About the fund
Spencer was a connector, always bringing people together. He was a listener, a counselor, a trusted friend, with a heart as big as his personality, as big as his hearty laugh, as big as his hugs. He knew how to bring out the best in those around him and he touched our lives in ways which allow us to remember him often, sometimes when we least expect it. A highly respected member of Boston’s culinary scene for more than ten years, Spencer made many friends and earned the respect of all who had the privilege to work with him. He is dearly missed.
The Spencer Streetman Memorial Fund was established in 2017 in order that each year we might give to one or more charities in Spencer’s memory, touching on the many interests he pursued in life. Since then, we have been humbled by the outpouring of love we have received and are excited to continue to keep Spencer’s memory alive and to honor his work.
2023 UPDATE
Through your generosity the Cooking for Recovery Class at the Boston Medical Center is now well established. As you all know, the genesis of this class was the story of what Spencer did at his last rehab to help others and himself. He essentially started his own Cooking for Recovery class. He instinctively knew that diet plays an important role in the recovery process, a novel idea back in 2014 whereas now it is a well-accepted fact.
We were invited to the Cooking for Recovery class in August to tell Spencer’s story and to see the class in action. We were welcomed warmly by twenty men and women who come together twice a month to prepare a communal meal and to share their own stories as they work to find their path to recovery. How Spencer would have loved seeing this.
To read more about this class at BMC and the way in which its director, Gabrielle Simons, has expanded its reach so that it is now serving a very large population – those suffering from substance use disorder as well as professionals working with patients – visit the cooking for recovery page on the BMC website. Here you will find a wonderful tribute to Spencer as well as many delicious recipes to try.
We can also report that the Fenn School continues to send their fifth graders to Camp Merrowvista for a week each spring. The Spencer E Streetman 97 Fund helps defray the cost of this trip for those on financial aid.
Thank you all for giving us the opportunity to share these memories of Spencer and to continue to keep his memory alive and honor his work. We are truly grateful for your generous support, your friendship, and your love for Spencer.
Previous Updates
THE FENN SCHOOL & CAMP MERROWVISTA
In 2019 we established a permanently endowed fund at the Fenn School in Concord which Spencer attended for six years. Spencer also attended Camp Merrowvista in New Hampshire for six summers. Both places helped him to become the exceptional person that he was and were two of the most formative and happiest experiences of his life.
Since 2000, Fenn has partnered with Merrowvista to offer an annual three-day overnight trip that is the culmination of the Lower School experience. The Spencer E. Streetman ‘97 Fund will support boys who receive financial assistance at Fenn so that they all will have the opportunity to participate in the Merrowvista experience.
More information on the Spencer E. Streetman ‘97 Fund can be found on Fenn’s webpage for Endowment Giving.
Article on the Spencer E. Streetman ‘97 Fund that appeared in Fenn’s 2018-2019 Report on Giving:
COOKING FOR RECOVERY CLASS AT THE GRAYKEN CENTER FOR ADDICTION
We have spent time investigating ways to support programs targeted to helping those who are living with addiction. We have been very inspired by the work being done at the Grayken Center for Addiction, a part of the Boston Medical Center. They are tackling this national crisis on all fronts and they are considered a model for the rest of the country.
During the summer of 2018, our family met with Michael Botticelli who runs the Grayken Center. One of the many stories we told him about Spencer was the story of Spencer’s time spent in rehab and his concern for the lack of attention to the food which was being served. Spencer was also concerned that many of the young people who were in the house had come from living on the streets and did not know how to eat in a healthy manner. For many it had been some time since they had had the opportunity to sit at a table for a proper meal.
Spencer convinced the house leaders to allow him to cook a special dinner on Wednesday evenings. He worked with 3 or 4 young men each week. He took them to Market Basket to buy what they would need to prepare the meal for that evening. They then spent the afternoon as Spencer’s sous chefs, prepping the 5 course meal to be served to the entire house. Spencer taught them knife skills, organizational skills, how to set a table, how to present a healthy meal and how to enjoy the time spent with others eating good food and appreciating the experience. In doing this, he taught them respect for one another and for themselves. He was very proud of this experience and he really felt that by sharing his love of food he was helping others as well as himself.
Michael Botticelli listened to this story with great interest. In the months following our visit he initiated the Cooking for Recovery Class at the Boston Medical Center Teaching Kitchen. Cooking for Recovery aims to enhance participants' self-care tool box through nutrition education, addressing body-image concerns, and teaching life-skills such as meal planning and preparing balanced meals and snacks on a budget. There are many people currently being helped by this program – a direct result of our conversation with Michael Botticelli who was inspired by Spencer.
We were able to go to a class in the teaching kitchen to see how it is run. We were so impressed with the teacher who explained the importance of diet to recovery. Patients are taught simple recipes and then sent to the rooftop garden to gather ingredients they will need to prepare the meal.
The Cooking for Recovery class supports any patient in recovery with instruction, ingredients and encouragement. Patients learn about the best diet to follow in order to help heal the body and the mind. Spencer would have loved teaching such a class. We are proud to have his name associated with such a special organization.
Additional information on the Cooking for Recovery Class may be found on the Boston Medical Center’s Cooking for Recovery website. More information on the Grayken Center for Addiction is available on their webpage.
Join Us
We plan to continue our support of these organizations and other similar efforts over the coming year. If you would like to join us, there are several ways to contribute:
Donate to the Spencer Streetman Memorial Fund: Donations may be made by check payable to Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund and may be sent to Fidelity Charitable, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0053. Please reference the Spencer Streetman Memorial Fund in the memo field of your check and include a return address in order to receive a tax receipt. This year Fidelity is asking donors to fill out a contribution form which is available for downloading here. Only Page 1 (social security number not required) and Page 5 (signature page) are required. Please be sure to include this form with any check you send in.
We recognize that online credit card donations are often logistically easier for many people. If you would like to contribute in this manner, you may contribute directly to either the Spencer E. Streetman ‘97 Fund at the Fenn School or to the Cooking for Recovery Program at the Grayken Center for Addiction in Spencer’s name through the links below:
Spencer E. Streetman ‘97 Fund at the Fenn School: Visit Fenn’s Endowment Giving page at the link here. Click on Make a Gift to a Fenn Endowment Fund. Under Designation, select Spencer E. Streetman ‘97 Fund from the pull-down menu. Fenn’s Federal Tax ID Number is 04-2104164.
Grayken Center Cooking for Recovery Program: If you would like to donate to the Cooking for Recovery program in honor of Spencer Streetman:
Visit the Make A Donation web page
Under "Gift Designation" select "Other"
Under "Other Designation" write "Preventive Food Pantry in honor of Spencer Streetman"
