MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. – The Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund (TNSF) committee recently awarded grants to 34 local organizations. 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 2007 there was a total of $22,000 available to distribute through TNSF. The committee received 47 proposals representing more than $72,000 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, to assist programs with few other options for support, and to encourage expanded involvement of Tufts volunteers.
The Chinatown grant recipients for 2007 are:
- ACCESS, Inc -- $1,000 for a data projector to show DVDs in the After School Enrichment Program.
- Asian American Civic Association -- $750 toward the purchase of textbooks and materials for students taking ESL and GED-prep courses.
- Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence -- $500 toward the printing of resource materials.
- Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center -- $1,000 for the Girls' Values Program.
- Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center -- $1,000 for the development of a "Fall Prevention Manual" to help Chinese-speaking seniors increase their safety awareness and physical activity.
- Josiah Quincy Elementary School -- $250 toward refreshments for the "College Begins in Kindergarten" workshops.
The Grafton grant recipients for 2007 are:
- Alternatives Unlimited -- $1000 toward adaptive equipment for clients with intensive medical needs.
- Apple Tree Arts -- $500 toward music education classes for Head Start preschool students.
- Community Harvest Project -- $500 to help purchase "The Rock Rake."
- Huggable Hounds 4H Club -- $500 to purchase supplies to make medical play dolls for local hospital pediatric wards.
- St. James Church Interfaith Hospitality Network -- $500 for bed linens, toiletries, medication, food, and other supplies for homeless families.
- St. James Church Outreach Program -- $700 for emergency relief funds for basic needs including food, clothing and utilities for community members.
- Town of Grafton Together We Can Committee -- $250 toward student participation in the "Skidz School" driver safety program.
The Medford grant recipients for 2007 are:
- Brooks School PTO -- $250 toward the school-wide readathon.
- Chevalier Theatre Organ Society -- $200 to support the 2008 Medford Family concert.
- Community Cupboard Food Pantry of the Unitarian Universalist Church -- $2000 for food staples.
- Medford Boys & Girls Club -- $500 to help purchase health and fitness equipment.
- Medford Family Resource Coalition -- $400 for the purchase of classroom supplies for the "Reaching Out to and Including the Diverse Families of Medford" project and $350 to assist with the Fifth Annual International Family Festival.
- Medford Health Matters -- $400 for youth stipends for the Team TADD Community Initiative Project.
- Shelter Inc.'s Medford Family Life Education Center -- $1000 toward educational and recreational supplies for children's, parenting and life-skills groups.
- Mystic River Watershed Association -- $750 toward the purchase of an Aquafluor monitoring device.
The Somerville grant recipients for 2007 are:
- CASPAR, Inc. -- $1,000 toward Project Winterwear to assist unsheltered homeless persons.
- Centro Presente -- $500 toward program supplies for the Pintamos Nuestro Mundo/Paint Our World Youth Program.
- Community Action Agency of Somerville -- $1,000 for a laptop computer that will help low‑income families apply for food stamps and health insurance.
- Elizabeth Peabody House -- $450 for the purchase of Quickbooks software and support materials.
- Groundwork Somerville -- $500 toward the creation of a new garden at the Argenziano School.
- Mystic Learning Center -- $300 toward program costs of the Launch! GED-preparation program.
- Open Center for Children -- $1,000 toward new carpeting and padding to improve the learning environment.
- Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services -- $250 for the Home-delivered Meals Program for elders.
- Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences -- $250 toward cost of food and paper products for "Healthy Snacks" nutrition events.
- Somerville Mental Health Association -- $800 for non-violent restraint training.
- Somerville Public Schools/Community Schools Program -- $500 to support fitness activities in after-school programs.
- The Welcome Project -- $650 to help cover the program cost of the AVANCE to College Prep Program.
- Toys for Local Children -- $500 toward the purchase of holiday gifts, including interactive books, arts & crafts kits, and games.
"Given the strength of this year's proposals, the 2007 funding decisions were especially difficult," said Barbara Rubel, director of community relations. "The TNSF committee appreciates the importance of each proposal and wishes that more requests could be funded. While there are many other ways that the university tries to support our host communities, we hope to increase employee contributions to TNSF for the future."
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).
