2023 BHCF Grant Award Winners
From the Boston Music Project:
"The Beacon Hill Civic Association’s generous $500 grant has helped us continue to provide our morning-
and afternoon-programming to students at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School (PreK-5th grade) and Josiah Quincy Upper School (6th-8th grade). We served 198 students through our before-school programming at Josiah Quincy Elementary School (JQES). In addition, our afternoon programming at Josiah Quincy Upper School (JQUS) serves 25. The following outlines our major accomplishments over the past several months:
Our youngest students at JQES created their very own life-sized paper instruments. Students use the paper instruments to.further understand instrument positioning and handling. In the spring of 2024, they ‘graduated’ and began learning on actual instruments. The students of Josiah Quincy Elementary and Upper Schools performed their learnings at the March 2024 Showcase for their families and peers."
From Beacon Hill Seminars:
"The Beacon Hill Community Fund supported our replacement of deteriorating hardware so we could continue to promote lifelong learning to residents of Beacon Hill and beyond. We remain exceptionally grateful for the support."
From the Friday Night Supper Program:
"In 2023, the Friday Night Supper Program was honored to receive a $3,500 grant from the BHCF, which significantly bolstered our general operations. Thanks to this generous support, we prepared and served over 6,300 warm and nutritious meals. Beyond our meal service, we were also able to distribute thousands of clothing and toiletry items, including waterproof winter boots, to our guests. Additionally, the grant enabled us to create a full-time position, enhancing the sustainability of our operations. We are deeply grateful to the BHCF for their unwavering commitment to supporting our local community."
From Tunefoolery:
"Tunefoolery is immensely grateful for the generous grant from the Beacon Hill Community Fund. This grant has been instrumental in supporting our efforts to provide essential services for the Lindemann Inn homeless shelter residents. Thanks to this support, we could conduct weekly online music and mindfulness sessions for the residents. These sessions featured live music performed by a Tunefoolery musician in mental health recovery and guided meditation led by a Tunefoolery meditation facilitator. Additionally, we organized a bi-monthly in-person open mic at the shelter, offering the residents an opportunity to express themselves through music and creative expression, providing a much-needed distraction from the stresses of homelessness.
In light of the renewed support from BHCF, a long-standing supporter of our work at Lindemann Inn, we expanded our services to reach an underserved population within the shelter. Specifically, the grant support allowed us to initiate a weekly songwriting group for the women's unit. This group aims to fulfill the unmet need for personalized attention, providing women a platform to access their authentic creative selves when their lives are in disarray. This initiative empowers them to move forward with greater confidence in their lives.
We appreciate the Beacon Hill Community Fund for caring so deeply about the homeless community and graciously supporting Tunefoolery’s musicians in mental health recovery so that they can share their healing journeys using music-making."
From the West End Museum:
"The 2023 BHCF grant helped the Museum put on a performing arts event, recreating the Beatles concern and subsequent press meeting at the Boston Garden and Manger Hotel. The event had excellent turnout and tickets could be offered at an affordable rate due to BHCA's support."
From Bay Cove Human Services:
"I like being part of Center Club's Acting Workshop because I enjoy singing to an audience who appreciates music, the arts, and actors." -- LC
"I enjoy the regularity of rehearsals and performances . Almost right after we finish a performance we are on a new performance. The director and staff facilitator as well as the crew are dedicated and have exposed me to new and interesting music. My fellow cast members have unique musical talents. The club members and guests really like the performances and snacks. I am grateful for your financial donation." -- CM
From Beacon Hill Village:
"Beacon Hill Village used the Beacon Hill Community Fund grant to purchase an additional laptop that we use to troubleshoot member technology issues as well as provide general technology help to members. It has improved our ability to serve our members and has increased our flexibility in terms of meeting member needs."
From Beacon Hill Friends House:
"We are so appreciative of the continued support of the Beacon Hill Civic Association's Community Fund. It means a lot to us to have the support of our neighborhood as we embark on renovating and maintaining our historic community space that we've operated since 1957 in Beacon Hill."
"The Beacon Hill Civic Association’s generous $500 grant has helped us continue to provide our morning-
and afternoon-programming to students at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School (PreK-5th grade) and Josiah Quincy Upper School (6th-8th grade). We served 198 students through our before-school programming at Josiah Quincy Elementary School (JQES). In addition, our afternoon programming at Josiah Quincy Upper School (JQUS) serves 25. The following outlines our major accomplishments over the past several months:
Our youngest students at JQES created their very own life-sized paper instruments. Students use the paper instruments to.further understand instrument positioning and handling. In the spring of 2024, they ‘graduated’ and began learning on actual instruments. The students of Josiah Quincy Elementary and Upper Schools performed their learnings at the March 2024 Showcase for their families and peers."
