Winter 2012 Grant Awards
Sudbury Program Grants awarded in December 2012
Sudbury Valley Trustees, Sudbury, MA/$19,000
To fund an initiative to increase reliance on skilled volunteers.
Town of Sudbury/Council on Aging, Sudbury, MA/$15,000
To encourage residents to support their neighbors through continued funding of the Senior Volunteer Coordinator position at the Fairbank Senior Center.
Children, Youth & Family Grants awarded in December 2012
After School Matters: Supporting At-Risk Youth During Out-of-School Time
Studies show that youth involved in after-school programming do better than their non-participating peers leading to higher school attendance and graduation rates, better academic performance, fewer risky behaviors (including criminal involvement), and overall improvements in personal relationships, social skills and self-esteem. Experts also believe the most impactful programs feature an extended time commitment and an opportunity for children and adult staff to develop strong bonds.
For this track, the Foundation sought programs designed to provide a safe haven and enriching environment for low-income children between Kindergarten and Grade 12 after school or during the summer. Programs were expected to address the social skills and positive self-esteem children need to succeed now and in the future and could focus on academic enrichment and supports; leadership development, healthy life style choices; civic responsibility, and career exploration, or a combination of all.
Autism Alliance of MetroWest, Natick, MA/$10,300
To fund staff training through the Kids Included Together program that will enable AA staff to develop a Train the Trainer curriculum for area after-school programs which will help program staff adapt their activities to support children with autism spectrum disorders.
Boys & Girls Club of Assabet Valley, Maynard, MA/$23,200
A combination grant that includes staff training, community outreach and a pilot program aimed in increasing understanding of and services to special needs children participating in the Beyond the Bell after-school program.
Discovery Museums, Acton, MA/$12,710
To pilot a multi-session, after-school program with Maynard’s Excel program, focusing on nature and the outdoors, the first step in the agency’s long-term strategy to become an outdoor nature center.
The Food Project, Lincoln, MA/$25,000
For a consultation designed to enhance the Youth Programs’ leadership model and curriculum, with a focus on the practice of “adaptive leadership.”
Friends of Resiliency for Life, Framingham, MA/$5,175
To fund a strategic planning consultation.
John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation, Wayland, MA/$12,000
To support a fund development consultation.
Let’s Get Ready, Boston, MA/$5,000
To fund two sessions of the LGR program at Framingham High School as local agency staff builds its funding base.
Metrowest YMCA, Framingham, MA, $7,580
To help purchase the Seer Analytics BaseMetrics survey analysis tool to better evaluate program and activities at the Framingham and Hopkinton locations.
Rediscovery/JRI, Waltham, MA/$10,000
To expand Rediscovery’s Financial Literacy Program to three local communities and pilot a “train the trainer” program delivery model while seeking potential sponsors in MetroWest.
United Way of Tri-County, Framingham, MA/$6,000
To create an Emerging Leaders affinity group of young, successful professionals who will support the UWTC’s Youth Venture program as mentors, fundraisers and financial contributors.
Transitional Youth: Pathways to Career or Secondary Education
In Massachusetts, the cohort of young people age 16-24 who are both out-of-school and out-of-work is on the rise. Largely ignored, this population of disengaged, idle young people is on a path to perpetual unemployment, underemployment, criminal behavior and poverty. Many have no parental supports and many are young parents themselves. As the job market tightens, these unprepared young adults face a bleak future.
For this track, we wanted to support capacity building projects for programs that seek out and support this vulnerable population with programming that provides a pathway to productive employment and skill development and/or secondary education while providing the emotional guidance and support they need to stay on track. Programs could provide career exploration, job skills development and placement, or access to high quality education, family supports, mentoring and mental health services.
The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, Worcester, MA/$20,000
In partnership with Employment Options, to pilot a Supported Education and Employment Program for 20 young adults with mental health challenges.
Partnership for a Skilled Workforce, Marlborough, MA/$25,000
To fund a consultation to consider creation of an online workforce development information center for young adults who are unable to access the agency’s services in-person.
Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Framingham, MA/$17,300
To fund a series of enhancements to the Tempo Young Adult Resource Center’s Green House Graphics pilot program. Green House Graphics is an art-making micro enterprise that will provide paid employment training for young adults.
Discretionary Funding
One Can Help, Newton, MA/$4,500
Start-up support to enable the executive director to focus on fundraising activities for this agency which supports court-involved youth in Middlesex Court.