Who We Are
The Community Endowment of Lexington enhances the quality of life for Lexington citizens. CEL awards grants to nonprofits and town agencies working in the areas of health and human services, arts and culture, the environment, and community building; provides ways for donors to give back and leave a legacy; and encourages innovative and collaborative solutions to issues facing Lexington, MA.
This fall, join us for LexDoingGood, our first-ever event to connect the community with Lexington’s nonprofits and town agencies.
Lexington Community Board
A group of local Lexington residents form the CEL Community Board. These local residents represent the different demographics of our town, and together raise the funds for grantmaking in Lexington and decide on the most impactful grants for our community.
Founders
Chinese American Association of Lexington
The Chinese American Association of Lexington serves Chinese American interests in important town-wide activities and provides opportunities for members to engage with the Lexington community through volunteerism, networking, and social events. This grant will support a photo exhibition at Cary Memorial Library that reflects Asian citizens’ community activities to promote a culture of respect in the Lexington community regardless of ethnicity.
Food Link, Inc.
Food Link rescues fresh food, alleviates hunger, and contributes to environmental sustainability. This grant will support resources, including staff and volunteer time, necessary to help alleviate hunger in Lexington through expanded food collection and distribution.
Lexington Historical Society
Lexington Historical Society is passionate about preserving Lexington’s history and sharing it with the public. This grant will support the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II; the commemoration, offered in partnership with 10 local organizations, will consist of living history programs, lectures, displays, and a WWII plaque, installed at Cary Hall.
Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LexHAB)
LexHAB is committed to implementing alternatives for the provision of affordable housing in Lexington and to providing such housing to persons of low, moderate, and middle income. This grant will fund the LEXscape beautification project, which includes the purchase and installation of three sheds used to store equipment, facilitating tenants' ability to maintain a tidy exterior and enhancing the surrounding neighborhood.
Lexington Youth and Family Services (LYFS)
LYFS is dedicated to strengthening the safety net so that Lexington youth are healthier, more resilient, and feel better supported in their daily lives. This grant will support the provision of free, short-term therapeutic services to youth ages 6 to 22 and to families who cannot otherwise access mental health supports.
Special Needs Arts Programs, Inc.
Special Needs Arts Programs, Inc. provides people with disabilities opportunities that celebrate each person’s unique abilities while cultivating creative expression, building peer relationships, and fostering self-esteem through life-enhancing activities in the arts. The grant will support an art exhibit series, comprised of nine Special Artists art exhibits.
William Diamond Junior Fife & Drum Corps, Inc.
The William Diamond Junior Fife & Drum Corps perpetuates our nation’s historical music and promotes fellowship among musicians. This grant will fund the refurbishment and rebranding of 13 original drums, allowing drums to be used an additional 15 to 20 years and promoting the organization’s ties to the town of Lexington.
Food Link, Inc.
Food Link rescues fresh food, alleviates hunger, and contributes to environmental sustainability.
This grant will expand food deliveries to Lexington, increasing the number of agencies served in Lexington from three to five, as well as increase the amount of food provided to current agencies.
Lexington Arts and Crafts Society
Lexington Arts and Crafts Society encourages and inspires artisans at all stages of their creative journeys and promotes art in the community by providing studio space, gallery shows, classes and workshops.
This grant will support the Artisan’s Market, an annual two-day event in July.
Lexington Community Farm Coalition
Lexington Community Farm Coalition (LexFarm) connects the community to locally grown, organic food and sustainable farming practices while preserving historic farmland. LexFarm makes the landscape of a working farm accessible to community members of all ages and abilities through educational programs, community events, and volunteer opportunities, as well as its farmstand and CSA program.
This grant will support the hiring of an education consultant to develop a road map for a comprehensive, sustainable education program. The consultant will work with LexFarm leadership to assess the current program and develop expanded farm and environmental education.
Lexington Tourism Committee
The Lexington Tourism Committee promotes Lexington tourism as part of the economic development strategy to maximize revenues from Lexington’s visitors-based economy.
