As a board member for the Somerville Community Corporation, I often make a case for supporting the organization.
Despite the fact that it has been a trying year for everyone – perhaps precisely because it has been such a difficult year – supporting SCC is even more important.
Right now, we may be turning inward toward our families for the holidays, ready to shed a heavy mantle of concerns, ready to blind ourselves to the constant cry for attention and support that the world needs from us. It is almost a self-saving move.
This year has seen the sudden and unexpected deaths of cultural icons, the outbreak of viruses, and terrorist attacks, not to mention the months-long, dividing grind of the U.S. presidential election. And if this weren’t enough, our families lives keep plowing along, unearthing new complexities as they go.
Supporting Our Community
That said, I urge you to consider that nothing counters the anxiety of modern living quite like the warmth and the comfort of giving within your community. It is hard to feel that the collective “WE” is collapsing when you give to the people you love. In fact, it is well documented that charitable contributions have both physiological and emotional benefits to the giver.
Why SCC?
SCC has had another stellar year of successes. For example: our active members led the organizing campaign to win an increase in inclusionary zoning to 20% – a tremendous policy victory that will bring more affordable housing to new development. SCC has just opened 35 new LEED Platinum, affordable apartments (see the CEO Forum). And we are buying homes off the private market to protect them from market pressures.
We also continue to connect dozens of our neighbors who face barriers to employment to local jobs through SCC’s First Source Jobs Program.
SCC is in year three of our Social Equity Campaign with a 2016 fundraising objective of $300,000. To raise these funds, we are able to offer qualifying donors a 50% tax credit that simultaneously allows for a federal charitable tax deduction and creates nearly a 3:1 ratio of donation impact to donor cost.
Remember, we’re all in this [Somerville] together. By individually acting with a communal heart, we can emerge a better society.
We hope you will consider giving at whatever level you are able to give to maintain affordability and diversity in the city.
Thank you and happy holidays,
SCC Board Member Stephanie Toews Moeling