Grantees
CURRENT GRANTEES
Another priority is to fund initiatives like the ones listed below that provide access to services that mitigate the lifelong impact of racism on elderly African American women. As a result, the Foundation is striving to generate new, more strategic connections. We believe that creating partnerships with community members and organizations, will both expand our collective knowledge about these tragic outcomes and increase our elders’ access to services.
Funded by GKF: This project delivers programs to raise awareness of the risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementias. It provides information about best care and support practices, as well as the state of research, treatments, and public policy advocacy. This initiative also supports our constituents by building partnerships with churches and senior residences which broadens their outreach to include new community partners outside of the immediate “dementia sector.”
For more resources & information, contact:
Catherine Muldoon, 617.543.3766/camuldoon@alz.org
Funded by GKF:: Boston Medical Center’s Elders Living at Home Program (ELAHP) aims to help older adults who are homeless or at risk for homelessness. Their participation in this program helps them to secure and/or maintain a permanent residence and live as independently as possible. The services ELAHP has provided for the past 36 years closely align with the GKF’s mission “to care for the special needs of aging African-American/Black women living in Boston.”
For more resources & information, contact:
Ms. Eileen O’Brien, Program Director,
617.638.6148 / Eileen.Obrien@bmc.org
Project Funded by GK: Urban Community Homemaking works to provide a holistic approach to the home care provided to elderly, African American/Black women. The organization focuses on providing the personal and homemaking care that enables clients to continue living, independently and safely, in the comfort of their homes. This program provides the Personal Care Assistants needed to keep their home environment safe and clean. The aides and friendly companions escort clients to their medical appointments as well as to church and hair, and nail appointments. The aides also cook nutritious meals the women can enjoy on those days when they are alone.
For more resources & information, contact:
Divina Nieves-Mass
617-445-1228
dmasso@caribbeanfoundation.net
Project funded by GKF: Through support from the Grimes-King Foundation, ESAC’s Aging in Place initiative helps lower-income elderly women of African descent age in good health and dignity in their own homes and communities. They achieve this by offering a complementary blend of housing stabilization supports to renters and homeowners, and home repairs that improve housing conditions and reduce fall risks. Every elder, across these programs, is screened to determine eligibility for public benefits (food, fuels, and healthcare benefits). When they identify elders who may be eligible, they assist in applying for these income-boosting benefits that strengthen their ability to age in health and in dignity.
For more resources & information, contact:
Margaret Drisko, Executive Director
617-524-2555 x102
pdrisko@esacboston.org
Project with GKF Funds: Assertively advocating for the well-being of African Americans, especially elder women to attain resources. We concede that access and entry do not routinely lead to inclusion where systemic, pervasive, and historic health and economic disparities exist. We respond with information for action. The identified exclusion of Black mental health crisis is evident from MCOA – EMHOT 2021 reports. We proposed a remedial strategy and championed the Commonwealth doubling of 2023 funding to $2.5 million. We were awarded a maximum 2023 State competitive grant for technology innovation addressing Black Elders health and isolation through cross-sector and intergenerational partnerships. We are continuing to pave a path of resilience and transformation in the face of persistent disappointments and neglect.
For more resources & information, contact:
Ronald H Lammy
781-521-2939
elderwellnessrhl@gmail.com
Projects funded by GKF: Their Creative Connections program runs programs in public/affordable senior housing and senior centers serving elderly women of African descent. The grants provide instructor-led arts programming, which are culturally and linguistically informed and fosters creative connections that enhance their intergenerational programs.
The proceeds from their LBM Micro-grant allowed them to provide reliable internet access for this Fall’s Digital Divide program and housing complex in Boston. All of the participants were elderly, African American/Black women.
