Nurtury, New England’s first early childhood care center and preschool in New England, is celebrating its 140th anniversary with the announcement of $255,000 in new grants. Funds will be disseminated to numerous Nurtury programs, including its JP location at 33 Bickford St.
The grants have been awarded by The Mabel Louise Riley Foundation, The Liberty Mutual Foundation, Life Science Cares, American Tower and The Family Nurturing Center and the Boston Family Engagement Network and will support the following programs:
• The Mabel Louise Riley Foundation: a $100,000 grant will support Nurtury’s flagship center – the Nurtury Learning Lab.
• The Liberty Mutual Foundation: an $80,000 grant will support the Family Engagement for School Success program.
• Life Science Cares: a $10,000 grant will help purchase laptops for each of Nurtury’s 18 preschool classrooms to give students access to STEM education.
• American Tower: a $10,000 grant will fund technology system upgrades that support enrollment, attendance, nutrition, finance and child screening statistics.
• The Family Nurturing Center and the Boston Family Engagement Network (CFCE): a $55,000 grant will provide family support services for underserved populations.
The grants were announced during Nurtury’s annual “Night for Nurtury” fundraiser which took place on May 9 and celebrated the organization’s 140th year with a community of caregivers, educators and supporters who share Nurtury’s commitment to helping children 0 – 5 years old reach their full potential.
During the event, Nurtury also presented the Nurturer of the Year Award, which is an award given to an individual who applies ingenuity, compassion, and intellect to addressing and mitigating the impact of the challenges that affect children and their families. This year, Nurtury honored its most longstanding partner with the award – Michael Durkin, CEO of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.
Under Mr. Durkin’s leadership, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley has been a strong supporter of Nurtury’s mission to help Greater Boston’s youngest children reach their full potential by investing in school readiness, promoting healthy development, and strengthening families.
“We’re so excited to honor Mr. Durkin for his unwavering commitment to supporting underserved children and their families,” said Wayne Ysaguirre, CEO of Nurtury. “As we celebrate our 140th year, it only seems appropriate that we reflect on the partners that have been with us for the long haul. For the past 50 years, the United Way has been by our side, advocating for the work we do each and every day, to help ensure the children we serve build a strong educational foundation to prepare them for a lifetime of learning.”