grant will go toward helping students enrolled in MCC’s entrepreneurial or certificate programs launch and grow their businesses. MCC can also connect students with resources such as mentors, networking, budget review and personal support.

For Gabrielle Rodriguez – a recent graduate of the Launch Your Business Now program –Middlesex helped her make her business plan a reality. The owner of Fleek Beats Beauty – a seller of beauty products and services – Rodriguez is grateful for the education, support and funding she has received from MCC’s program.

“MCC has not only provided me with the knowledge and skills needed to launch and grow a business, but the mindset that is required,” Rodriguez said. “No matter what you want to study, you will leave MCC a smarter and better person ¬– period. My confidence is sky high and it's all because of these amazing people at MCC. The value within the education you receive in this course is priceless – completely changed my life.”

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.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!

Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings and has grown to be one of the three largest private foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including New Horizons retirement communities in Marlborough and Woburn, and Veterinary School at Tufts, LLC in North Grafton. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

This press release was produced by the Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.