The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) in collaboration with Life Sciences Cares and four life science companies has awarded grants totaling $35,000 for Watertown Public Schools.
The addition of the STEM Fund this year builds on Watertown Community Foundation’s annual school- based educational grants program and increases total funding for the foundation’s grants in support of funding science, technology, engineering, and math programming.
“We are grateful for this new partnership and funding to expand our ability to support Watertown teachers through our annual education grant program. It truly helps transform our grant giving capacity and provides teachers and our schools with more resources to support students in the classroom.” said Eleanor Donato, Watertown Community Foundation School Grant co-chair.
This collective giving program also allows companies, leaders, and employees in the burgeoning Watertown life sciences field to learn about Watertown Public Schools and forge deeper relationships with the school STEM community.
“With the increase of Life Sciences companies in Watertown, we are committed to being good neighbors and true partners,” said Sarah MacDonald, Executive Director of Life Science Cares Boston, an industry- wide effort to fight poverty and expand opportunity. “We are thrilled to bring together companies to build relationships and make good on that commitment.”
Grants to Watertown Public School teachers and staff have been distributed as follows:
Watertown High Courtyard Manager
WHS SPEAK Program
WHS / Wayside Mental Health and Wellness WHS Library
Watertown High School All Night Party
Lesson Pix Group License Early Childhood
Community Outreach District
Awareness Book Month Cunniff Diversity Council
Listen to Sipu Elementary District
Author Visit Schoolwide Initiative Cunniff
Handwriting Without Tears Early Childhood
STEM Grants
Visiting Enrichment Programs Hosmer and Lowell
WHS Robotics Molecular Models
Middle School Science Discovery Museum
In-House Science Programs Indoor Grow Racks Elementary
About Watertown Community Foundation
The Watertown Community Foundation works to build and sustain a vibrant, close-knit community in Watertown – now, and for future generations. To accomplish this, WCF raises funds from people and partner institutions, awards grants to non-profits and community projects, and builds networks of donors, grantees, program participants and stakeholders. Since its inception in 2003, WCF has awarded $ 2,000,000 in grants to programs and organizations serving Watertown.
About Life Science Cares
Life Science Cares leverages the power of the life science industry to solve one of our most intractable social issues—poverty. Currently operating in four industry hubs (Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area), Life Science Cares harnesses the industry’s financial and human capital to support community-based organizations providing access to basic needs, access to education and access to opportunity. Companies wishing to join the effort should contact LSC Boston Executive Director Sarah MacDonald at sarah@lifesciencecares.org. Learn more at https://lifesciencecares.org/.
The Watertown Community Foundation, a public, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, works to build and sustain a vibrant, close-knit community in Watertown – now, and for future generations. To accomplish this, WCF raises funds from individuals, families, businesses, and foundations; awards grants to non- profits and community projects; and builds networks of donors, grantees, program participants, and stakeholders. Since its inception in 2003, WCF has awarded over $2,200,000 in grants to programs and organizations serving Watertown.
This year, WCF has partnered with Life Science Cares to fund STEM-related grants. Watertown-based life science companies Arranta Bio, C4 Therapeutics, Forma Therapeutics and Landmark Bio have contributed additional funding for STEM grants and representatives from each company participated in grant review.
WCF Board of Directors
David Siegel and Darshna Varia, Co-Presidents; Albrik Avanessian; Emily Barclay; Jennifer Davis; Eleanor Donato; William B. Ford; Heather Leary; Mary Ann Mulligan; Antonia O’Hara; Maria Panaggio-Phillips; Anthony Paolillo; Christine Parker; Lora Sabin; Robert Shay; Curtis Teixeira; Elaina Themistos; Lauren Coughlin Unsworth; and Kathryn White. Student Board Interns Alishba Amin and Mona Houjazy