Metrowest Women's Fund Co-Founders Honored as Commonwealth Heroines

Rachel Sagan and Rebecca Parkhill, Co-Founders and Co-Directors of the Metrowest Women’s Fund, honored as 2024 Commonwealth Heroines. The duo founded the Metrowest Women’s Fund in 2019 to invest in Metrowest women and girls through community building, education and grant making.

“We are pleased to receive this honor recognizing the founding of the Metrowest Women's Fund five years ago,” says Sagan.  Parkhill adds, “The mission of the Metrowest Women’s Fund is to make our community a place where women and girls are supported and get the services they need and deserve. We are thankful for the recognition of this important work.” 

The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) partners with state legislators to identify women who make outstanding contributions to their organizations and in their communities. Elected officials are encouraged to submit one woman from their constituency as a means of recognizing their invaluable efforts and extraordinary acts of service, who are making a big difference in their communities but not necessarily making the news. This year, the Class of 2024 Commonwealth Heroines comprises more than 125 women from across the state, leaders in industry, business, nonprofit, advocacy, and more. Sagan and Parkhill were nominated by their individual elected officials.

“The Commonwealth Heroines are women who don’t make the news, but make all the difference in their communities,” said MCSW Chairwoman Dr. Sarah Glenn-Smith. “Thousands of women in every community across the Commonwealth perform unheralded acts on a daily basis that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities, and towns better places to live. Commonwealth Heroines use their time, talent, spirit, and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others in their community. They are mentors, volunteers, and innovators - they are the glue that keeps a community together.”

Sagan is dedicated to public interest law and philanthropy.  She is the recipient of the John R. Heerwagen Award for Nonprofit Leadership by the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation and the Outstanding Non-Profit Executive Director of the Year by the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce. She holds degrees from Northeastern University School of Law and Harvard University.

Parkhill is an ordained Unitarian Universalist community minister who has worked in churches in the US and England and with non-profits, schools and in town government social services. She holds a BA from Brown University and an MDiv from Yale University.

The 21st Annual Commonwealth Heroines Class of 2024 was celebrated on Friday, June 14, 2024 at the Massachusetts State House in the Gardner Auditorium.

Metrowest Women's Fund Honored with Presidential Award from MassBay Community College

The Metrowest Women’s Fund, a philanthropy investing in women and girls through community building, education and grant making, was honored with a Presidential Award at the Massachusetts Bay Community College commencement ceremony at Wellesley Hills Campus on May 23, 2024 in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

The Metrowest Women’s Fund created the Single Mother Student Emergency Fund to assist single mother students at risk of leaving school. These funds provide crucial aid for non-tuition-related emergencies the students may encounter while pursuing their degrees, including childcare expenses, housing costs, transportation, and more. The Metrowest Women’s Fund has contributed more than $231,000 to the Single Mother Student Emergency Fund since its creation.

“We are proud to support single mom students at MassBay Community College,” Metrowest Women’s Fund Co-Founder and Co-Director Rachel Sagan states. “Their education can be derailed by expenses such as car repairs, broken computers, or other emergencies. We are thrilled that our community has come together to support these women as they seek to further their education and support their families.” 

Anna, a student at MassBay, shares the impact of this program: “This grant will help get my car fixed so my daughter and I can get to school. I am very grateful for this program. It can be so hard to manage life expenses on a single income while attending school. The help is very appreciated.”

Photo: (L to R) MassBay President David Podell and Metrowest Women’s Fund Co-Founder and Co-Director Rebecca Parkhill. Massachusetts Bay Community College commencement ceremony at Wellesley Hills Campus on May 23, 2024 in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Photo by Ann Hermes.

Support Single Mother Students - Donation Match Announced

A single financial emergency can derail the educational pursuits of single mother students. We created the Single Mother Student Emergency Fund in 2022 to support women at risk of leaving school because of a serious financial burden. The Fund provides crucial aid for non-tuition-related emergencies such as rent, childcare, transportation and more.

We launch the campaign this year with deep appreciation to Liz and Phill Gross who will match your gift, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000 in support of the Fund this month.

Give today and double your gift!

Read the full announcement here.