For more resources & information, contact:
Nikki Shults, Executive
617-524-8882
nshults.bos@littlebrothers.org
Cynthia Wilkerson, Program Director
617-524-8882
cwilkerson.bos@littlebrothers.org
Project funded by GKF: To ensure they can remain stably housed, this agency strives to create a targeted upstream homelessness prevention resource for low-income seniors, aged 65 and older who are waiting senior housing. They, along with other Grimes King Foundation past and present grantees, work to ensure that senior African American/Black women have a voice. A major part of the Casa Campaign is to build a strong coalition of seniors from across Massachusetts to lend their expertise, stories, and voices to change public policies that will improve the quality of life of the low-income elderly populations. MCH is currently designing a housing stability screening and has created a statewide coalition of seniors and partners from community-based organizations, faith communities, housing providers, and the health sector that will work together to increase housing subsidies through the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) directly targeted to low-income older adults.
For more resources & information, contact:
Celinet Sanchez
781-595-7570
celinet@mahomeless.org
Project funded by GKF: Justice in Aging: Mass Senior Action Council is a grassroots organization working for social change that centers the voices of those directly impacted, particularly those who have been historically and systematically disadvantaged. In Boston, MSAC works to build the leadership and collective power of elderly African American/Black women, empowering them to use their own experiences and voices to shape policies that affect their health and well-being. Together they confront racial, economic, and gender inequities to achieve systemic change. As leaders and change agents, elderly African American/Black women have expanded access to affordable healthcare and community-based long-term care, reduced MBTA paratransit fares, and increased the development of subsidized elderly housing.
For more resources & information, contact:
Carolyn Villers
617-435-1926 / 617-435-1926
cvillers@masssenioraction.org
Project funded by GKF: The BMMP assists the city of Boston’s most vulnerable, elderly and disabled, adults (including African American women) who have difficulty with the routine tasks of money management. Through the services provided, our clients preserve their independence and avoid the worst effects of financial mismanagement – eviction, utility shut-off, and exploitation – and maximize their limited incomes to retain and/or regain economic security. Collaboration is an important component of the success of the BMMP – we rely on the support and expertise of area organizations to provide referrals and wrap-around supports that complement our service (meals, mental health support, transportation, home care, and other social services).
For more information, contact:
Ray Santos
617-522-6700 ext 344
grants@ethocare.org
Project funded by GKF: The Urban Farming Institute of Boston is continuing the work of their highly successful program to improve the lives of seniors in Boston’s Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan neighborhoods. “Fit Around the Farm” (FATF) provides seniors with nutrition instruction, cooking demonstrations, chair yoga, and gentle aerobics, all while building a stronger local community to decrease isolation and strengthen mental health.
For more resources & information, contact:
Patricia Spence
617-680-5378
spence@urbanfarminginstitute.org
LBM MICRO-GRANT RECIPIENTS
Below is a list of the remaining winners of our new Laura B. Morris (LBM) Micro-grant – along with a brief description of their project.
Enhance the tools, equipment, and resources used for their exercise classes, and underwrite the costs of exercise instructional videos, yoga mats, light weights, and other updated equipment for their Senior Center’s exercise programs.
https://bostonabcd.org/location/mattapan-family-service-center/
https://africancommunityhealthinitiatives.com/ – Defray the costs of their health fair, during which participants receive free dental services, blood sugar, cholesterol, vision and hearing checks, as well as flu and COVID-19 shots and COVID home tests.
Supports the launch of the Refreshing Seniors Connection project, an 8-12 week, wellness program aimed at helping older adults modify their own personal recipes. Additionally, they provide weekly gift cards enabling seniors to purchase the ingredients for their revised, healthy meals.
Support Bethel’s Planning Ahead program by assisting seniors to think through their end-of-life plans, by discussing with their families their final wishes about medical care, hospice, distribution of treasured items, and funeral plans.
Funds were used for myriad activities focused on healthy eating, projects and entrance fees for field trips to a gospel festival, museums, walks in local parks and sponsored exercise classes – essential activities to keep them healthy, vibrant and connected to others.
To cater a healthy lunch for all seniors attending their monthly meetings – whether they can afford to pay for their meal or not.
Urban Farming Institute helped to provide turkeys to 23 elderly African American women and their families last Thanksgiving.