This grant will support the restoration of the diorama of the Battle of Lexington, which will be featured in the new Visitors Center and help visitors understand Lexington’s historic role in American history. The diorama will both be restored and made wheelchair accessible.
LexRaP
LexRAP supports and assists refugees and asylum seekers integrate into American society. This assistance includes a support network for housing, food, clothing, transportation, health care, education (especially English), employment, legal aid, and socialization.
This grant will support Hand in Hand Cafe, which provides local refugee women the opportunity to cook dinners for paying guests and has the goals of building community and understanding, as well as providing the women a chance to learn job skills related to the food industry.
Munroe Center for the Arts
Munroe Center for the Arts furthers the cultural and artistic education of the residents in the community.
This grant will support board members with instruction and training led by professionals, helping the MCA Board understand its roles and responsibilities and providing them with the necessary infrastructure and tools to undertake its work in support of the Center’s mission.
Nashoba Learning Group
Nashoba Learning Group enables children and adults with autism to function with the greatest possible productivity and independence in the community, home, and workplace throughout their lives.
This grant will support the Vocational Program, which strives to place students with autism in meaningful work opportunities, as it seeks to expand its reach of volunteer services to include Lexington.
Neighbor Brigade
Neighbor Brigade establishes community-specific networks of volunteers that can be mobilized to help residents facing sudden crisis manage day-to-day tasks such as meal preparation, rides, and basic household chores.
This grant will support a collaboration with Japanese Support Group of Lexington that would allow Japanese Lexington residents to participate in and contribute to volunteer activities with fellow Lexington residents in a meaningful and impactful way.
Shadaj, Inc.
Shadaj, Inc. cultivates, nurtures, and promotes Indian Classical Music in its most authentic form through intimate concerts, music appreciation sessions, and lecture demonstrations as a platform for cultural integration and community outreach.
This grant will support the East Meets West annual community outreach event, which facilitates cultural and musical exchange by inviting people from diverse cultural backgrounds to participate in a series of lecture-demonstrations and a concert.
Special Needs Arts Programs, Inc.
Special Needs Arts Programs, Inc. provides people with disabilities opportunities that celebrate each person’s unique abilities while cultivating creative expression, building peer relationships, and fostering self-esteem through life-enhancing activities in the arts.
This grant will support marketing efforts and the purchase of equipment (amplifiers, keyboard, and more) for SNAP’s musical performances.
Friends of Lexington Bikeways
The Friends of Lexington Bikeways promotes and supports biking and the shared use of bicycle routes in and around Lexington, MA.
This grant will support a tri-town community celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway that will feature events in Lexington, Arlington and Bedford, and along the bikeway.
Lexington Chamber Music Center
Lexington Chamber Music Center promotes the study of classical chamber music to help students become more accomplished musicians and find fulfillment in their musical lives.
This grant will support The Front Porch Project, aimed to explore intentionally slowing down and creating purposeful, organic community concerts on neighborhood front porches.
Lexington Historical Society
Lexington Historical Society is passionate about preserving Lexington’s history and sharing it with the public.
This grant will support a season-long celebration commemorating the centennial anniversary of the ending of WWI. The celebration will include lectures, exhibits, programs, and a panel discussion.
Special Needs Arts Programs, Inc. (SNAP)
Special Needs Arts Programs, Inc. provides people with disabilities opportunities that celebrate each person’s unique abilities while cultivating creative expression, building peer relationships, and fostering self-esteem through life-enhancing activities in the arts.
This grant is enabling SNAP to launch a pilot ceramics program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Town of Lexington
The Town of Lexington is celebrated as the site of the first shots of the American Revolutionary War, and is now a vibrant community that is home to more than 31,000 individuals.
This grant will support the purchase tablets that are outfitted with a translation application to improve communication between town staff and Lexington residents and visitors whose first language is not English.
William Diamond Junior Fife & Drum Corps, Inc.
The William Diamond Junior Fife & Drum Corps is designed to promote the study of both music and history among young people, particularly the traditions of fife and drum music.
