Our roundup of Natick’s charitable and community action non-profit groups:
Brian MacIsaac Sarcoma Foundation: Raises awareness of and provides funding for sarcoma research. Brian MacIsaac graduated from Natick High School in 2003. In 2008, he was diagnosed with metastatic Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare pediatric bone cancer. Brian passed away in 2009.
The Center for Arts Natick (TCAN): Offers opportunities to experience, participate in, and learn about the arts. Features a performance stage as well as a separate movie theatre.
Charles River Rotary Club: Club members share a passion for both community service and friendship.
Cocotree Kids: A non-profit organization that provides free, new underwear to underserved children and those facing crisis situations in Massachusetts.
EcoNatick: Sustainability-focused organization.
Family Promise MetroWest: “Our mission is to transform the lives of families with children who are homeless by mobilizing a diverse community to provide shelter, education, and comprehensive support.”
Food Pantry: The MetroWest region’s first Heart Healthy Food Pantry. Clients are provided with up to two weeks of nutritious foods, including fresh fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products, lean meats and personal care items.
Foundation for Metrowest: Connects philanthropic opportunity with demonstrated need. Promotes philanthropy in the region, helps donors maximize the impact of their local giving, and serves as a resource for local nonprofit organizations.
Friends of the Morse Institute Library: Volunteer, non-profit organization promoting the recognition and use of the Morse Institute Library.
Friends of Natick Trails (FONT): Established in 2016, FONT aims “to promote outdoor recreation and alternative transportation within our community and to encourage and support collaboration within and between communities to ensure the safe enjoyment of the trail network for all users and neighbors.”
Golden Tones Chorus: The group’s “mission is to practice and provide enriching entertainment for senior citizen facilities, schools, faith communities and public events. Members are people of retirement age who sing and dance to lift spirits, have fun, and promote health and social engagement to benefit our audiences and ourselves.”
Hope for the Children of Haiti: A charitable group that runs a children’s home in Haiti that cares for over 90 children; a Christian school that includes a lunch program; a program to help students transition to adulthood; and a medical care program.
Keep Natick Beautiful: Focuses on litter control in town.
METCO Family Friends: Natick families help to communicate information regarding school programs and schedules and serve as a contact at school meetings and social events for a Boston family. Boston families provide the Natick family with a new link to the city and offer a diverse set of cultural and life experiences to share.
Metrowest Women’s Fund: Invests in women and girls through community building, education, and grant-making. Their mission is to identify the needs of women and girls in the Metrowest area and raise resources to meet those needs. Over $245,000 in grants have been awarded since 2020. In 2023 the organization announced an Impact Grant for Girls’ Mental Health.
Natick 180: Addresses the full continuum of substance use.
Natick Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA): A non-profit committed to helping performers, of all ages, find a creative outlet in the Boston suburbs.
Natick Community Organic Farm: a nonprofit, certified-organic farm. “We
provide productive open space, farm products, and hands-on education for all ages, year-round.”
Natick Council on Aging: Provides activities, programs and services to meet the educational, social, health and wellness of elders, families and individuals with disabilities living in the community.
Natick Education Foundation: A a nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to enriching, enhancing, and supporting Natick’s public education system.
Natick Friends of the 4th: Plans and runs Natick’s 4th of July celebration, including parade (last parade held in 2019).
Natick Historical Society: “Our mission is to build community by inspiring connections to local history.”
Natick is United: “We are a community where we value differences and everyone belongs.”
Natick Pegasus — Education channel: Works with the Natick public schools to bring television coverage and information on topics relating to the students of Natick. The broadcasting resource offer students instruction and hands-on experience with video and audio production.
Natick Service Council: An independent, non-profit organization that connects, engages, and collaborates with the community to support Natick neighbors who are experiencing hardship or economic uncertainty.
Natick Sons & Daughters of Italy: A non-profit fraternal organization in Natick since 1926. “Our mission has been—and remains—o share our Italian American heritage and support our community and families with volunteerism, service, charitable donations, and our annual scholarship awards.
Natick Special Education Parent Advisory Council: Volunteer organization of parents and caregivers of children receiving support services in the Natick public schools and private school settings.
National Children’s Chorus (Boston-based organization): The National Children’s Chorus is a 2022 Grammy Award-winner for Best Choral Performance. The chorus is noted for its refined choral sound, unique national structure, and esteemed music education and vocal training program, which empowers its members through ideals of artistic excellence, cultural openness, and social diversity.
The chorus regularly appears at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl.
Patrick’s Promise Foundation: Mission is to honor Patrick Thomas Sibley by following his lead: reaching out to others to make personal connections, sharing his approach to everyday challenges with a positive attitude, and unconditionally supporting family, friends and beyond, to ensure no one feels alone.
A Place to Turn: This organization “is committed to providing emergency food and clothing to our neighbors in the MetroWest community. We will serve those in need in an atmosphere of caring and mutual respect.
Redhawk Foundation: The mission of this foundation is to enhance the experience for all youth sports participants in Natick, by way of financial support to cover fees/costs, upgrade equipment, and improve fields and facilities.
Rotary Club of Natick: An organization made up of business and professional leaders in the community, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards and help build goodwill. Fundraisers include the Tour de Natick cycling event on Father’s Day and an annual fall golf tourney. Embrace a Family is a subcommittee of the club.
SOAR Natick: Supporting Outreach & Addiction Recovery. Motivated by the devastation caused from the opiate abuse epidemic in Natick, a small group of mothers formed SOAR Natick in June, 2014. Our hope is to help one another deal with the agony of a child ill with Substance Use Disorder, to raise awareness of addiction, reduce stigma, support recovery, and sponsor community outreach initiatives.
Spark Kindness: SPARK=Successful Positive Authentic Resilient Kids. “Our mission is to create a community where no one feels bullied, alone, unsupported or unconnected.”
Stray Pets in Need (SPIN): Helps find homes for pets in need.
Wellesley Neighbors: Nonprofit social and support organization that welcomes over-60 couples and singles of Dover, Natick, Needham, Wellesley and Weston. Call Joyce about membership at 781 283-0417, ext. 1
Don’t see your charitable or community action group here? Email Deborah at natickreport@gmail.com for inclusion.
