IFDA New England Community Service
Community Service is one of the core values of IFDA. For IFDA New England members that has meant bringing our creative skill set to many worthy recipients through sweat equity as well as financial assistance through donations.
Women's Institute for Housing and Economic Development
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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. |
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Cradles to Crayons
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Cradles to Crayons serves the 284,000 children under the age of 12 in Massachusetts who live in low-income or homeless situations. IFDA NE has supported them with collected donations of children’s clothing at our annual holiday parties, 2017-2019.
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Rebuilding Together Boston
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Rebuilding Together Boston is an affiliate of Rebuilding Together, a national organization that renovates houses of home owners and non profit organizations that lack the funds to do essential repairs and much needed updates.
Under the auspices of Rebuilding Together Boston, in 2019 our Annual Paint A Thon was held at Phoenix House of Boston, a national leader in comprehensive inpatient treatment for substance abuse and the mental health disorders. We painted a residential floor dedicated to the needs of mothers with young children, and transformed their public spaces with hombre toned shades of lavender, refreshing and uplifting the space. Our team captain was current VP of Membership retention, John Speridakos of Cosmos Painting. |
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Ellie Fund
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The Ellie Fund provides essential support services for breast cancer patients to ease the stresses of everyday life, allowing them to focus on family, recovery and healing.
In 2018 IFDA NE held a Window Challenge, raising money for the Ellie Fund through the participation of designers and vendors who created extraordinary window displays featuring pink in the showroom windows of select Boston Design Center vendors, as an adjunct to our Annual Design Awards Gala. |
Rogerson
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Rogerson produces and manages housing, adult day health programs, nutrition, fitness, meals programs, and other specially-tailored services for elders from all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, helping them lead healthier and more vibrant lives.
In 2019, as an adjunct to our annual Designer Awards event, we held a Tree Challenge. Designers and vendors designed extraordinary holiday trees which were on display in the Boston Design Center before and during the Designer Awards, and eventually delivered to Rogerson Communities to brighten a few of their properties during the holiday season. Entry fees from tree designers were also gifted to Rogerson, supplemented by a cash gift from the chapter. Trees were designed by FBN Construction, (our popular choice winner!), Marvin Windows, Leading Edge Drapery, Holly Hunt Showroom and Boston Design Center. https://youtu.be/WiLUkf3209M Short video of three of the four trees. |
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