2020 Tufts Community Grants Recipients
January 29, 2021
The Tufts Community Grants Board awarded grants to 10 organizations in Boston, 4 organizations in Grafton, 11 programs in Medford, 9 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 $28,000 available to award to the 2020 TCG applicants The committee received over 60 proposals and selected 34 programs and projects for awards. 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.
Boston grant recipients:
Art Resource Collaborative for Kids – $350 to support rooftop gardening at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School in Boston’s Chinatown
Josiah Quincy Upper School – $500 to support mental health resources for high school students
Strong Women, Strong Girls – $500 to support a mentoring program for girls in grades 3-5 throughout the Greater Boston area
Friday Night Supper Program – $750 for a weekly dinner program for homeless individuals and their Healthy Food Initiative
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center – $800 to purchase supplies for a student organized youth leadership conference; Tufts University will provide the space as well
Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence – $1,000 to help fund social gatherings for their current and past clients
Fenway Community Center – $1,000 to support a series of arts workshops for members of the Fenway community
Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center – $1,000 to fund an educational workshop series for Asian seniors about end of life information
Ricesticks and Tea Asian Food Pantry – $1,000 to stock their food pantry in Chinatown
Josiah Quincy Elementary School – $1,100 to purchase auditorium risers for music and arts performances
Grafton grant recipients:
Apple Tree Arts – $1,000 to purchase instruments for their early childhood music programming
Community Harvest Project – $1,000 towards their nutrient management plan, soil fertility efforts, and crop rotation
Grafton Senior Center – $1,000 towards the purchase of a wheelchair-equipped passenger van
Saint James Outreach/ Saint James Church – $1,000 for their emergency relief fund, which supports residents in need
Medford grant recipients:
Columbus Elementary School PTO – $250 to support costs for their Annual Science Night
Medford Family Network – $250 for the “Welcome Baby” program which provides resources to new parents and their babies in Medford
Medford Public Schools (Middle School Libraries) – $250 towards supplies for a library makerspace promoting STEAM activities and educational opportunities
Roberts Elementary School PTO – $250 towards supporting the costs of a cultural diversity event, “International Night”
English At Large – $500 towards the purchase of curriculum materials and learning aids for their Beginner English Program for local immigrants
Friends of Middlesex Fells Reservation – $500 towards funding the purchase of professional graffiti removal equipment
Mystic River Watershed Association – $500 to support a litter removal campaign in Medford
West Medford Community Center – $500 towards programming designed to engage high school aged youth
Malden YMCA – $1,400 to purchase an additional refrigeration unit in their Mystic Community Market food pantry
Community Cupboard Food Pantry – $1,800 to purchase food for their pantry
Congregational Church of West Medford – $1,800 to fund cost of preparing 25,000 free meals for families in need
Somerville grant recipients:
The Beautiful Stuff Project – $300 for art and supplies to fill “treasure boxes” for early childhood classrooms
Center for Arabic Culture – $400 towards the purchase of a traditional Middle Eastern instrument for their Youth Orchestra
East Somerville Main Streets – $400 for marketing and supply costs for neighborhood clean-ups
Second Chances – $450 towards marketing and technology investments for 15th anniversary fundraising efforts
January 29, 2021
Mystic Learning Center – $600 for costs associated with tuning the piano housed in the Mystic Activity Center’s Community Room
RESPOND, Inc. – $1,000 to fund summer programs for children living in their shelter for domestic violence victims
Somerville Homeless Coalition – $1,500 to support their housing stability “Coordinated Entry Program” for homeless individuals
Hearty Meals For All – $1,600 towards the cost of funding a free monthly meal
CASPAR, Inc. – $1,750 to purchase bed linens and towels for their Emergency Services Shelter