Boston Foundation announces $210,000 in grants from Food and Fuel Fund, urges support for those in need

With bitter cold, snow moving in, Boston Foundation urges support for those in need

Foundation announces first set of 2013-2014 grants from Food and Fuel Fund, encourages donors to act

Boston – The Boston Foundation, Greater Boston’s community foundation, today announced more than $200,000 in grants to local organizations that provide urgent winter assistance to Massachusetts residents. The grants come from the Foundation’s Food and Fuel Fund, a cooperative effort of the Boston Foundation and its donors to specifically support those organizations providing food, fuel, housing and other much-needed services to citizens in need.

“We hope these grants, made possible by the generosity of Boston Foundation donors, will provide critical support to organizations that provide life-saving services and goods to thousands of people in our state,” said Paul S. Grogan, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation. “But with a major winter storm and the coldest temperatures in years moving into the region, we call on everyone who can to help support these organizations.”

The Boston Foundation is a founding member of MassNeeds – a statewide coalition of more than 50 corporate, public and private foundations supporting more than 200 nonprofit organizations – that has committed more than $13 million to help provide hunger, heat, housing and health care support for Massachusetts residents.

To make a contribution to the Food and Fuel Fund, visit http://www.tbf.org/investing-in-non-profits/grant-making-initiatives/food-and-fuel-fund.

To learn more about MassNeeds, visit http://www.massneeds.org.

Sequestration and other federal and state funding reductions have reduced funding for many of these nonprofits at a time when demand continues to rise. December 2013 temperatures averaged below normal across Massachusetts, and late week temperatures are expected to be near or below zero in all of New England, with wind chills at dangerous levels.

“These conditions are dangerous in the immediate days ahead, and they also place an increased burden on those who are struggling to afford heat and food this winter,” noted Grogan. “With three more months of winter weather ahead of us, we all need to step up and help our neighbors.”

The list of the Boston Foundation’s first round of Food and Fuel grants is below. The Foundation plans to make more grants as contributions to the fund continue this winter.