Tufts University employees give grants to nine Somerville organizations

On January 23, 2014, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

The Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund (TNSF) committee recently awarded grants to nine organizations in Somerville. 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 actively engage Tufts volunteers in their work.

A committee of Tufts administrators, faculty and staff meets annually to review proposals and select grant recipients. In 2013 there was a total of $19,300 available to distribute through TNSF. The committee received 69 proposals representing more than $105,000 in requests and selected 29 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 and to encourage expanded involvement of Tufts volunteers.

The Somerville grant recipients for 2013 are:

Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County — $350 towards the cost to implement an outdoor education and leadership program at the Healey Clubhouse;
Center for Arabic Culture — $400 towards advertising their Arab Women Authors talk series;
Community Cooks — $600 to purchase healthy grocery supplies for their “Healthy Cooking on a Budget” workshops;
Eagle Eye Institute, Inc. — $350 to help create an EAGLE club at Medford High School, exploring nature in the community;
Mystic Learning Center, Inc. — $350 to seed a new Leader in Training program;
ShortStop Somerville Wayside Youth and Family Services — $1,000 to buy bus passes, winter clothing and blankets for homeless youth;
Somerville Council on Aging — $400 to extend its Health and Wellness programming;
Somerville Homeless Coalition — $1,000 to purchase a washer and dryer for the adult shelter;
Somerville Public Library — $500 to offer programs involving job interview training for Somerville residents.

“This was the largest grant applicant pool the TNSF committee has seen since the fund’s inception in 1995, with nearly 70 grant applications, said Barbara Rubel, director of community relations. “The committee appreciates the important work that each organization does in its community and wishes it could fund every request. The decisions are never easy and are debated within the committee, but the group made it a point to allocate the grants where the most need was demonstrated.”

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).