From Beacon Hill Seminars:
"The Beacon Hill Community Fund supported our replacement of deteriorating hardware so we could continue to promote lifelong learning to residents of Beacon Hill and beyond. We remain exceptionally grateful for the support."
From the Friday Night Supper Program:
"In 2023, the Friday Night Supper Program was honored to receive a $3,500 grant from the BHCF, which significantly bolstered our general operations. Thanks to this generous support, we prepared and served over 6,300 warm and nutritious meals. Beyond our meal service, we were also able to distribute thousands of clothing and toiletry items, including waterproof winter boots, to our guests. Additionally, the grant enabled us to create a full-time position, enhancing the sustainability of our operations. We are deeply grateful to the BHCF for their unwavering commitment to supporting our local community."
From Tunefoolery:
"Tunefoolery is immensely grateful for the generous grant from the Beacon Hill Community Fund. This grant has been instrumental in supporting our efforts to provide essential services for the Lindemann Inn homeless shelter residents. Thanks to this support, we could conduct weekly online music and mindfulness sessions for the residents. These sessions featured live music performed by a Tunefoolery musician in mental health recovery and guided meditation led by a Tunefoolery meditation facilitator. Additionally, we organized a bi-monthly in-person open mic at the shelter, offering the residents an opportunity to express themselves through music and creative expression, providing a much-needed distraction from the stresses of homelessness.
In light of the renewed support from BHCF, a long-standing supporter of our work at Lindemann Inn, we expanded our services to reach an underserved population within the shelter. Specifically, the grant support allowed us to initiate a weekly songwriting group for the women's unit. This group aims to fulfill the unmet need for personalized attention, providing women a platform to access their authentic creative selves when their lives are in disarray. This initiative empowers them to move forward with greater confidence in their lives.
We appreciate the Beacon Hill Community Fund for caring so deeply about the homeless community and graciously supporting Tunefoolery’s musicians in mental health recovery so that they can share their healing journeys using music-making."
From the West End Museum:
"The 2023 BHCF grant helped the Museum put on a performing arts event, recreating the Beatles concern and subsequent press meeting at the Boston Garden and Manger Hotel. The event had excellent turnout and tickets could be offered at an affordable rate due to BHCA's support."
From Bay Cove Human Services:
"I like being part of Center Club's Acting Workshop because I enjoy singing to an audience who appreciates music, the arts, and actors." -- LC
"I enjoy the regularity of rehearsals and performances . Almost right after we finish a performance we are on a new performance. The director and staff facilitator as well as the crew are dedicated and have exposed me to new and interesting music. My fellow cast members have unique musical talents. The club members and guests really like the performances and snacks. I am grateful for your financial donation." -- CM
From Beacon Hill Village:
"Beacon Hill Village used the Beacon Hill Community Fund grant to purchase an additional laptop that we use to troubleshoot member technology issues as well as provide general technology help to members. It has improved our ability to serve our members and has increased our flexibility in terms of meeting member needs."
From Beacon Hill Friends House:
"We are so appreciative of the continued support of the Beacon Hill Civic Association's Community Fund. It means a lot to us to have the support of our neighborhood as we embark on renovating and maintaining our historic community space that we've operated since 1957 in Beacon Hill."
2022 BHCF Grant Award Winners
From The West End Museum:
"The 2022 BHCF Grant is supporting archival development at The West End Museum. Through
the purchase of computer equipment, it is supporting our oral history programs as well as efforts
to make our archives accessible to the public online, a major step forward for our organization."
From the Friday Night Supper Program:
"In 2022, the Friday Night Supper Program received a $2,500 grant from the BHCF to support
our weekly meal service and bi-weekly Clothing Closet program at the Arlington Street Church
for individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Boston and the surrounding
areas. Since receiving this generous support, we were able to prepare and serve over 6,000 hot
and nutritious meals. Alongside serving many meals, we distributed thousands of clothing items,
including waterproof winter boots to our guests. Our services also provide to-go options for our
guests and any left over food is brought to local shelters. We are so grateful to BHCF for their
constant support of the local community."
