Vermont Business MagazineThe Samara Fund, a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, announces awards of $65,000 in grants and scholarships in its sixth annual competitive grant round at the Foundation. The fund awarded $55,000 to 18 nonprofits, including support for the Vermont Pride Festival and Parade onSunday, September 10, and $10,000 in scholarships to five high school seniors.
This year’s grantmaking was made possible in part by contributions from Vermont Community Foundation fundholders, as well as dozens of gifts to the Samara Fund from supporters of Vermont’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community.
The projects this year include many involving performance arts and films addressing LGBTQ issues, a program to connect LGBTQ people with one another in rural areas, and several programs for HIV/AIDS prevention and support services.
The Samara Fund’s vision is to be Vermont’s leading source of permanent support dedicated to nurturing the vitality, success, and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities through dynamic and sustained philanthropy.
2017 GRANTS
AIDS Project of Southern Vermontreceived $4,000 to support HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, and services in the Brattleboro and Bennington areas.
Chandler Center for the Artsin Randolph received $4,000 to support the Vermont Pride Theater Festival.
Common Ground Centerin Starksboro received $3,500 to support Camp Outright, a summer camp for queer youth.
Flynn Center for the Performing Artsin Burlington received $750 to support a dance, theater, and storytelling program that gives voice to long-term survivors of the AIDS pandemic.
Green Mountain Crossroadsin Brattleboro received $4,000 to connect rural LGBTQ people to build community, visibility, knowledge, and power.
HIV/HCV Resource Centerin West Lebanon, New Hampshire received $3,000 for HIV/AIDS and HCV prevention and service programs in the Upper Valley.
John Graham Shelterin Vergennes received $2,500 to provide safe shelter and housing options for homeless LGBTQ youth and adults in Addison and Chittenden counties.
New England Youth Theatrein Brattleboro received $3,000 to support a play that will teach about attitudes of prejudice and tolerance faced by the LGTBQ community.
Outright Vermontin Burlington received $4,000 to operateFridayNight Group, a support program for LGBTQ youth in Burlington, Montpelier, and Brattleboro.
Pride Center of Vermontin Burlington received $3,000 to support a Trans Program Coordinator advocacy position and $3,500 to support the 2017 annual Pride Parade and Festival.
Twin States Networkin Williamstown received $2,500 to support the costs of providing services to people impacted by HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.
Vermont CARESin Burlington received $3,000 to support the “On the Road to Zero” campaign to end new HIV infections in Vermont.
Vermont Performance Labreceived $4,000 to support a performance about political radical movements in the 1960s and 1970s and how they manifested in Vermont.
Vermont People with Aids Coalitionreceived $2,500 to support a scholarship program for their annual retreat which brings together people with HIV/AIDS and their partners.
Vermont Stage Companyin Burlington received $4,500 to support the production of FUN HOME, a musical about a young lesbian based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic novel.
Women's Freedom Centerin Brattleboro received $500 to screen films featuring LGBTQI stories at the Women's Film Festival.
Wonder & Wisdomreceived $2,750 to support Stand UP! For Social Justice which provides education and support to LGBTQ students through workshops, performing arts, activism, and more.
2017 SAMARA FUND SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED TO SENIORS AT THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS:
·Harwood Union High School (two students)
·Randolph High School
·St. Johnsbury Academy
·Williamstown Middle High School
The Vermont Community Foundation is a family of hundreds of funds and foundations established by Vermonters to serve their charitable goals. It provides the advice, investment vehicles, and back-office expertise to make giving easy and effective. The Foundation also provides leadership in giving by responding to community needs, mobilizing and connecting philanthropists to multiply their impact, and by keeping Vermont’s nonprofit sector vital with grants and other investments in the community. Visitwww.vermontcf.orgor call802-388-3355for more information.
Source: Vermont Community Foundation. 9.5.2017. For more information about the Samara Fund and this year's grants visitvermontcf.org/samara.