March 27, 2025
Each year the foundation honors individuals and organizations that set the standards of excellence in improving the health of those who live and work in MetroWest.
The Deborah Blumer Community Health Leadership Award is presented annually to an individual or organization that has demonstrated leadership in improving health or health care in the community. The recipient of the 2025 Deborah Blumer Community Health Leadership Award is Anna Carollo Cross, Ed.D., whose affiliations with local organizations and projects are numerous. In addition to her many years of service on the foundation board and grants panel, Anna is recognized for contributions made during her career with the Framingham Public Schools, her recent leadership of the MetroWest Nonprofit Network and her ongoing dedication to making Framingham a better place for all residents.
The Edna Smith Health Equity Award honors an individual or organization who has gone above and beyond to advance health equity as a key strategy to impact community health. The recipients of the 2025 Edna Smith Health Equity Award are the staff and volunteers of the Framingham History Center. As a trusted source of information in the community, the History Center preserves historical facts and individual stories to help contemporaries learn from the past. Through its curated materials, the History Center highlights the region's rich history in public health initiatives and communicates the importance of health infrastructure.
The awards were presented at the foundation's annual dinner, where the recipients were celebrated by current and former foundation volunteers.