Reimagining Dementia Care: The Lasting Impact of Cummings Foundation Support

How multi-year funding is expanding access, deepening impact, and changing the narrative for people living with dementia.

Governor Maura Healy Congratulating I’m Still Here Foundation Executive Director Susan Law and Founder John Zeisel on receiving Cummings  Foundation support.

The I’m Still Here Foundation is proud to be among the organizations supported by the Cummings Foundation’s $30 Million Grant Program. As a multi-year recipient of a $120,000 grant as of 2024, we continue to feel the meaningful impact of this investment in our mission to bring dignity, creativity, and connection to people living with dementia.

Our selection from a pool of over 700 applicants was a major moment for our organization. The Cummings Foundation’s belief in our work is not just financial—it’s a vote of confidence in a different narrative around dementia: one grounded in hope, inclusion, and engagement.

As Executive Director Susan Law put it, “Being named a recipient of this grant was a turning point. It strengthened our ability to reach more people and validated our belief in the power of engagement-based care. We are deeply grateful for the Foundation’s trust in our mission.”

The three-year grant has allowed us to expand our innovative, non-pharmacological programs that engage individuals through the arts, culture, and community. These offerings, designed for both those living with dementia and their care partners, are rooted in the belief that life does not stop with diagnosis.

“Greater Boston is fortunate to have a robust, dedicated, and highly capable nonprofit sector that supports and enhances the community in myriad ways,” said Cummings Foundation executive director and trustee Joyce Vyriotes. “The entire Cummings organization is thankful for their daily work to help all our neighbors thrive.”

The Cummings Foundation’s place-based giving model—focused on nonprofits serving Middlesex, Essex, and Suffolk counties, along with select communities in Norfolk County—reflects a deep commitment to community-driven change. Grant decisions are made not just by staff, but by nearly 100 local volunteers who bring diverse lived and professional experience to the selection process.

Since 2024, this support has helped us extend our reach to more families, especially in underserved communities, and has opened doors for deeper collaborations and longer-term sustainability.

“At the I’m Still Here Foundation, we believe that people living with dementia are not defined by their diagnosis. They are still creative, capable, and deeply connected to life, family, and community,” says Dr. John Zeisel, Founder of the I’m Still Here Foundation. “Our mission is to help them flourish, not just survive, by engaging them in meaningful experiences that reflect who they are and what they love.” 

The I’m Still Here Foundation remains inspired by the Foundation’s model of philanthropy, and proud to be among the many nonprofits working to uplift lives across Greater Boston.

To learn more about the Cummings Foundation and the incredible organizations they support, visit CummingsFoundation.org.