Museum gets $30G grant
Will supply food, supplies to students
FITCHBURG » The Fitchburg Art Museum announced Wednesday the extension of Fitchburg Families First, a pandemic-relief program that provides food and supplies to students in the Fitchburg Public Schools and their families.
This programming is being made possible by a grant of $30,000 from the Cathedral Fund, a Boston-based arts engagement foundation.
“It is a priority for the Fitch
burg Public Schools to work collaboratively with the Fitchburg Families First Program to support our students and families,” Fitchburg Families First event organizer and Fitchburg Public Schools Parent Engagement Liaison Luisa Fernandez said. “We are pleased to hear that Fitchburg Art Museum has secured additional funding to support further food distribution events for our community and families. We take great pride in being a part of this amazing program and look forward to additional opportunities for collaboration in the future.”
The upcoming Fitchburg Families First driveby distribution events will be held April 10, May 1 and June 5 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Fitchburg Art Museum, 185 Elm St. Families will be able to pick up a Market Basket gift card to supplement meals as well as an educational takehome art activity for kids.
According to Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale: “Our community is built on the spirit of collaboration, and Fitchburg Families First is the shining example of what our community can accomplish when we come together. We’re lucky to have such great partners like Fitchburg Families First and the Fitchburg Art Museum, who are doing their part to help take care of our residents.”
Fitchburg Art Museum Director Nick Capasso spoke of the future of the program, saying, “This community partnership has proven so successful that we are already planning post-pandemic programs to serve children
and their families in the Fitchburg Public Schools. Many thanks to all of our collaborators, and to the Cathedral Fund for their visionary philanthropy.”
The museum also highlighted the partners and sponsors that helped make Fitchburg Families First a success with a special thanks to the Cathedral Fund, ReImagine North of Main, Fitchburg Public Schools, Inform Fitchburg, NewVue Communities, Staples, Elite Construction & Design and CENTRO.
The Fitchburg Art Museum serves the cities of
Fitchburg and Leominster and the surrounding communities in North Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.
Founded in 1925, FAM plays a vital role in the cultural life of the region and has recently repositioned itself to focus on community access and service. FAM uses its artistic and educational resources to aid in the economic revitalization of Fitchburg, and the museum maintains active educational partnerships with the local school systems, as well as Fitchburg State University.