Boston Foundation celebrates the historic Supreme Court decision on Marriage Equality

Boston – The Boston Foundation celebrates the Supreme Court’s historic decision to allow same-sex marriage in all 50 states establishing a new civil right.  The decision of the justices captures the best of our nation:

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.”

The Boston Foundation’s mission is to devote its resources to building and sustaining a vital, prosperous city and region, where justice and opportunity are extended to everyone.  That mission has included a deep commitment to the LGBTQ community, where the Foundation has made some $4.6 million in grants since the late 1980’s  to organizations addressing a broad array of issues – from advocacy to health, housing, arts and culture and more.  Additionally, the Foundation joined 379 other business in an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief in support of same-sex marriage.  This is an important step toward full equality on a national level.

“This is a great day for the country,” said Boston Foundation President and CEO Paul Grogan.  “I am especially proud of the role of Massachusetts and Boston in the movement to grant full marriage equality to our gay and lesbian friends and neighbors.  I have been privileged to watch the national impact of the fantastic advocacy work of our grantees such as GLAD and MassEquality and the political leadership of our legislature and Attorney Generals Coakley and Healey.”

“This is an emotional day for the Nation’s LGBTQ community,” said Scott S. Squillace, Esq., Foundation Board member and co-chair of the Equality Fund advisory committee. “This decision affirms the effort of friends, family, advocates over the past decade to ensure national marriage equality.”

Established in 2012, the Equality Fund is the first permanent, endowed fund for the benefit of members of the Greater Boston LGBTQ community and their families. The Fund is stewarded by the Boston Foundation, but its grant making priorities and growth strategies are guided by an Equality Fund Advisory Committee including members of the community, straight allies, donors and professional advisors in law, real estate, financial planning, philanthropy and related fields.

To learn more about the Equality Fund at the Boston Foundation and how you can support its work, visit the Equality Fund page on TBF.org or download the Equality Fund brochure.

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The Boston Foundation, Greater Boston’s community foundation, is one of the largest community foundations in the nation, with net assets of some $1 billion. In 2014, the Foundation and its donors made more than $112 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and received gifts of nearly $112 million. In celebration of its centennial in 2015, the Boston Foundation has launched the Campaign for Boston to strengthen the Permanent Fund for Boston, Greater Boston’s only endowment fund supporting organizations focused on the most pressing needs of Greater Boston.  The Foundation is proud to be a partner in philanthropy, with nearly 1,000 separate charitable funds established by donors either for the general benefit of the community or for special purposes. 

The Boston Foundation also serves as a major civic leader, provider of information, convener and sponsor of special initiatives that address the region’s most serious challenges.  The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI), an operating unit of the Foundation, designs and implements customized philanthropic strategies for families, foundations and corporations around the globe. For more information about the Boston Foundation and TPI, visit www.tbf.org or call 617-338-1700.