7 Medford Organizations Receive Tufts Grants
The following announcement is from Tufts University:
Seven Medford organizations receive grants from Tufts University employees
The Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund (TNSF) committee recently awarded grants to seven organizations in Medford. TNSF collects donations from university employees throughout the year and then awards grants to community-based, charitable organizations that serve Tufts’ host communities (Somerville, Medford, Grafton and Boston’s Chinatown) and that actively engage Tufts volunteers in their work.
A committee comprised of Tufts administrators, faculty and staff meets annually to review proposals and select grant recipients. In 2009 there was a total of $17,500 available to distribute through TNSF. The committee received 50 proposals representing more than $82,000 in requests and selected 27 programs and projects for awards.
Members of the TNSF committee base their decisions on a desire to address the most pressing needs in the communities, to assist programs with few other options for support, and to encourage expanded involvement of Tufts volunteers.
The Medford grant recipients for 2009 are:
– Community Cupboard Food Pantry of the Unitarian Universalist Church — $1,500 to help stock the pantry, providing food for those in need.
– The Community Family, Inc. — $650 toward the purchase of a Wii gaming system and accessories for memory impaired adults.
– Medford Historical Society — $100 to help support a second bike tour through the city of Medford
– Medford Public Schools, Brooks Elementary School and the Columbus Elementary School — $600 to support afterschool programs.
– Medford Senior Center — $915 toward the cost of a large screen television in order to establish a space for Wii exergaming in the senior center.
– Outside the Lines Studio — $200 for partial funding of a sensorimotor and materials to stimulate group interaction between volunteers and clients to facilitate relationship building.
– Heading Home — $500 to provide assistance to families moving from shelters into permanent housing.
“For the first time in its 14-year history, we received a fairly even distribution of applications from all four of our host communities. This speaks volumes about the need that organizations in all areas are feeling,” said Barbara Rubel, director of community relations. “The committee deliberated long and hard about distributing the funds this year and made it a point to allocate the grants where the most need was demonstrated. This isn’t the end of the economic struggle and we know the coming year could be even more difficult for folks, but the university is committed to supporting our host communities.”
TNSF is a giving option of the annual Tufts Community Appeal (TCA), in which the university encourages its employees to contribute to charitable organizations at the regional, national and international levels. The TCA unites faculty and staff across all campuses of the university, and demonstrates the support the Tufts community has for local and global efforts. It reflects the university community’s belief that individual action can make a difference in the world.
Questions regarding the Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund can be directed to the Community Relations Office at Tufts University (617-627-3780).