THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 14, 2024 Page 15 The ILC awarded $750,000 Cummings Grant O Pictured from left to right: The ILC Director of Development Mark Corriea, The ILC Executive Director Vince Rivers, Cummings Foundation Volunteer Joan Hadley, The ILC Director of English Language Programs Jessica Senat and The ILC Assistant Director of Development Ann Bausman. T he Immigrant Learning Center (The ILC) is one of 150 local not-for-profits that will share in $30 million through Cummings Foundation’s major annual grants program. During a competitive review process, The ILC was selected from a total of 715 applicants. It will receive $750,000 over 10 years. Malden-based The ILC serves immigrant and refugee adults living in 89 Greater Boston communities by teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages, citizenship, digital literacy, and life and job search skills. This grant will benefit hundreds of newcomers to Malden and hundreds more throughout the region by bolstering the organization’s recent expansion addressing the influx of immigrants to Massachusetts. Everyone in these communities will benefit, as The ILC’s students learn English, get jobs, support their families, pay taxes and become contributing community members. “This grant is so significant for us, not just because of the large dollar amount,” said The ILC Executive Director Vince Rivers, “but because of the long-term commitment. The Cummings Foundation sees the urgent need we’re addressing today and has confidence in our ability to benefit local communities in the decade to come, just as we have confidence in their commitment to these people and this place.” The Cummings $30 Million Grant Program primarily supports Massachusetts not-for-profits that are based in and serve Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk Counties, plus six communities in Norfolk County. Through this placebased initiative, the 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 not-for-profit sector that supports and enhances the community in myriad ways,” said Cummings Foundation Executive Director/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 not-for-profit leaders, mayors, college presidents and experts in areas such as finance and 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 organizations 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 organizations are spread across 49 different cities and towns. Cummings Foundation has now awarded $500 million to greater Boston not-for-profits. The complete list of this year’s 150 grant winners, plus nearly 2,000 previous recipients, is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org. For more information about The ILC, visit the website http:// www.ilctr.org. Pioneer Charter School of Science celebrates 2024 graduates Graduates from PCSS I and II were honored in a joint ceremony at Rivergreen Park in Everett n Friday, May 31, students from Pioneer Charter School of Science (PCSS) I in Everett and PCSS II in Saugus graduated in a united ceremony at Everett’s Rivergreen Park. PCSS’s 2024 graduates spent their formative high school years studying amid a global pandemic, a testament to their determination and adaptability as they begin new chapters of their academic careers. PCSS, which enrolls students from communities north of Boston and the North Shore, is known for its collegiate successes. PCSS college acceptance rates are commendable. In 2024, 93 percent of PCSS upper school students plan to attend a four-year university, five percent a two-year college and two percent, vocational training. Of PCSS II Upper School students, 90 percent will attend a four-year college, five percent a two-year college, and five percent vocational training. Both schools have a 100 percent acceptance rate. “Our Class of 2024 graduates are an exceptional group of students,” said PCSS CEO Barish Icin. “We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments. These students have not only weathered PCSS graduates, pictured from left to right: Back row: Maria Machado (Everett), Caitlin Calvelo (Woburn), Shreshth Gaur (Malden), Boulanouar Bouchenafa (Charlestown), Nizar Kaddoum (Medford), Johen Mimy (Malden) and Zackariyya Malki (Methuen); front row: Victoria Penha (Malden), Salma Ngokila (Medford), Leila Elhaissouni (Melrose) Ambika Badwal (Malden) and Lhawnnie Dumond (Lynn). their studies during the pandemic, but they have excelled. We believe that they have bright futures ahead of them.” PCSS I and PCSS II’s Class of 2024 were awarded more than $11 million in scholarships. Students from both campuses have been accepted to nationally renowned schools, including Harvard, Tufts, MIT, Cornell, Boston College, Columbia, Dartmouth, Brown and Wellesley. PCSS is a rigorous college preparatory charter school that aims to prepare educationally under-resourced students for today’s competitive world. PCSS I, which is located in Everett, serves students in Grades K through 12 from several communities north of Boston, including Everett, Chelsea and Revere. PCSS II, which is located in Saugus, serves students in Grades K through 12 from Saugus, Salem, Peabody, Lynn and Danvers. Creative Malden event Come and enjoy the art, music and activities at Artists Take the Street! O n June 22, 2024, Creative Malden is hosting the Artists Take the Street event, which is taking place in front of 45-75 Pleasant St. in Malden, Mass., from 12-4 p.m. An afternoon of fun, the event will include art demonstrations, music, henna and face painting. The Gallery@57, which the event will be held in front of, is known for its LIMELight series, featuring a variety of artists who work in all different styles. At Artists Take the Street, these artists will be highlighted, demonstrating their art and promoting what they create. One of these featured artists is Grace Julian Murthy, who recently displayed her Pop Art centered collection The Art of Joy at the gallery. In addition to Julian Murthy, painter Ella Bessmer will display her work. But paint will not be the only highlighted material. A variety of difEVENT | SEE PAGE 20 Creative Malden Event flyer
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