The Boston BullPen Project (https://www.bostonbullpenproject.org) was founded in 2017 by Steven Alperin, Michael Connelly, Benjamin Levin and Alan Stern, four friends coming together to embark on a philanthropic journey together and to pay it forward. Our satisfaction comes from helping people in immediate need who very much want to improve theirlives but are unable to do so as a result of an immediate financial crisis/concern.
Our novel approach is in the form of immediate financial support which is provided within a 24 to 48-hour period to those who have no other means to obtain it in order to prevent a crisis situation from worsening. At our inception in 2017, we partnered with 12 organizations. As our partner base has grown, now 36, so too did the number and amount of support requests. A complete list of our partner organizations can be found on our website. Additionally, we currently have 20 organizations waiting to partner with us. With additional funding, we would be able to add organizations with similar missions waiting to partner with our charity.
The role of our partners is to identify and vet the individuals or families in need and identify crises that the organizations themselves cannot help with in an immediate fashion. We are NOT a "pass-through" entity. We fill voids outside the mission or budgetary capacity of our partners, providing financial support in rapid fashion to the end user directly and not to individuals or partners. All of our partner social service agencies have commented that they have not seen an organization like ours that can get funds to where they need to go in such a short period of time.
The Boston BullPen Project's unique approach to support individuals and families has proven results: fulfilled requests were 33 in 2017, 68 in 2018, and 192 in 2019. Fulfilled aid over the last three years escalated by 106%, 182% and 317% (2020 annualized figure). In 2020, our original budget prior to COVID-19 was for 300 requests, we are now on pace to receive 800 requests (a 167% increase), and we have fulfilled 679 requests to date.
Our primary goal over the next several years is to expand the number of our partners who identify and vet individuals in vulnerable populations needing immediate financial assistance and, thereby, our ability to help more people avoid a crisis from worsening while maintaining their dignity. We have been able to help many individuals/families facing an immediate financial crisis that could mean the choice between becoming homeless, putting food on the table or paying a medical bill. The need is great an ever increasing!
EXAMPLES OF SUPPORT PROVIDED
• HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION: The Boston BullPen Project is providing funding to help people avoid eviction and homelessness while maintaining their dignity. The number of individuals/families that have received resources from us has grown each year: 11 in 2017; 23 in 2018; 64 in 2019 and 215 to date in 2020. We anticipate a greater need for resources to combat homelessness with the eviction moratorium ending.
Also of note: An August 3, 2020 article in the Children’s Hospital Association newsletter (https://www.childrenshospitals.org) titled “Exploring the link between Homelessness and COVID-19” identifies the alarming consequence of not having a stable living circumstance on the impact of children’s health. Thus, we anticipate a continuing need for resources to combat homelessness in the foreseeable future.
• FOOD INSECURITY SUPPORT: On October 2, 2019, the “Food Access Agenda” was announced by Boston Mayor Walsh to end food insecurity by 2030. In June 2020, we were awarded a Boston Resiliency Fund grant “to help Bostonians with access to food and other basic needs.” This short-term funding covered our incremental surge in requests as a result of the pandemic. We fulfilled 256 grocery gift card requests through 2019 and 167 since the beginning of 2020.
• TECHNOLOGY DEFICITS: During the COVID-19 crisis in particular, we have seen an increase in requests for laptops, iPads, and TracFones. We fulfilled a total of 31 requests through 2019 and already 29 requests have been filled to date in 2020. Low-income and at-risk people were able to communicate with hospitalized loved ones, contact medical and mental health professionals via telehealth and keep in touch with partner organizations. Importantly, children and students were able to receive online teaching.
• RELOCATION FUNDS: We provide relocation funds such as moving expenses or security deposits for individuals/families faced with domestic abuse or transitioning from homelessness (e.g., the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, Pine Street Inn).
• MEDICAL EXPENSES: Unexpected COVID-19 related medical expenses set up a potential crisis situation for families. We have found an increased need to help with co-pays, medical costs and to provide resources for accommodations for family members (lodging, food, travel) caring for loved ones in the Boston area.
Particularly unique to our organization, the Boston BullPen Project fosters a spirit of paying it forward by providing gift cards to all recipients who are then instructed to give the cards to anyone else they deem as deserving.
CRITICAL IMPACT
• A featured article in The Boston Globe by Thomas Farragher, Globe Columnist, on December 24, 2018 “Four busy guys take time to offer relief from the BullPen.”
https://www.bostonbullpenproject.org
• A client testimonial by M.T. “Thanks for your help with my late rent. Since I lost my job, I fell behind but this assistance has put me back on my feet and allowed me to keep my apartment! I have found a new job and things are going great. I will be giving the generous gift card to my mother the next time I see her. Thank you again for your help in my time of need.” Others are found on our website.
https://www.bostonbullpenproject.org
• An article in JF&CS (Jewish Family & Children’s Services) Blog on May 23, 2019 “Boston BullPen Project Provides Major League Help to JF&CS Clients.”
https://www.jfcsboston.org/Blog/Tag/boston-bullpen-project
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The Founding Members of the Boston BullPen Project, Inc. equally compose the board of directors and management governance structure as well as handle all of the operations and development work. Consultants and volunteers are utilized for specific functions such as website management and grant writing.
Steven Alperin, President, is a retired portfolio manager, former left-handed pitcher and a 1987 graduate of Bentley College (now University).He worked with Harvard Management through 2011 and retired from the investment business in 2016 to spend more time with his family, serve as a hospice volunteer for Hebrew Senior Life and to help start the Boston BullPen Project.
Michael Connelly, Treasurer, is a Bentley College graduate (where he played baseball with fellow BullPen board member Steve Alperin) and is currently a Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending. Passionate about sports and writing, he has married these interests and authored six sports-themed books over the last two decades. He is also passionate about giving back to his community and is a lifelong resident of West Roxbury.
Alan Stern, M.D., Secretary, is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Vermont College of Medicine and currently is a practicing physician at Needham Pediatrics. He’s actively involved in teaching medical students at Harvard University and has served on various boards and committees over the years, including The Practicing Pediatricians of Children’s Hospital, the Needham Board of Health, The Children’s Room and Franklin Park Zoo.
Ben Levin, Esquire, Clerk, is a lawyer and partner at Levin and Levin, LLP. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Boston University College of Arts and Sciences in 1999 and his Juris Doctor from Massachusetts School of Law in 2004.
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