LOWELL — On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation will host its annual Celebrate Giving at UTEC. The event will focus on Social Entrepreneurship: Solving Problems, Strengthening Communities and will feature a conversation with keynote speaker Rajia Abdelaziz, CEO & co-founder of invisaWear, a company revolutionizing personal safety through smart jewelry and accessories.
Abdelaziz launched the company at age 21 and has since raised $3 million, scaled to over $20 million in sales, and secured partnerships with ADT and Telus. She has been featured on the cover of Forbes 30 Under 30, recognized by Time and Fast Company, and named one of Massachusetts’ most successful entrepreneurs by the Boston Globe. In 2023, she launched Smart Alert Holdings and acquired Flare Safety, expanding her mission to make safety accessible to all. A passionate advocate for women and minorities in tech, Abdelaziz also mentors aspiring entrepreneurs through UMass Lowell’s Entrepreneurship Program.
“This year’s Celebrate Giving will highlight social entrepreneurship and explore how innovative solutions can solve problems while strengthening our communities,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “We believe that philanthropy is something everyone can and should engage in, as fundamentally, philanthropy is about civic engagement — there are so many ways to get involved.”
The event will also include awarding four 2025 GLCF honors: Business Philanthropy Partner Award, Steven Joncas Community Connector Award, Bankers’ Volunteer Award for Lifetime Achievement, and GLCF Newell Flather Legacy Fund Grant Award.
The 2025 honorees exemplify the spirit of community engagement and philanthropic leadership that strengthens the Greater Lowell region. This year’s award recipients are:
• 2025 Business Philanthropy Partner Award: Votze Butler Associates Inc. The Business Philanthropy Partner Award recognizes a business that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving the community through philanthropic partnerships and civic engagement.
• 2025 Steven Joncas Community Connector Award: Brian Chapman. Named in honor of Steven Joncas, this award celebrates an individual who has made significant contributions to connecting and strengthening community networks throughout the Greater Lowell area.
• 2025 Bankers’ Volunteer Award for Lifetime Achievement: Vannak Theng-Rush. This prestigious lifetime achievement award honors an individual who has demonstrated sustained volunteer leadership and commitment to community service over many years.
• 2025 GLCF Newell Flather Legacy Fund Grant Award: The Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association. The Newell Flather Legacy Fund was established by the Theodore Edson Parker Foundation in 2022 at GLCF to support nonprofit projects focused on the arts, immigrant, and refugee communities, and/or advancing equity and inclusion in the city of Lowell.
“These awards celebrate the remarkable individuals and organizations that embody the philanthropic spirit of our community,” said GLCF President and CEO Jay Linnehan. “Each recipient has made meaningful contributions that strengthen our region and improve the quality of life for residents across our 21 cities and towns.”
Celebrate Giving will begin with a reception at 5 p.m. followed by the program at 6 p.m. Tickets are $100 each and need to be reserved by Oct. 15 at glcfoundation.org. Sponsorships are available.