From Tunefoolery:
"We are deeply grateful to the Beacon Hill Civic Association for their generous support, which has enabled us to fulfill our mission of providing high-quality music to a population that lacks access to live performances and employment opportunities for our musicians. Tunefoolery Music has offered weekly online Music and Mindfulness Groups and biweekly live music performances with an open mic for homeless individuals in mental health recovery at the Lindemann Inn Shelter, located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, thanks to the Beacon Hill Community Fund grant. These programs have given participants a sense of peace, inner tools to help navigate the stresses of homelessness, joyful entertainment as a focus point, and an empowering opportunity to share their creativity. Our low-income musicians, also in mental health recovery, have experienced the healing benefits of sharing their talents with their peers and the personal and financial satisfaction of being paid for their work."
From Rogerson Communities:
"Created, owned, and managed by Rogerson Communities, Beacon House has, for over 40 years, met the housing and supportive service needs of low- and middle-income seniors and people with disabilities. Prominently located at the corner of Myrtle and Joy Streets, Beacon House comprises a steel-framed, 8-story structure with exterior facades that feature red brick and limestone masonry walls. The rear of the building is especially exposed to the impact of bad weather and wind, and was therefore the first priority as Rogerson undertakes a phased approach to restoring the masonry at Beacon House. A 2022 grant from the Beacon Hill Community Fund, together with other philanthropic contributions, has now allowed Rogerson Communities to undertake this much-needed capital improvement at the rear elevation, thereby helping to safeguard the mission of this beautiful and important community resource now and for years to come."
From Beacon Hill Seminars:
“We are tremendously grateful for the $2500 Beacon Hill Community Fund grant received this year. We are proud to provide a consistent and needed source of social contact and intellectual stimulation for Boston’s community of lifelong learners. This grant has allowed us to reinvest in the programming and tools needed to continue to offer high quality courses – both in person and online – and serve our members in the future.”
"The 2022 BHCF Grant is supporting archival development at The West End Museum. Through
the purchase of computer equipment, it is supporting our oral history programs as well as efforts
to make our archives accessible to the public online, a major step forward for our organization."
From the Friday Night Supper Program:
"In 2022, the Friday Night Supper Program received a $2,500 grant from the BHCF to support
our weekly meal service and bi-weekly Clothing Closet program at the Arlington Street Church
for individuals experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Boston and the surrounding
areas. Since receiving this generous support, we were able to prepare and serve over 6,000 hot
and nutritious meals. Alongside serving many meals, we distributed thousands of clothing items,
including waterproof winter boots to our guests. Our services also provide to-go options for our
guests and any left over food is brought to local shelters. We are so grateful to BHCF for their
constant support of the local community."
From Tunefoolery:
"We are deeply grateful to the Beacon Hill Civic Association for their generous support, which has enabled us to fulfill our mission of providing high-quality music to a population that lacks access to live performances and employment opportunities for our musicians. Tunefoolery Music has offered weekly online Music and Mindfulness Groups and biweekly live music performances with an open mic for homeless individuals in mental health recovery at the Lindemann Inn Shelter, located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, thanks to the Beacon Hill Community Fund grant. These programs have given participants a sense of peace, inner tools to help navigate the stresses of homelessness, joyful entertainment as a focus point, and an empowering opportunity to share their creativity. Our low-income musicians, also in mental health recovery, have experienced the healing benefits of sharing their talents with their peers and the personal and financial satisfaction of being paid for their work."
From Rogerson Communities:
"Created, owned, and managed by Rogerson Communities, Beacon House has, for over 40 years, met the housing and supportive service needs of low- and middle-income seniors and people with disabilities. Prominently located at the corner of Myrtle and Joy Streets, Beacon House comprises a steel-framed, 8-story structure with exterior facades that feature red brick and limestone masonry walls. The rear of the building is especially exposed to the impact of bad weather and wind, and was therefore the first priority as Rogerson undertakes a phased approach to restoring the masonry at Beacon House. A 2022 grant from the Beacon Hill Community Fund, together with other philanthropic contributions, has now allowed Rogerson Communities to undertake this much-needed capital improvement at the rear elevation, thereby helping to safeguard the mission of this beautiful and important community resource now and for years to come."
From Beacon Hill Seminars:
“We are tremendously grateful for the $2500 Beacon Hill Community Fund grant received this year. We are proud to provide a consistent and needed source of social contact and intellectual stimulation for Boston’s community of lifelong learners. This grant has allowed us to reinvest in the programming and tools needed to continue to offer high quality courses – both in person and online – and serve our members in the future.”
