Funding Summer Opportunities

Summer is the best time of the year when you are a kid — if you have somewhere to go, something to do to keep you engaged. Funding programs that provide arts, sports, educational, social and workforce development opportunities is always a challenge.

Enter the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.

Monday morning 12 agencies committed to the youth of Greater Lowell were awarded $100,000 in grants to help fund their summer programming as part of the United Way’s Summer Experiences in Greater Lowell (SEGL) initiative, a program that has been a mainstay in the valley for 13 years. Last year the funding made a difference in the lives of more than 1,700 local kids; a number they hope to exceed this year.

SEGL Co-Chair Joyce Leger from Lantheus Medical Imaging pointed out all of the agencies that were awarded funding this year have received it before, but continue to impress the committee with the improvements they have made to their programming.

This year’s recipients included: The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell, The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Billerica, The Caleb Group, Community Teamwork Inc., Girls Inc., Greater Lowell Family YMCA, Light of Cambodian Children, Lowell Community Health Center, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, The Paul Center, United Teen Equality Center, and The YWCA of Greater Lowell.

Usha Chatterjee, Director of Development, Community Services for the United Way praised the SEGL committee members for succeeding in raising $100,000 in this challenging fundraising year. The bulk of the funding was raised at the June 13 Martini Spring Fling at Vesper Country Club and the impressive golf tournament held by Lantheus Medical Imaging that raised $26,000.

She also praised the grant recipients for the important work they do.

“You are giving the youth the opportunities to reach their potential,” she said. “You are accentuating their learning skills so they can enter into the workforce.”