Wildflower News

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Announcing Wildflower’s New Executive Director, Erin Lynch!

We are very pleased to announce that following an extensive search conducted by Eos Transitions, Wildflower’s Board of Directors has selected Erin Lynch an experienced non-profit leader, as our next Executive Director. As a widowed parent herself, Erin also brings a deep personal connection to Wildflower’s mission.

Erin is a seasoned Executive Director and alum of the MetroWest Health Foundation’s Health Leadership Program. She also holds a B.S. in Recreation Management and Tourism from Arizona State University, a National Certification in Nonprofit Management from ASU’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Innovation, and an International Certification in Group Facilitation from the Institute of Cultural Affairs.

With 25 years of leadership experience, including her most recent roles as Executive Director at MetroWest Boston’s Visitors Bureau, she is deeply committed to collaborative initiatives. Previously, her work with the Health Futures collaboration earned her an invitation to the White House during the Obama administration. Erin is passionate about cultivating resilient communities and is eager to utilize her personal and professional experience to further Wildflower’s mission.

“I am truly honored to be selected as Wildflower’s next Executive Director. Wildfower’s mission is profoundly close to my heart, and I am excited to join such a dedicated team and community. Together, we will continue to sow the seeds of healing, resilience, and hope for children who have experienced the loss of a parent.” – Erin Lynch

Erin will begin her new role at Wildflower on October 10th. Wildflower’s current Executive Director, Audrey Loria, who has been with Wildflower for nearly 14 years, will provide transition support before retiring mid-October.

“Wildflower is so fortunate to have a seasoned professional assume leadership of our organization, following the dedicated and inspired leadership of Audrey. We are grateful  that Audrey has extended her stay with us to ensure a seamless transition. This positions Wildflower well for continued growth well into the future to benefit grieving children and their families.” – Cyndi Jones, Wildflower Founder and Board Chair

With all of us at Wildflower, please welcome Erin to the team!

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Retirement Announcement: Audrey Loria, Executive Director

Wildflower Executive Director, Audrey Loria, is retiring after 3 years in the leadership role and nearly 14 years with the organization.

“It has been my honor to meet Wildflower families over the years and play a small role in easing some of their burdens. I have appreciated the small staff that over the years has taken on bigger tasks and increased workload. I have always respected the vision of our founder, Cyndi Jones, and the support of the Wildflower Board. I look forward to closely following Wildflower’s progress for years to come, and I will continue to support this organization that has meant so much to me for such a long time.”

Audrey will be missed by all who have had the tremendous opportunity to work with her over the years. We wish her nothing but the best as she transitions into her retirement life.

To read Audrey’s full retirement statement, as well as a note from Wildflower Founder and Board Chair, Cyndi Jones, please click here.

 

 

Wildflower is working with Eos Transition Partners in search of a new Executive Director. For more information on the job description, click here, or reach out to our consultant, John Tarvin, at jtarvin@eostransitions.com or 617-304-8436.

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Boston Marathon: We’re Back!

After a cancelled 2020 race and not being able to receive bibs in the years after, Wildflower was thrilled to receive 3 race bibs for the 2023 Boston Marathon. Our runners Kristen Weber, Norman Hansen, and Kristen O’Rourke helped raise over $20,000 for Wildflower, and we are incredibly grateful for their dedication to our mission in helping kids and families rediscover life after the loss of a parent.

Marathon Monday proved itself to be a challenging day for our runners, as it was chilly, windy, and rainy in typical Boston fashion. Wildflower staff and volunteers had a cheering section just after the 19 mile mark to help give our runners the boost they needed before heading up Heartbreak Hill.

For more information on our runners and what brought them to Team Wildflower, click here.

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Wildflower receives $22.5K grant from Parmenter Foundation

MassNonprofit News | February  2023

Local nonprofit Wildflower, Inc. has been awarded a grant of $22,500 from the Parmenter Foundation, as a renewal of its previous 2022 grant. Wildflower was first recognized by the Parmenter Foundation with a grant in 2020, has received funding each year since then, and is honored to be a participant of the 2023 renewal grant pool.

Read the rest of the story here.

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Cummings Foundation Awards $350K Grant to Wildflower

Wildflower, Inc. was selected from a total of 580 applicants during a competitive review process to receive a $350,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation. The Lexington-based organization is one of 140 local nonprofits to receive a Cummings grant.

Wildflower is dedicated to serving children and families who have experienced the death of a parent. We provide the gifts of camp, enriching experiences, and consistent, long-term support to help families strengthen their resilience and create positive opportunities for the future.

Wildflower will use this sustaining grant in direct support of our bereaved children and families, with particular emphasis on providing our core programs of camp and year-round support. “This vote of confidence by the Cummings Foundation makes it possible for Wildflower to increase the number of children and families we serve. It is transformational for every part of our organization.” says Audrey Loria, Executive Director.

The Cummings Foundation’s $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 areas where it owns commercial property. Its buildings are all managed, at no cost to the Foundation, by its affiliate, Cummings Properties. This Woburn-based commercial real estate firm leases and manages 11 million square feet of debt-free space, the majority of which exclusively benefits the Foundation.

“We are so fortunate in greater Boston to have such effective nonprofits, plus a wealth of talented, dedicated professionals and volunteers to run them,” said Cummings Foundation executive director Joyce Vyriotes. “We are indebted to them for the work they do each day to provide for basic needs, break down barriers to education and health resources, and work toward a more equitable society.”

With the help of about 90 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.

“Our volunteers bring diverse backgrounds and perspectives, which is so critical to our grant selection process,” said Vyriotes. “Through this democratized approach to philanthropy, they decide more than half the grants every year.”

This year’s grant recipients represent a wide variety of causes, including food insecurity, immigrant and refugee services, social justice, education, and mental health services. The nonprofits are spread across 45 different cities and towns.

The complete list of 140 grant winners, plus more than 900 previous recipients, is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

Cummings Foundation has now awarded more than $375 million to greater Boston nonprofits.

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 largest private foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including New Horizons retirement communities, in Marlborough and Woburn, and Cummings Health Sciences, LLC. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.

Learn more about the Cummings Foundation here.