Milton Residents Fund

Overview

Under the direction of their Trustees, The Henry B Martin Fund employs a part-time social worker in Milton to coordinate and administer three funds to benefit the citizens of the Town of Milton and a fourth fund to benefit members of First Parish in Milton Unitarian in times of need. These funds are possible because of the generous gifts left by First Parish Unitarian members and friends, and current community donors.

The Milton Residents' Fund

Each year, available interest income and gifts from individual and foundation donors to the fund are distributed to Milton residents, as needed, primarily to prevent utility shut off, purchase home heating oil, prevent eviction due to non-payment of rent, and promote safe and stable housing. Self-referrals and referrals from local agencies serving Milton residents are welcome. The Select Board, acting as the Governor Stoughton Trustees, has donated significant funds to the Milton Residents' Fund in recent years. 

The Henry B. Martin Fund and The Swift Charity

The Martin-Swift Funds provide quarterly grants to aid Milton residents and families.

Seeking Assistance

Noreen Dolan, Fund Coordinator, is a licensed social worker and can discuss any application for assistance. Applications are submitted with required documents to verify financial need and current assistance requested. It should be noted that eligibility is not determined strictly by income; each referral is considered by an individual's or family's situation. The Trustees are responsible for making final decisions on eligibility and levels of assistance.

To further inquire about the funds or for assistance, please contact:

• Noreen Dolan, LCSW
  Fund Coordinator
  First Parish in Milton Unitarian
  535 Canton Avenue
  Milton, MA 02186
  617-696-1214

History of the Funds

The Milton Residents Fund and The Parish Members Fund

These two funds are comprised of gifts left by members and friends of First Parish, and through contributions from local organizations such as the Copeland Family Foundation and the Governor Stoughton Charitable Fund. Contributions and bequests are encouraged, as no portion of the annual budget drive goes to these funds unless specifically designated.

Before 1930, about twelve funds had been established to help Milton residents or parish members. In 1950, a large gift was left, and the Trustees eventually combined all the funds to make these two larger funds.

The Henry B. Martin Fund, Inc.

Henry B. Martin, a lifelong Milton resident, bank executive, and town clerk, died on April 27, 1927 at the age of 92. Henry's wife, Eleanor A. Martin, died on June 14, 1930.

Henry and Eleanor raised two children, Waldo Martin and Eleanor P. Martin. Eleanor P. attended First Parish and appointed others from First Parish to be on the board of the charitable corporation she formed in her father's memory in 1937, The Henry B. Martin Home for Aged Persons. To fund the corporation, she donated two homes on Maple Street and money bequeathed to her by her father. The Home operated for approximately fourteen years.

In 1951, the name of the Charity was changed to The Henry B. Martin Fund, Inc. and eventually, the Home was closed. In 1954, both parcels were sold to the Massachusetts Audubon Society. It appears that Eleanor initiated both the closing of the Home and the changing of the purposes of the fund. Because the government began giving increased funds to elderly people, it was thought that younger citizens and children could benefit from the fund. This tradition of giving grants to Milton residents without regard to age continues to this day.

A service was held at First Parish at the time of Eleanor P's death, at age 86, in 1956. Her estate was evenly divided between the Henry B. Martin Fund and Milton Hospital.

The Swift Charity

The Swift Charity was the result of bequests made in the wills of sisters Elizabeth R and Mary F Swift of Milton. Their funerals, in 1896 and 1894 respectively, were held at First Parish. A special act passed by the legislature in 1898 formally established the Swift Charity as a nonprofit corporation. The charity was directed to either purchase a home or create a trust to assist needy and deserving women and children of Milton.

The directors of this charity never established the "Swift Home." They instead have made grants to Milton residents and organizations benefiting Milton residents.