The Sudbury Senior Center has been awarded a $225,000 grant from Cummings Foundation, to be distributed over three years at $75,000 annually, to support the expansion of Sudbury Eats, its senior lunch program at the Fairbank Community Center. The funding will help cover startup costs, including staffing, food service operations, and kitchen supplies, allowing the Center’s new commercial kitchen to become fully operational. Sudbury Eats provides nutritious, freshly prepared meals while creating opportunities for social connection among older adults and strengthening the Town’s emergency shelter capabilities.
The Sudbury Senior Center was selected as one of 150 nonprofits to receive funding through Cummings Foundation’s annual grant program, which awarded $35 million this year. The Center was chosen through a highly competitive process that attracted a record 959 applicants from across Greater Boston.
This year, Cummings Foundation increased its annual grantmaking from $30 million to $35 million and shifted to fully unrestricted funding, giving nonprofits greater flexibility to address their most pressing needs.
“Nonprofit professionals are closest to the challenges facing their communities, making them best positioned to determine where and how new funds will drive the greatest impact,” said Foundation Executive Director and Trustee Joyce Vyriotes. “By providing increased, flexible funding, we hope to strengthen organizations’ long-term stability and help them respond to evolving community needs.”
The Sudbury Eats program began a gradual rollout in April 2026, serving one freshly prepared in-house meal each week. This grant will allow the program to expand its meal offerings and serve more seniors in the community.
“We are thrilled to receive this generous support from Cummings Foundation,” said Nickole Boardman, Director of the Sudbury Senior Center. “This funding will help us grow Sudbury Eats into a welcoming community program that promotes healthy aging, reduces social isolation, and provides more seniors with access to nutritious meals.”
Residents can find menus and updates about the program’s expansion in the Senior Center newsletter, on its Facebook page, and on the Town website.
About Cummings Foundation
Founded in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings, Cummings Foundation is one of New England’s largest private foundations. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded more than $650 million to Greater Boston nonprofits. Additional information is available at Cummings Foundation