Somerville Health Foundation 2020 Grants Awarded
Community stakeholders and Cambridge Health Alliance leaders gathered virtually to celebrate recipients of the 2020 cycle of the Somerville Health Foundation grant program.
On Thursday, September 24, community members and Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) leaders including CEO Assaad Sayah, MD, chief community officer and CHA Foundation president Mary Cassesso and Board of Trustees vice-chair Gerald McCue, gathered for a virtual reception to honor the recipients of the 2020 cycle of the Somerville Health Foundation grant program. This year marks a milestone as the fund exceeded $500,000 of investment in Somerville since it began in 1996. Organizations that received funding include Beautiful Stuff/Neighborhood Children’s Foundation, Breakthrough Greater Boston, Forsyth Kids, Friends of the Community Growing Center, Neighborhood Counseling and Community Services, and the Somerville Food Security Coalition/Somerville Homeless Coalition.
Funding will support initiatives that combat isolation and depression in youth through digital culture, restorative dental care, social-emotional learning in schools, increased diversity of mental health providers in the community, nature-based outdoor learning opportunities for young children, social support building among immigrant parents through the arts, and access to food and community resources through a monthly free community meal.
The SHF was established in 1996, as part of the Affiliation Agreement executed between Somerville Hospital and Cambridge Hospital when they merged to form CHA. Under the terms of the agreement, Somerville Hospital incorporated a new nonprofit corporation known as the Somerville Health Foundation, Inc. with trustees from CHA and the City of Somerville. Somerville resident Margaret Hutchinson left the endowment that has funded the Foundation.
The current priorities for funding support are programs with an emphasis on the root causes of disease, health disparities and serving vulnerable populations in Somerville. Project were selected based on the following criteria:
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Protective factors to reduce substance abuse or decrease violence.
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Mental and emotional health promotion or stress prevention.
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Physical activity and obesity prevention.
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Chronic disease and disability prevention.
For more information about the program, contact Lisa Brukilacchio at 617-591-4433 or lbrukilacchio@challiance.org.