As part of the Corp’s first capital campaign, this grant will support the purchase of five new authentic-quality fifes and three hand-sewn uniforms, benefiting multiple generations of Lexington’s youth.
Friends of Minute Man National Park
The Friends of Minute Man National Park is an independent nonprofit organization supporting the Park’s mission through advocacy, education, fundraising, and volunteerism.
This grant will support the construction of the Parker’s Revenge Battle Site Trail Loop Project, a 1500-foot educational trail loop that will protect the area’s archaeological and ecological sensitivity.
Lexington Recreation and Community Programs Department
The Lexington Recreation and Community Programs Department strives to provide affordable, quality programs meeting the needs of the community. The Department promotes participation by all Lexington residents in safe, accessible, and well-maintained facilities.
This grant will support two CPR/First Aid/AED certification courses for Lexington residents, including one train-the-trainer course. This program will ultimately provide a safer community environment.
Lexington Youth and Family Services (LYFS)
LYFS’ mission is to promote healthy social and emotional development among Lexington youth and families by providing advocacy, prevention, and intervention services to keep youth safe.
This grant will help implement “Balancing on the Hyphen”, a six-part multicultural community education initiative designed to address generational and cultural divide issues. This program will be done in concert with The Korean Organization of Lexington (KoLex) and a Multicultural Sponsoring Board.
Munroe Center for the Arts (MCA)
The mission of the MCA is to further the cultural and artistic education of the residents of Lexington.
This grant will support the MCA’s The Refugee Diaspora project, an artistic collaboration intended to educate Lexington residents about the refugee experience. Through the arts and this program, the MCA hopes to promote local engagement.
Neighbor Brigade
Neighbor Brigade establishes community-specific networks of volunteers that can be mobilized to help residents facing sudden crisis manage day-to-day tasks such as meal preparation, rides, and basic household chores.
This grant will support volunteer growth and diversification in Neighbor Brigade’s Lexington chapter. By increasing volunteer engagement and diversity of volunteers in the areas of age, gender and ethnicity, the organization will better meet the needs of Lexington’s growing and diverse population, including all residents whom are facing temporary crises.
Supportive Living, Inc (SLI)
The mission of SLI is to raise the quality of life for survivors of brain injury. To achieve this mission, SLI develops appropriate and affordable supportive housing; provides life-long physical, cognitive and social fitness through wellness programs; and fosters research aimed at improving the lives of people with brain injury.
This grant will support the SLI Total Health Summer Camp in bringing together disabled and nondisabled Lexington residents in wellness programs.
The Children's Room
The Children’s Room creates safe, supportive communities so that no child, teen, or family has to grieve alone.
This grant will support the operations of a school-based peer support group for grieving teens on site at Lexington High School.
Lexington Community Farm Coalition (LexFarm)
Lexington Community Farm is a working farm that connects the community to local food and sustainable practices while preserving historic farmland. Using sustainable land management techniques that protect the farm's open space on town-owned conservation land, LexFarm grows and distributes vegetables through community-supported agriculture (CSA) and at its farm stand. Residents of all ages and abilities are invited to engage with the farm and the environment through hands-on education programs and volunteer opportunities. In addition, LexFarm accepts SNAP/EBT at the farm stand and donates approximately 10% of produce grown to families in need.
This grant will enable LexFarm to move to the next level in its organizational growth, providing consulting services for board development, an analytics dashboard and a business plan for long-term planning across the different program areas.
Lex Eat Together
Lex Eat Together recognizes that hunger and social isolation exist within Lexington and the surrounding communities. Their purpose is to offer a welcoming environment without question for anyone who comes to a weekly dinner. By providing a free, nutritious meal on a weekly basis to all who attend, in a manner and setting that recognizes and honors the dignity of every individual, Lex Eat Together can address the hunger in our midst and provide an equally important component of community: reducing isolation.
This grant will help Lex Eat Together pilot a transportation program for greater and broader access to their weekly dinners by those who do not have access to needed transportation.
