Tufts University Employees Donate to 10 Medford Programs

The Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund (TNSF) committee recently awarded grants to ten programs 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 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 2014, there was a total of $18,500 available to distribute through TNSF. The committee received 60 proposals representing more than $90,000 in requests and selected 35 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 and to encourage expanded involvement of Tufts volunteers.

The Medford grant recipients for 2014 are:

– Boys & Girls Clubs of Middlesex County — $500 for the implementation of “Art Attack!” a joint program of the Medford Clubhouse and Tufts Occupational Therapy students.

– Columbus Elementary School — $300 to support the school’s annual Science Night

– Community Cupboard Food Pantry of the Unitarian Universalist Church — $2,000 for food for their pantry.

– Friends of the Medford Community Gardens — $300 towards the cost of establishing a community garden by the Condon Shell.

– McGlynn Elementary School — $250 towards equipment costs to outfit a classroom that serves English Language Learners and Literacy students.

– Medford Council on Aging — $200 for two Kindles and accessories for the Senior Center.

– Medford Family Resource Coalition — $200 to purchase books for the Columbus School Library.

– Medford Public Library — $400 for materials for a series of multi-media stories created, illustrated, and voiced by children.

– West Medford Community Center, Inc. — $300 to purchase new folding tables for the center and $400 to help augment their After-School Youth Activities program.

“The range of proposals we receive reflects the diversity of the communities that Tufts calls home” said Barbara Rubel, director of community relations at Tufts University. “We are proud to support organizations so deeply committed to fulfilling unmet needs and making a difference.”

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 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).

– Information from Tufts University