English At Large Awarded $100,000 Cummings Foundation Grant

English At Large has been selected as one of 100 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s $100K for 100 program. The Medford-based organization was chosen from more than 430 applicants during a very competitive review process.

English At Large is a nonprofit that provides individual and small group instruction through a volunteer network to adult immigrants and other newcomers who want to acquire English language skills as they adapt to life in the United States. Our vision is that newcomers to the United States will develop the English language skills and acquire the cultural knowledge needed to fully engage in their communities and fulfill their life goals.

Qingjian Shi, English At Large’s Executive Director, said, “This is a big step for us. We are a small organization with a big impact, and the award from the Cummings Foundation will allow us to grow our innovative programs in the 21 Greater Boston area communities that we serve.”
Now in its third year, the $100K for 100 program awards $10 million in grants annually to nonprofits that are not only based in but also primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties. This year, the program is awarding 38 grants in Middlesex County, 25 in Essex County, and 37 in Suffolk County.

The community that will benefit from the greatest number of grants is Roxbury, which is home to nine nonprofits receiving awards. Six grants were distributed in Lawrence, and five each in Woburn and Beverly.

Through this “place-based” grants program, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed by its affiliate Cummings Properties. Founded in 1970 by Bill Cummings, the Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages more than 10 million square feet of commercial space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.

Joel Swets, Cummings Foundation’s Executive Director, said, “Cummings Foundation is very committed to the local communities where the staff and clients of the Cummings organization live and work. We are delighted to support very worthy nonprofits like English At Large that are working tirelessly for the benefit of the people they serve.”

This year’s very diverse group of grant recipients represents a wide variety of causes, including underserved populations, education, healthcare, hunger relief, and homelessness prevention. Most of the grants will be paid over two to five years.

Representatives from the recipient organizations will be invited to attend an exclusive Grantee Reception on June 2 at TradeCenter 128 in Woburn to celebrate the $10 million infusion of funding into greater Boston’s nonprofit sector. The complete list of 100 grant award winners will be released that evening, and will be posted at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

– Submitted by English At Large and the Cummings Foundation