2021 BHCF Grant Award Winners
From common cathedral:
To see common cathedral's testimonial, see the file below.
To see common cathedral's testimonial, see the file below.
| bhcf_2022_report_-_common_cathedral.pdf |
From Friday Night Supper Program:
To see Friday Night Supper Program's testimonial, see the file below.
To see Friday Night Supper Program's testimonial, see the file below.
| friday_night_supper_program_testimonial.pdf |
From Rogerson Communities:
To see Rogerson Communities' testimonial, see the file below.
To see Rogerson Communities' testimonial, see the file below.
| rogerson_communities_-_testimonial.pdf |
From the International Women's Writing Guild:
"The International Women's Writing Guild is honored and grateful to receive support from the Beacon Hill Community Fund. The Fund enabled us to update a social justice anthology written by young writers of color in Boston. In addition, it supported a book of lesson plans on social justice and racial identity to be taught by middle and high school instructors. We hope to make these available at no charge to Boston Public Schools to support curricula on social justice. Finally, we have launched a cohort of IWWG fellows, who we know will inspire young writers throughout the city.
THANK YOU!"
"The International Women's Writing Guild is honored and grateful to receive support from the Beacon Hill Community Fund. The Fund enabled us to update a social justice anthology written by young writers of color in Boston. In addition, it supported a book of lesson plans on social justice and racial identity to be taught by middle and high school instructors. We hope to make these available at no charge to Boston Public Schools to support curricula on social justice. Finally, we have launched a cohort of IWWG fellows, who we know will inspire young writers throughout the city.
THANK YOU!"
From Tunefoolery Music, Inc.:
"Tunefoolery Music is deeply grateful for the generous Beacon Hill Community Fund grant. In the first half of 2022, funds were used to enable us to bring weekly online live music performances with an open mic and weekly online mindfulness instruction (also with live music) to the individuals in mental health recovery staying at the Lindemann Inn homeless shelter.Experiencing homelessness during a pandemic as someone with a psychiatric disorder can be understandably stressful and disorienting. Our musicians, who also are in mental health recovery, brought their shared perspective and skill at leading meditations and performing music, as well as the opportunity for the shelter guests to gain some control and express their musical or spoken word talents. Staff at the shelter has said how much relief our work brought to their guests. Tunefoolery’s musicians use music-making as an essential component in their healing journey, and through sharing their talents, they benefit greatly. Thanks to the Beacon Hill Civic Association for its very kind support.”
"Tunefoolery Music is deeply grateful for the generous Beacon Hill Community Fund grant. In the first half of 2022, funds were used to enable us to bring weekly online live music performances with an open mic and weekly online mindfulness instruction (also with live music) to the individuals in mental health recovery staying at the Lindemann Inn homeless shelter.Experiencing homelessness during a pandemic as someone with a psychiatric disorder can be understandably stressful and disorienting. Our musicians, who also are in mental health recovery, brought their shared perspective and skill at leading meditations and performing music, as well as the opportunity for the shelter guests to gain some control and express their musical or spoken word talents. Staff at the shelter has said how much relief our work brought to their guests. Tunefoolery’s musicians use music-making as an essential component in their healing journey, and through sharing their talents, they benefit greatly. Thanks to the Beacon Hill Civic Association for its very kind support.”
From ABCD North End/West End Neighborhood Service Center (NE/WE NSC):
"A Beacon Hill Community Fund grant enabled the ABCD North End/West End Neighborhood Service
Center (NE/WE NSC) to add a monthly contactless meal to its rotation of meal delivery services. The
meals that the NE/WE NSC delivers each week to the housing complexes reach clients who are unable to
get out due to being homebound or worried about contracting COVID-19. Meals have included baked ziti,
meatball sandwiches, and chicken, broccoli, and ziti. Thank you Beacon Hill Civic Association, for
enabling our center to provide nourishing meals and a friendly connection to those who need it the most!"
"A Beacon Hill Community Fund grant enabled the ABCD North End/West End Neighborhood Service
Center (NE/WE NSC) to add a monthly contactless meal to its rotation of meal delivery services. The
meals that the NE/WE NSC delivers each week to the housing complexes reach clients who are unable to
get out due to being homebound or worried about contracting COVID-19. Meals have included baked ziti,
meatball sandwiches, and chicken, broccoli, and ziti. Thank you Beacon Hill Civic Association, for
enabling our center to provide nourishing meals and a friendly connection to those who need it the most!"