(Left to right) Triston Henson, Brian Bradbury and Chris Hayes at the Larry Zakim Ceremony.
LOWELL – Three Lowell-based organizations were honored in Boston last Thursday night as recipients of 2026 grant funding from the Lenny Zakim Fund, recognizing their work advancing equity, health, and community empowerment.
DIY Lowell, Pathway to Better Health, and the African Community Center of Lowell were celebrated during the Fund’s 30th Annual Awards Ceremony at WGBH.
The event highlighted grassroots organizations across Greater Boston working to strengthen communities and expand access to opportunity.
The Lenny Zakim Fund supports organizations addressing social, economic, and racial inequities through community-driven solutions. This year’s grantees represent efforts spanning health access, civic engagement, youth development, and immigrant support.
Representing the Lowell organizations at the ceremony were:
• Chris Hayes, co-founder, DIY Lowell
• Jessica Wisocky, Pathway to Better Health
• Gordon Donkoh-Halm, African Community Center of Lowell
DIY Lowell was recognized for fostering community connection, creativity, and civic participation through resident-led initiatives and public programming. Pathway to Better Health was honored for improving access to culturally responsive health services and wellness resources for underserved populations. The African Community Center of Lowell was celebrated for supporting immigrants and refugees through advocacy, education, cultural programming, and community services.
Brian Bradbury, executive director of the Revolutionary Valley Regional Tourism Council and a board member of DIY Lowell, attended the ceremony and reflected on the significance of the recognition for the city.
“Seeing three Lowell organizations recognized on a regional stage speaks volumes about the leadership and grassroots impact happening here,” Bradbury said. “Each of these groups is building stronger neighborhoods and expanding opportunity in meaningful, communitydriven ways.”
The annual ceremony highlighted dozens of grantee partners working across Greater Boston in areas including housing and economic stability, youth development, health access, civil rights advocacy, immigrant support, and violence prevention.
Founded in honor of civil rights leader Lenny Zakim, the Fund has invested in community based organizations for three decades, prioritizing initiatives led by and serving historically marginalized communities.
