Tufts Employees Give Grants to Local Groups
The Columbus Elementary School is one of several places to receive grant money from Tufts. Photo courtesy Medford Public Schools.
The Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund (TNSF) committee recently awarded grants to eight 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 2010 there was a total of $18,000 available to distribute through TNSF. The committee received 46 proposals representing more than $70,000 in requests and selected 34 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 2010 are:
– Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County: $375 to the Gene Mack Clubhouse to purchase supplies for their Clay Tech program.
– Columbus Elementary School: $200 to support their End of the Year Celebration and Art Show.
– Community Cupboard Food Pantry of the Unitarian Universalist Church: $1,500 to help stock the pantry, providing food for those in need.
– Community Family: $440 to The Buddy Coholan Memory Loss Center for additional Wii controllers, software, and games to enhance activities for memory impaired adults.
– Medford Council on Aging: $375 for additional Wii controllers, software, and games to enhance activities for seniors.
– Medford Public Schools Early Childhood/Afterschool Office: $500 to purchase books for a variety of literacy programs.
– Outside the Lines Studio: $375 towards the launch of a cooking program where individuals will learn to prepare healthy meals.
– Saint Clement Parish School: $700 to Junior/Senior High School towards the purchase of an LCD projector and laptop for their Library/Media Center
“When you read these proposals you always wish there was more funding to distribute,” said Barbara Rubel, director of Community Relations. “The range of community-based services and the work they do continue to impress our committee. No wonder Tufts’ volunteers want to work with them. Our deliberations were difficult – we wish we could give everyone what they need. Thank you to all Tufts volunteers and the faculty and staff who made this possible.”
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