Dear Brookline Community,

Like many of you, the Brookline Community Foundation has intently followed the new federal administration’s first two weeks. Yes, the current policy agenda threatens funding for many of our grantees and partnering agencies, and therefore services to the most vulnerable members of our community. Difficult times lie ahead.

As it has in the past, BCF will rise to the occasion. Our values —equity, inclusivity, and community care—remain  unwavering. We are proud to provide consistent, reliable support to the organizations and individuals who make Brookline the vibrant, resilient town where we live, work, and play.

There is strength in collaborative action. To that end, the Brookline Executive Director’s Roundtable, with BCF support, will convene on February 26  to share information, legal expertise, contingency plans, and strategies. Feedback from the roundtable will be vital to BCF’s planning and fundraising this year and in the years to come.

In other news, I am pleased to share two leadership updates with the BCF community.

Interim Executive Appointed.  With the support of Interim Executive Solutions (IES), BCF has selected Reed Cochran to be its Interim Executive Director. Reed has a wealth of experience guiding organizations through leadership transitions, including engagements with The Children’s Museum of Memphis, Ballet Memphis, and the ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston. Reed has been working hand-in-hand with departing ED Aba Taylor and fully took the helm on February 3. Reed can be reached at [email protected].

Upcoming New Board Chairs.  David Mann and Zoraida Fernandez have been elected as Co-Chairs of the BCF Board of Trustees for a two-year term beginning July 1. After six years as Board Chair and ten years on the board, my tenure will conclude on June 30. I am excited to hand over the reins to two dedicated leaders who are deeply committed to our mission. David and Zoraida are well-positioned to guide BCF into the future and to carry on our mission to create opportunity and promote equity through the transformative power of giving. We will work together between now and then on board leadership, strategic planning, and our next steps for executive leadership.

David began his legal career as an associate with a large Washington, DC law firm, followed by 23 years as in-house counsel at Marriott International in Bethesda, MD. He then moved to Boston and settled in Brookline to serve as Chief Legal Officer for Dunkin’ Brands, retiring from full time work in January 2022. David also volunteers on the Lincoln Initiative for Equity (at the Lincoln School), is a Corporate Trustee for the Trustees of Reservations, and chairs the New England Regional Council of the Smithsonian Institution. His two children attend Brookline public schools.

Zoraida is committed to social justice and has worked towards it in various professional and personal endeavors. Zoraida is currently working with organizations that advance social, racial, and economic justice and doing independent research focused on understanding race/racism, political economy, and inequality. In her career as a lawyer, she worked to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals; defend people in the criminal legal system; helped working people pursue employment discrimination claims; and represented students and faculty involved in university proceedings.

While BCF is undergoing these exciting leadership transitions, we do so with an undiminished commitment to the Brookline community.

Sincerely,

Gioia Perugini
Board Chair, Brookline Community Foundation