Watertown Community Foundation Hands Out $45,600 in Grants

The Watertown Community Foundation announced its grant awards for organizations in town this week:

The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) has awarded “Grants to Core Institutions” and “Education Grants” totaling $45,600 to non-profit organizations in Watertown.

“WCF received almost twice as many grant proposals this year versus 2010 requesting nearly $83,000 – so we were not able to fund them all. Nevertheless, we are pleased to be able to help so many great nonprofits with important community projects,” said Michael Schade, WCF Executive Director.

The WCF Board of Directors awarded grants from its Arsenal Education Income Fund as follows:

Arsenal Center for the Arts: $5,000 – Watertown Core Institution Grant to help provide ar education for children and adults, and to inspire people to create and grow through the arts. The Center offers courses in pottery, design, drawing, collage, printmaking, glass, clay, painting, sculpture and crafts.

Community Safe Routes to School: $2,500 – Education Grant for a part-time coordinator for “walking school buses,” etc. through 2011.

Friends of Project Literacy: $5,000 – Education Grant for free English language classes and tutoring for adults. 300 adult students participated in the past year, and there are 78 volunteer tutors.

Hosmer School PTO: $2,500 – Education Grant for picturing writing training and art supplies for K and pre-K classes at Hosmer School in Watertown.

Parent Child Home Program – Watertown: $5,000 – Education Grant for home visits to low-income Watertown families with preschool aged children. These home visits have proven to be an effective way to empower parents in their role as a child’s first teacher. There are several families on PCHP’s waiting list

Springwell: $2,500 – Education Grant for Springwell’s Home Delivered Meals Program which provides Watertown Elders with free, nutritious meals at home and educational nutrition counseling. In 2010, 28,904 meals were delivered to Watertown seniors; this is a 9% increase over 2009.

Watertown Boys and Girls Club: $5,000 – Watertown Core Institution Grant for services to the youth of Watertown. Serves 700-800 youth members annually. Programs include: swimming lessons, open swim, homework help and tutoring, computer lab, arts and crafts, physical activities, team sports and social recreation.

Watertown Children’s Theatre: $2,500 – Education Grant for a touring production of C.S. Lewis’s literary classic, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at Watertown elementary and middle schools and at the Arsenal Center for the Arts (free of charge).

Watertown Citizens for Environmental Safety – Watertown Gardens: $5,000 – Education Grant for starting Watertown’s first community garden with goals of 1) educating children who participate, 2) providing space for Willow Park and other Watertown residents to grow some of their food and learn about gardening, and 3) providing some fresh local produce to a local food pantry.

Watertown Council on Aging/Senior Center: $600 – Education Grant for a series of Healthy Aging workshops at the Watertown Senior Center.

Watertown Family Network: $5,000 – Watertown Core Institution Grant for “Welcome Home Baby Baskets,” inter-generational programs at nursing homes, preschool playgroups, Early Childhood Information Fair, early literacy, clothing exchanges and young family parenting programs.

Wayside Multi Service Center: $5,000 – Watertown Core Institution Grant for its after-school enrichment programming (cooking and arts-based activities) in Watertown’s low income housing development.

The Watertown Community Foundation works to build and sustain a vibrant, close-knit community in Watertown – now, and for future generations. To accomplish this, WCF raises funds from people and partner institutions, awards grants to non-profits and community projects, and builds networks of donors, grantees, program participants and stakeholders.

WCF and its grantees are consistent leaders in efforts to:

• Advance education and health
• Support the most vulnerable
• Protect the environment
• Foster community engagement and leadership

In its short existence, WCF has awarded over $250,000 in grants. Persons interested in supporting WCF should contact Michael Schade, Executive Director.

WCF Board of Directors: Andrew Bundy, President; William B. Ford, Treasurer; Roberta Miller and Robert P. Shay, Vice-Presidents; Brett Dean; Marian Grogan; Doreen Munger-Dawson; Susan Musinsky; Ken Sheytanian; Stephen M. Winnick; Raymond H. Young.