2024 Tufts Community Grant Recipients
May 2, 2024
The Tufts Community Grants Board awarded grants to 10 organizations in Boston, 5 organizations in Grafton, 10 programs in Medford, 10 organizations in Somerville.
TCG 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) 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. There was a total of $105,000 available to award to the 2024 TCG applicants. More than 100 area non-profits applied for grants. 35 programs and projects were selected for grants. Members of the TCG committee base their decisions on a desire to address the most pressing needs in the communities and to encourage expanded involvement of Tufts volunteers.
All grants awarded were $3,000.
Boston Recipients:
Asian American Civic Association: The purchase of books and instructional materials for 100 students in AACA’s beginner English as a Second Language program, which teaches essential English communication skills for immigrants
Asian Community Development Corporation: ACDC’s Chinatown Backyard, a program through which Chinatown residents can access gardening and green space; engage with climate resiliency efforts; and build relationships with neighbors and Tufts students, faculty, and staff
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center: Workshops for Chinese immigrant youth, which aim to provide participants with necessary skills to foster mental health awareness and encourage proactive self-care and well-being practices, with a particular focus on the challenges faced by Chinese immigrant students
Chinese Historical Society of New England: The Tunney E. Lee lecture series, which features speakers on topics related to the history of Chinese Americans locally and nationally. Funding will revive CHSNE’s signature in-person events series
EVkids: Training, peer relationship building, transportation, and food for volunteer tutors to support them in their mentoring matches with under served Boston youth
Friday Night Supper Program, Inc.: Purchase of 83 pairs of high-quality water-proof winter boots for individuals experiencing homelessness in Boston
Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center: Funding for the Caregiver Support Program, including purchasing healthy food for workshops and support groups, as well as iPads for caregivers to access services
Josiah Quincy Upper School: An on-site CPR certification course during the school day for 58 special education high school students, which will help them learn essential job skills
Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts: A Brazilian jiu-jitsu program for underserved children in Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan
Sociedad Latina: An irrigation system to extend the growing season of their outdoor community garden space. The greenhouse and irrigation system will be installed by the organization’s Environmental Justice League’s Youth Leaders who are Boston Public School students and Boston residents ages 15-18.
Grafton Recipients:
Apple Tree Arts: Financial aid for students participating in summer music programs, including improvisation, voice, and guitar workshops
Claflin Hill Music Performance Foundation: Compensation for musicians to perform in three in-town concerts (two chamber concerts and one outdoor park concert)
Community Harvest Project: Purchase of greenhouse supplies and an irrigation system to support 15 acres in cultivation, including piloting the use of a high tunnel for growing season extension that will yield 250,000 pounds of fresh, free, local produce for thousands of food-insecure individuals
St. James Outreach at Our Lady of Hope Parish: Payment of the balance of a family heating system, the expansion of perishable food distribution, summer health and recreation activities, and the cost of hosting an educational service event
Touchstone Community School: A sustainability and stewardship program for youth that will provide opportunities to engage with farm animals and the gardens
Medford Recipients:
Chapters Coffee Carts: Purchase of equipment to upgrade their shop in the Medford Public Library, which employs individuals with disabilities and provides them with critical job and professional skills
Community Cupboard Food Pantry: Purchase of food pantry items to meet the needs for food-insecure Medford residents
Food Link, Inc.: A food rescue program aiming to distribute 200,000 lbs. of fresh food to three local community organizations serving food-insecure Medford residents
Friends of the Middlesex Fells: Tools and materials to create a service-learning program that connects local youth with the Middlesex Fells and their local environment
Medford Band Parent Organization: Purchase of musical instruments and color guard equipment for the Jumpstart Music Camp for Medford elementary and middle school students
Medford Council on Aging: Purchase of supplies to create a program called “Reminiscing with Photographs” to assist older Medford adults who may be experiencing loneliness, depression, health problems, or isolation
Medford Family Network: The expansion of MFN’s English for Speakers of Other Languages program with the purchase of educational supplies, the coverage of instructor and space costs as well as the cost of child care for participating students
Medford Farmers Market: Funding for SNAP/EBT eligible customers to purchase fresh, healthy, and local food at a weekly farmer’s market and for senior citizens to receive weekly deliveries of fresh produce
Sanctuary UCC: Training stipends for six youth leaders from underrepresented populations who serve as peer mentors in the Am2Pm Program, a summer initiative for high school students designed to cultivate leadership, civic engagement, and life skills
St. Raphael Conference Food Pantry (St. Vincent de Paul Society): Purchase of food supplies to stock a food pantry for Medford residents experiencing food insecurity
Somerville Recipients:
Breakthrough Greater Boston: Purchase of a “Community Novel” and literature texts for seventh- to ninth-grade students attending the 2024 Summer Program in Somerville and Boston, which serves predominantly students of color, low-income students, and first-generation college students
Gentle Giant Rowing Club: Funding for the necessary public permits, insurance coverage, and safety measures to ensure the Mystic River Pride Flotilla is viable, safe, and a joyful communal experience for all participants and spectators
Groundwork Somerville: Purchase of a new garden shed for an urban farm to increase storage space and staff capacity for educational and community programs
Mystic Learning Center: Purchase of “Summer Success Starter Backpacks,” a backpack that will include summer necessities such bathing suits, towels, socks, water botles and lunch bags so all student can participate in weekly outdoor excursions
The Elizabeth Peabody House: Funding to purchase food to distribute weekly to Somerville residents facing facing food insecurity
Project Citizenship: Funding for the costs of outreach, advertising, printing supplies, space rental, and transportation for a fall 2024 community-based citizenship workshop for immigrants in Somerville
Somerville Community Access Television: Purchase of a state-of-the-art Pursa MK4 3D printer for youth members to create film props, and accessibility for adult members
Somerville Homeless Coalition: Purchase of a standard refrigerator to store pre-made bags of perishable, nutrient-rich groceries that will be delivered to food insecure elderly, disabled, immunocompromised and veteran clients
Somerville Public Schools (East Somervile Community School): Funding for a school field trip to Crane Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts, for 90 fourth-grade students to participate in an inquiry-based coastal erosion education program that will provide hands-on learning
Somerville Public Schools (Winter Hill Community Innovation School): Purchase of climate change materials in robotics and science as well as literacy to help multilingual students understand the science behind climate change