Lexington Global Warming Action Coalition (LexGWAC)
LexGWAC's mission is to education and raise awareness of climate change and its impacts. They promote actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and safeguard the health of the planet for future generations. They accomplish their mission through a speaker series, a movie series and by working with Lexington town government to pass warrant articles to help Lexington address climate change.
This grant will enable LexGWAC to run a large scale "Sustainability Fair" coordinating initiatives by and for Lexington town government, businesses and residents and highlighting health, energy, resilience, and sustainability in the face of climate change.
Lexington Office of Public Health
Under the direction of the Lexington Board of Health, the mission of the Lexington Office of Public Health is to prevent disease and promote wellness in order to protect and improve the health and quality of life of its residents, visitors and workfoce.
This grant will enable the Lexington Health Department to do a quantitative tick survey in order to assess the risks to our community and provide an educational public health program for residents about tick-borne diseases.
Communities for Restorative Justice
Communities for Restorative Justice is a community-police partnership program. Their mission is to provide communities with a complement to the traditional judicial system, wherein: (1) victims of crime can interact in a safe environment with those who have harmed them in a safe environment; (2) offenders can better understand the impact of their actions; and (3) the community connections are strengthened.
This grant is enabling C4RJ staff to train additional Lexington police officers, raise community awareness of restorative justice and its benefits, and recruit and train local volunteers--resulting in a stronger, healthier community.
Domestic Violence Services Network (DVSN)
Domestic Violence Services Network provides direct and ancillary support services to domestic violence victims across MetroWest. . FACT #1: 1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence or sexual assault in her lifetime. FACT #2: 1 in 5 high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.
This grant is allowing the organizations, in partnership with the Lexington Police Department, to provide four Realistic Escape Strategies and Instinct-based Self-defense Training courses as Lexington High School.
Lexington Symphony Orchestra
Lexington Symphony is a professional orchestra of musicians who share a passion for classical music, a commitment to community engagement, and a dedication to exacting standards of performance, offering six concerts a year. The Symphony also reaches thousands of area youth through the Orchestrating Kids Through Classics program.
This grant is providing funding for the MovieMusic program, including a day of artistic family activities and an evening full-length concert featuring classic movie music.
Lexington Tourism Committee- Antony Park
Antony Park commemorates the relationship with Lexington's sister city, Antony, France. The park's design is based on historical French formal gardens and will be located in the seldom-used area of Tower Park. This outdoor space will be preserved and beautified for a place to revitalize, enjoy community events and performances or simply meet for a picnic or bagged lunch.
This grant will assist LTC in completing the park's construction, primarily the beautiful and anchoring stonework.
Special Needs Arts Programs, Inc. (SNAP)
For over 30 years, SNAP has worked to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities through direct involvement in the arts, resulting in a connected and warm community of artists, staff and volunteers.
This grant is enabling the expansion of the SNAP program and providing resources to enroll more students who are on the waiting list.
FAQs
What is the Community Endowment of Lexington?
The Community Endowment of Lexington (CEL) was established in 2013 by Lexington residents as an initiative to build a permanent endowment to strengthen our community. CEL enhances the quality of life for Lexington citizens. CEL awards grants to nonprofits and town agencies working in the areas of health and human services, arts and culture, the environment, and community building; provides ways for donors to give back and leave a legacy; and encourages innovative and collaborative solutions to issues facing Lexington, MA.
CEL is an endowed fund of the Foundation for MetroWest. As such, it is a permanent, steady source of funding for the town of Lexington. Each year, spending is limited to a designated percentage of the endowment, leaving the rest to build for the future.
How will we make a difference in Lexington?
The Community Endowment of Lexington supports nonprofits and town agencies working to create solutions for current needs and implementing new ideas that will improve Lexington now and in the future.
How can I make a contribution?
You may make a gift to the Community Endowment of Lexington by check, stock, mutual fund or real estate, or through a donor advised fund or private foundation. The staff at Foundation for MetroWest can work with you and your financial adviser to review various planned giving options. All gifts qualify for the maximum tax benefit offered.