2021 Tufts Community Grants Recipients
April 1, 2021
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 $35,000 available to award to the 2021 TCG applicants The committee received 75 proposals and selected 35 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.
All grants awarded were $1,000.
Boston Recipients:
Asian Community Development Corporation – Community cleanup of Chinatown Backyard, an open space located next to the Chinatown Gate
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Inc. – Virtual YouthLead program, with focus on arts and mental health
Building Audacity – Purchase of fresh, culturally diverse produce for weekly distribution to food insecure families in Boston
Chinese Historical Society of New England – Free, single-day seminar about combating anti-Asian racism
Friday Night Supper Program, Inc. – Warm and Dry Feet Program, providing 100 pairs of boots and socks for homeless and low income individuals
Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center Inc. – 5-7 tablet computers for elderly clients to expand access to virtual programming
Haley House – Purchase of commercial dishwasher for their soup kitchen
Josiah Quincy Upper School – Virtual community-building “paint night” event for public school teachers, nurses, counselors, social workers and operations staff
MassVOTE – Supplies and materials to contact residents without internet access and increase voter turnout in municipal elections
The Theater Offensive – Virtual performance equipment such as cameras and microphones for True Colors Troupe, drama group comprised of LGBTQ youth and straight allies, many of whom identify as BIPOC
Grafton Recipients:
Apple Tree Arts – Purchase of an outdoor projector for a youth theater arts summer program
Community Harvest – Seeds and garden materials to grow food, made available to food insecure households in the Grafton/Greater Worcester Area
Friends of Grafton Inc./Grafton Food Bank – Monthly gift card distribution to food insecure families in Grafton
Grafton Senior Center – Four months of free medical rides from Grafton to Worcester for seniors and disabled residents
Saint James Outreach/Saint James Church – Emergency relief funds available to Grafton residents in need of assistance with heating costs, food, school supplies and medical expenses, among other needs
Medford Recipients:
ArtsMedford Inc. – “Arts After Dark,” a virtual arts program taking the place of “MARV the Art Bus” during COVID-19 restrictions
Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility –”Medford Food Drive” to supply bagged groceries and necessities to Medford High School families
Congregational Church of West Medford – Large scale meal packing event serving 25,000 meals to food-insecure residents
English At Large – Beginner English classes offered to new English speakers living in Medford, including zoom subscriptions, apps, textbooks and other supplies
Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation – Multimedia intern and video equipment to produce content for their newly created YouTube channel
Medford Farmers Market – Funding for SNAP/EBT benefits available to eligible clients of the Medford Farmer’s Market
Mystic River Watershed Association – Translation and interpretation of materials for “Trash Free Mystic” initiative, making them available in 4 different languages
Mystic Valley YMCA/Malden YMCA – Implementation of “Your Pantry” app used by clients of the Mystic Community Market
Strong Girls United Foundation –Student Athlete mentor program at the Brooks School, including training materials, team shirts, mentee kits
West Medford Community Center (WMCC) – Performers, speakers and workshops for WMCC’S Juneteenth Celebration
Somerville Recipients:
The Beautiful Stuff Project – “Mosaic Story Walk,” an outdoor art installation project to engage families in literacy and exercise
Breakthrough Greater Boston – “Summer Learning Kits” for Somerville and Boston youth enrolled in their summer program
CASPAR, Inc. –800 pairs of women’s underwear, for distribution to shelter residents and homeless individuals
Hearty Meals for All – Monthly meal distribution efforts, including food, hygiene kits and packaging supplies
RESPOND, Inc. – “Palm cards” to spread awareness and access to resources about domestic violence
St. Patrick’s Shelter, Catholic Charities – Two new couches for the shelter lounge, providing a comfortable space for shelter residents
Somerville Community Growing Center – Bilingual “Nature Kits” for children, including books, seeds, journals and gardening supplies
Somerville Family Learning Collaborative – Community closet of winter clothing for students with limited access to climate appropriate clothing
Somerville Food Security Coalition – Food and packing materials for their “Come to the Table” program, providing free to-go meals to residents in need
Somerville Homeless Coalition – All-terrain street outreach cart, and funding to obtain birth certificates, IDs and phones for homeless individuals