Cummings Foundation Grant

Root Awarded $350,000 Cummings Foundation Grant

Salem, MA…June 9, 2021

Root is one of 140 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 to $500,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program.  The Salem-based organization was chosen from a total of 590 applicants during a competitive review process.  It will receive $350,000 over 10 years.

Root’s mission is to help young adults create a pathway to independence through foodservice training and employment. By developing essential life and work readiness skills, youth leave Root prepared for success in the workplace.

Root’s Executive Director, M. Scott Knox, said, “We are absolutely honored by this transformative award from the Cummings Foundation to support Root’s Community Catering Initiative.  The Cummings Foundation has been one of Root’s most important champions since 2018, and this new multi-year commitment anchors Root’s unique approach to addressing food insecurity in Essex County.  This award will help Root provide 3,500 meals annually for those in-need, create jobs for youth who have been left out of the workforce, and support local farmers with every meal served.”

Root’s Head Chef, Sam Hunt went on to say that, “Each week, Root produces 500 to 700 fresh, nutritious meals for seniors, families and children experiencing food insecurity and for clients served by Lifebridge, The Salem Pantry, My Brother’s Table and many more North Shore agencies.  All meals are made by graduates of Root’s youth job training program, who continue their skill development and training at above minimum wage in Root’s production kitchen.  We are so grateful to the Cummings Foundation for their investment in Root and our young people.”

One of Root’s Alumni Employees, Eboni Williams, shared “I graduated from Root in 2018 and finished Salem High School in June, 2020.  I began working with the Root Community Catering team in late 2020, and I’ve been able to further develop my culinary skills and grow as a leader in the kitchen.  I’m excited that Root has funding for the next ten years to hire other alumni to be a part of our work feeding community.” The Cummings $25 Million Grant Program supports Massachusetts nonprofits that are based in and primarily serve Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties.

Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate, Cummings Properties.  This Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages 10 million square feet of debt-free space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation. 

“We aim to help meet the needs of people in all segments of our local community,” said Cummings Foundation executive director Joel Swets.  “It is the incredible organizations we fund, however, that do the actual daily work to empower our neighbors, educate our children, fight for equity, and so much more.”

With the help of about 80 volunteers, the Foundation first identified 140 organizations to receive grants of at least $100,000 each.  Among the winners were first-time recipients as well as nonprofits that had previously received Cummings Foundation grants.  Forty of this latter group of repeat recipients were then selected to have their grants elevated to 10-year awards ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 each.

“We have adopted a democratic approach to philanthropy, which empowers an impressive roster of dedicated volunteers to decide more than half of all our grant winners each year,” said Swets.  “We benefit from their diverse backgrounds and perspectives; they benefit from a meaningful and fulfilling experience; and the nonprofits often benefit from increased exposure and new advocates.”

This year’s grant recipients represent a wide variety of causes, including social justice, homelessness prevention, affordable housing, education, violence prevention, and food insecurity.  The nonprofits are spread across 43 different cities and towns.

The complete list of 140 grant winners, plus more than 800 previous recipients, is available at http://www.CummingsFoundation.org. Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $300 million to greater Boston nonprofits.

About Root

Root's mission is to help young adults create a pathway to independence through food service training and employment. By developing essential life and work readiness skills, youth leave Root prepared for success in the workplace. Since launching, Root has graduated eleven classes of young adults facing barriers to employment, each young person receiving over 240 hours of culinary and workforce readiness training and one year of follow-up support services. Through Root's food service social enterprises and Root's Community Catering, youth Trainees and graduates receive experiential training and employment in the culinary arts. Launched in March 2020, Root's Community Catering has provided over 31,000 free meals to those in-need across Essex County, with over 3,000 employment hours for Root graduates. To learn more about Root or if you would like to help, please go to http://www.rootns.org.

About Cummings Foundation

Woburn-based Cummings foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings and has grown to be one of the three largest private foundations in New England.  The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidieries, including New Horizons retirement communities in Marlborough and Woburn, and Veterinary School of Tufts, LLC in North Grafton.  Additional information is available at http://www.CummingsFoundation.org.