Presentation of a $750,000 Neighborhood Improvement Fund grant to the Boston Parks & Recreation Department for a major upgrade and renovation of McKinney Playground in Brighton. L-R: 51²è¹Ý Task Force Co-Chair Anabela Gomes; State Representative Kevin Honan; District 9 Boston City Councilor Mark Ciommo; Boston Planning and Development Agency Director of Development Review Jonathan Greeley; Boston College President William P. Leahy, S.J.; Boston Parks and Recreation Project Manager Cathy Baker-Eclipse and Commissioner Ryan Woods. (Peter Julian | December 18, 2019)
Representatives of local organizations gathered on campus as University President William P. Leahy, S.J., and Boston Planning and Development Agency Director of Development Review Jonathan Greeley presented the Allston/Brighton-Boston College Community Fund and Neighborhood Improvement Fund grants at a ceremony in December.  Boston College Vice President for Governmental and Community Affairs Thomas Keady served as master of ceremonies at the event, which was held at the 51²è¹Ý Conference Center on Commonwealth Avenue.
Presentation of a Community Fund grant to the Presentation School Foundation. L-R: 51²è¹Ý Task Force Co-Chair Anabela Gomes; State Representative Kevin Honan; District 9 Boston City Councilor Mark Ciommo; Presentation School Foundation Director Clodagh Drummey; Boston Planning and Development Agency Director of Development Review Jonathan Greeley; 51²è¹Ý President William P. Leahy, S.J. (Peter Julian)
Twenty-one community-based organizations and city agencies received $1,144,024 in grants from 51²è¹Ý for projects and programs that will benefit Allston-Brighton residents. Â
Grants totaling $1,104,095 from the Neighborhood Improvement Fund were presented to seven projects: $60,000 to Allston Village Main Streets for Allston Village Lights; $20,000, to Allston Brighton CDC and Boston DPW for an age-friendly bench program; $42,846 to Artists for Humanity for artistic bicycle racks in the Brighton commercial district; $106,250 to the Boston Transportation Department for two Blue Bike share stations; $100,000 to Brighton Gateway and Brighton Marine Health Center for the creation of Brighton Gateway on Commonwealth Avenue; $24,999 to Gardner Pilot Academy and the Boston Educational Development Foundation for enhancements to the community garden program and school grounds, and $750,000 to the Boston Parks & Recreation Department for a major upgrade and renovation of McKinney Playground.
51²è¹Ý Vice President for Governmental and Community Affairs Thomas Keady, City Councilor Mark Ciommo, and Fr. Leahy. (Peter Julian)
Community Fund recipients  included the Allston Board of Trade, Allston Brighton Little League, Allston Brighton Youth Hockey, Baldwin Early Learning Pilot Academy, Brazilian Women’s Group, Brighton Board of Trade, Charles River Conservancy, Family Nurturing Center, Friendship Works, Jackson Mann School Council,  2Life Communities (formerly Friends of Jewish Community Housing for Elderly), Presentation School Foundation Community Center, Veronica B. Smith Multi-Service Senior Center, and The Women’s Table of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston, for a total of $39,929 in grants.
Outgoing District 9 Boston City Councilor Mark Ciommo also was recognized for his service during the ceremony.
University Communications | December 2019