2025 Annual Appeal
This past July, Hazel Portillo, a senior at Lowell High School, participated in her second paid internship through Project LEARN. Over four weeks, she worked with the Lowell High IT Help Desk refurbishing computers, mastering the intricacies of dismantling and rebuilding laptops—building not only her technical skills, but also her confidence and resume.
Just three months later, Hazel secured a virtual internship with Microsoft earning $20 an hour.
Thanks to your support, Project LEARN is helping hundreds of students like Hazel turn curiosity into confidence and potential into real opportunity. When young people are given access to high-quality learning programs, opportunity gaps shrink. Futures begin to open wide.
This year, Project LEARN served nearly 2,000 students through paid internships and externships, speaker events, credentialing experiences, and more. Here’s what your generosity made possible:
DifferenceMaker x Lowell High: 140 students spent a semester developing innovative business ideas, culminating in pitch presentations to local entrepreneurs.
HMS MEDscienceLAB Pathmaker Workforce Development: 48 young adults trained for entry-level roles in the life sciences field through a partnership with Harvard MEDscience.
Lowell High’s Annual Career Speaker Week: 1,250 students connected with 90 professionals to explore future college and career paths.
Paid Summer Internships & Externships: 75 students, like Hazel, gained hands-on work experience, industry credentials, and professional mentorship.
Early College Leaders: 10 graduating seniors participated in a brand new leadership development program designed to support the critical transition from high school to college.
Your generosity is creating a future where every student in Lowell has access to meaningful, career-connected learning. As we prepare to grow and deepen our impact in 2026, we invite you to renew your investment in Lowell’s young people.
We’ll let Hazel, have the last word. It’s a message that perfectly captures why this work matters:
“I want to say thank you—because of this community, I’ve been able to do these internships, and I’ve been able to make friends that I have even now. I just am very grateful for the money that they donate for us to be able to do these things.”
Our Favorite Moments of 2025
Hosting the Pathways to Possibility Panel
On June 17th, we hosted Pathways to Possibility: From Classroom to Career, a panel discussion featuring Congresswoman Lori Trahan, Associate Commissioner Elizabeth Bennett, and Superintendent Liam Skinner. Together, they explored how today’s job market is evolving and what it means for Lowell’s students. The event sparked meaningful dialogue and new collaborations aimed at ensuring every student has the tools, connections, and confidence to reach their career goals.
Celebrating Student Achievements
In August, we gathered to celebrate 75 students who completed paid pre-professional experiences with community partners across Lowell. Our Internship Graduation honored their hard work and growth, recognizing the skills and confidence they built through hands-on learning. Coming together to celebrate their achievements reminded us why this work matters—because every young person deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated as they take their next steps toward a bright future.
Installing New School Murals
This summer, ArtUp Lowell brought three new murals to the city at Greenhalge Elementary, Bartlett Community Partnership School, and the Career Academy—each one a vibrant reflection of creativity, pride, and community spirit. A new mural on the Leo A. Roy Parking Garage in Downtown Lowell joined them, bringing the total number of ArtUp Lowell installations to 20 and continuing to inspire curiosity and connection across our city.
Launching the
Nancy L. Donahue Learning Lab
In July, we proudly opened the Nancy L. Donahue Learning Lab—a milestone made possible by your belief in what’s possible for Lowell’s youth. This new space is more than just a building; it’s a hub for innovation, collaboration, and opportunity. We celebrated the launch with educators, alumni, local leaders, and friends who came together to mark the beginning of a bold new chapter for student learning and support in our community.