Global Campuses Foundation receives grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to support lifelong educational programming in the Upper Valley for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Vermont Business Magazine Global Campuses Foundation (GCF) recently received a $30,000 grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The grant will help further GCF’s mission of providing a network of campuses fostering advanced learning opportunities for adults who experience disability by supporting its operational and strategic programming.
“Global Campuses Foundation deeply appreciates New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s recognition of our mission-driven work through this award. We continue our determination as a cutting-edge entity to be, in the words of our founders, Sheryl and James Tewksbury, ‘a transformative influence upon the quality of life of adults with differing abilities.’ This grant is particularly important in these challenging times. Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can struggle to participate in their communities, develop meaningful relationships, and make their voices heard. GCF places a high value on the benefit of meaningful belonging. Through the creative use of video technology, social media, and collaboration with our neighbors and agency and community partners, GCF’s academic team and participants continue to create connections, deepen their relationships, and share their knowledge.” Steve Tavella, GCF Executive Director
GCF’s platform provides for transforming societal attitudes about disability, leading to social inclusion, equity, and economic opportunity. Through collaborative educational engagement, campus participants share about the experience of disability, demonstrating their capacities, thus raising awareness, building connections, and diminishing boundaries between themselves and their community, ensuring that all are valued within their communities.
GCF’s mission is inextricably embedded in its espoused principles and beliefs and its educational methods/best practices that foster empowerment, authentic relationships, and community service while providing a direct window into the capacities and challenges within the culture of disability.
Every facet of GCF is an exercise in participation, collaboration, and contribution towards positive, sustainable change. Teaching their stories and demonstrating their abilities is inspirational to all involved and a catalyst for true change.
About the Global Campuses Foundation
The Global Campuses Foundation (GCF) mission is to facilitate collaborative life-long learning for adults of all abilities. Now entering its 20th year, with 12 campuses throughout Vermont and New Hampshire – four in the Upper Valley, including Bradford, Randolph, and Springfield, VT, and Lebanon, NH – GCF is the pioneer organization in Vermont and western New Hampshire providing post-secondary opportunities for 200 adults, ages 17 – 70+, most of whom experience developmental and intellectual disabilities. Many have been actively involved for 15 to 17 years. For more information, please visit www.globalcampuses.org or call 802-272-1396.
About the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is New Hampshire’s statewide community foundation, founded in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire. The Foundation manages a growing collection of 2,000 funds created by generous individuals, families, and businesses, and awards $40 million in grants and more than $6 million in scholarships every year. The Foundation works with generous and visionary citizens to maximize the power of their giving, supports great work happening in our communities, and leads and collaborates on high-impact initiatives. For more information, please visit www.nhcf.org