The Blue Hill Observatory awarded $75,000 from the Cummings Foundation over three years
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Charles Orloff, Exec. Director, 617-696-0562, corloff@bluehill.org
The Blue Hill Observatory awarded $75,000 from the Cummings Foundation over three years to support General Operations
Milton/MA nonprofit receives 3 years of funding from Cummings Foundation
Milton, MA July 16 2024—The esteemed Cummings Foundation has awarded the Blue Hill Observatory (The Observatory) with $75,000 in general operating support—distributed over three years—beginning June 30, 2024. The generous donation comes from the Cummings Foundation’s exciting annual grant-making campaign entitled “$30 Million” representing the amount of funds they distribute to 150 local nonprofits each year. The Blue Hill Observatory was selected from a total of 715 applicants during a competitive review process.
Executive Director, Charles Orloff stated, “The Blue Hill Observatory’s staff and board of directors are honored to partner with the Cummings Foundation to engage the over 10,000 visitors that come to our National Historic Landmark and a Centennial Observing Station—1 of 11 in the country—each year for substantive programs focused on the history of meteorology and the weather and climate and their effects on the environment. Reliable general operating support over three years is critically important to The Observatory as it strives to maintain its annual operations and strategically grow. The Observatory is currently developing a five-year strategic growth plan that will leverage all of its scientific assets to enhance its programs and maximize their impact. We are deeply grateful to the Cummings Foundation for their understanding that general operations must be met before any other strategic initiatives can advance.”
At a reception on June 13, 2024 host by the Cummings Foundation all grantees had the opportunity to meet the foundation’s founders Joyce and Bill Cummings. MA Governor, Maura Healey, attended the event to personally thank the Cummings Foundation and their grantees for their commitment to serving others through the nonprofit sector.
The Blue Hill Observatory’s Dir. of STEM Education, Krista Fincke and Board Member, Christine Casewell with Joyce Cummings, Co-founder of the Cummings Foundation.
The Cummings $30 Million Grant Program primarily supports Massachusetts nonprofits that are based in and serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties, plus six communities in Norfolk County: Brookline, Dedham, Milton, Needham, Quincy, and Wellesley.
Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the areas where it owns commercial property. Its buildings are all managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate, Cummings Properties. This Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages 11 million square feet of debt-free space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.
“Greater Boston is fortunate to have a robust, dedicated, and highly capable nonprofit sector that supports and enhances the community in myriad ways,” said Cummings Foundation executive director and trustee Joyce Vyriotes. “The entire Cummings organization is thankful for their daily work to help all our neighbors thrive.”
The majority of the grant decisions were made by nearly 100 community volunteers. They worked across a variety of committees to review and discuss the proposals and then, together, determine which requests would be funded. Among these community volunteers were business and nonprofit leaders, mayors, college presidents, and experts in areas such as finance and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).
“We believe strongly that grant decisions will be more equitable when made by a diverse group of community members,” said Vyriotes. “We’re incredibly grateful to the dozens of individuals who participated in our democratized philanthropic process.”
The Foundation and volunteers first identified 150 organizations to receive three-year grants of up to $300,000 each. The winners included first-time recipients as well as nonprofits that had previously received Cummings grants. Twenty-five of this latter group of repeat recipients were then selected by a panel of community volunteers to have their grants elevated to 10-year awards ranging from $300,000 to $1 million each.
This year’s grant recipients represent a wide variety of causes, including housing and food insecurity, workforce development, immigrant services, social justice, education, and mental health services. The nonprofits are spread across 49 different cities and towns.
Cummings Foundation has now awarded $500 million to greater Boston nonprofits. The complete list of this year’s 150 grant winners, plus nearly 2,000 previous recipients, is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.
About the Blue Hill Observatory
The Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory, located atop of Great Blue Hill just south of Boston, is a unique American institution. Founded in 1885 by Abbott Lawrence Rotch, one of the most respected scientists of his time, the Observatory was established as a scientific center for the measurement and study of the atmosphere, and it became the site of many pioneering weather experiments and discoveries. Rotch made his first weather observations on February 1, 1885, and ever since that date an unbroken climate record has been maintained. This remarkable resource, which is the most homogeneous climate record in North America, is considered a benchmark for climatology and the study of climate change in the U.S. Northeast, leading the World Meteorological Organization to recognize the Observatory as a Centennial Observing Station. The Observatory is also a recognized National Historic Landmark. Generations of meteorologists received their training at the
Blue Hill Observatory. Important research studies on atmospheric radiation, clouds, and rainfall patterns were conducted on the Hill, and many meteorological firsts, including atmospheric research with kites and the development of the radiosonde (weather balloon), also occurred at this historic site. More at bluehill.org.
About Cummings Foundation
Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Winchester, MA and has grown to be one of the largest private foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including New Horizons retirement communities, in Marlborough and Woburn, and Cummings Health Sciences, LLC. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.
