2023 Charities
WALTHAM HOUSE at The HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS
www.thehome.org/programs/waltham-house/
During our June Pride Month event, named True Colors Shining, we collected funds to support Waltham House. Waltham House, a part of the New England Home for Little Wanderers, is the first residential group home in New England specifically designed for LGBTQ+ youth. It was established in 2002 and was one of the first of its kind in the entire nation. The fundamental beliefs of the organization are that every child deserves to live in an environment where they feel safe, respected, and cared for by those surrounding them.
LOVIN’ SPOONFULS https://lovinspoonfulsinc.org
Our annual Gala silent auction helped raise funds for Lovin' Spoonfuls, a Massachusetts-based organization that rescues and distributes food. Their goal is to address food insecurity by providing some of the 35% of unsold or uneaten food in the US to the 16% of Massachusetts households facing food insecurity. Their mission is to bridge the gap between abundance and need while also addressing the impact of wasted food on people and the planet. As of the end of 2023, they have rescued 32,076,564 pounds of food and created over 22 million meals for our Massachusetts neighbors through food pantries, meal programs, shelters, addiction treatment and recovery programs, veteran's programs, after-school programs, and senior centers.
ITALIAN HOME FOR CHILDREN www.italianhome.org
Italian Home for Children serves children experiencing mental health challenges with a far reaching suite of programs including in home services, partial hospitalization, special education, after school and vacation programs, outpatient clinics and applied behavioral analysis. Started in 1918 in the aftermath of the influenza pandemic of that year to help Boston’s devastated North End Italian community, they have grown to service all children needing mental health services in Massachusetts. Our annual Holiday Party collected a Santa’s sleigh worth of goodies from their wish list of everyday items they most need to make life better for their clients.
Past Charities
ABC WELLESLEY https://www.wellesleyabc.org
The Wellesley ABC program provides academically talented and promising young women of color A Better Chance of educational preparedness through enrollment at Wellesley High School. ABC scholars relocate from their home and live during the academic year in a Wellesley house purchased several years by the program.
In lieu of our usual annual Paint aThon, IFDA New England undertook our largest pro bono project to date, including a bath renovation, new artwork, painting and electrical improvements to the ABC home. A special shout out to IFDA members who have stepped up to lead this effort: Kevin Cradock and Dan Wilson of Cradock Builders, Jessica Chabot of Katie Rosenfeld Design and Jacqui Becker of Jacqueline Becker Fine Arts Consulting Services. And heart felt gratitude to the entire team: Pat Bryson of Bryson Electric, John Speridakos of Cosmos Painting, Richard Siegel of Stanhope Framers, Matt Clark of Clark Fine Art Services, Jim Lavalle of Lavelle Systems, Beezee Honan of Designer Bath, Jon Moss of Installation Plus, Jeff Pomeroy of Light New England, Joe DiMare of Art of Tile and Stone, Manny Makkas of Makkas Drapery, Lauren Hamilton of August Interiors, Tom Skinner of Skinner Demo, Brian Spellman of Metropolitan Cabinet and Countertops, Ken DeCost of Materia Millwork, Diego Olivera of Oliver Wall Plastering, Kyle Tripp of Simple Home, and John Nicholas of Oasis Shower Doors.
PROJECT HOME AGAIN https://www.phama.org
Have you ever wondered what to do with old furnishings and light appliances when you or a client remodel or redecorate? Project Home Again collects gently used furnishings and light appliances that might normally go into landfills and distributes them to prequalified low income people setting up households.
Founder Nancy Kanell and a team of volunteers curate whole rooms, putting together pleasing spaces that include all the needed items, making HOMES, not just giving away things. And that 12 foot velvet couch looking for a home? They’ll take that too and sell it to fund raise for the purchase of items highest on their wish list. They have a terrifically easy to use website that anyone can use to set up a donation: https://www.phama.org/donate/donate-goods/
This Andover based non profit will also be the recipient of funds raised at this year’s 75th Anniversary Design Gala this fall.
Women’s Institute for Housing and Economic Development
WIHED creates affordable housing for some of our most vulnerable citizens including veterans, the disabled, and low income individuals and families.
IFDA NE has supported WIHED through cash donations and sweat equity projects on three of their properties in New Bedford and Webster MA during the period of 2015-2018.
In 2015-16, our small dedicated community service committee made improvements to WIHED’s Grinnell Mansion, a former whaling captain’s mansion in the historic town of New Bedford, now 17 apartments for low income seniors and the disabled.
In 2017 we decided to invite the whole chapter to get in on the action. Two dozen chapter members, including contractors, interior designers and vendors, rolled up their sleeves and painted the interior of WIHED’s Acushnet Commons, a former school that is now 12 family sized apartments and home to the North Star Learning Center. Drab, stained yellow walls gave way to a palette of spring green, sea foam blue and gray lavender, as each of three floors was beautified.
In 2018 our Annual Paint a Thon was performed at WIHED’s Prospect Estates, with special assistance from then chapter treasurer Gary Rousseau of Herrick & White, transforming the public spaces of two WIHED affordable housing properties.
