Newsroom
For Immediate Release
July 7, 2008
For more information contact:
Claudia Kirk, Program Director
United Way of Greater New Bedford
508-994-9625, ext. 13
United Way Mini-Grants Awards Most Ever to 45 Volunteer Groups
Nearly $44,000 distributed for projects aimed at strengthening the community
The United Way of Greater New Bedford’s Community Building Mini-Grants Program had a record-breaking year, recently awarding $43,960 – the most ever – to 45 local all-volunteer groups that comprise the largest group of recipients in the program’s 13 year history.
The projects supported represent a broad spectrum of interests, issues and concerns – including neighborhood, senior and youth activities, public safety, nonviolence, environmental, performing arts, fitness, historical, advocacy, disability, beautification and events.
“Mini-Grants projects are created by the passion of everyday heroes who look at the challenges we face as opportunities for action to make community hopes and dreams a reality,” said Claudia Kirk, Program Director.
The grants provide groups with the opportunity to pursue initiatives that improve the quality of life and address locally identified issues in the Greater New Bedford area. Serving as the only local resource to support all-volunteer based organizations with budgets under $25,000, the program offers grant making, skill-building workshops, and networking opportunities.
The following organizations received Mini-Grants this year:
A.C.C.E.S.S. Art Corp. International; Acushnet/Fairhaven Special Education PAC; AIDS Awareness Day Committee; Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Group; Brooklawn Youth Skateboard Group; Bullard Street Neighborhood Association; Busy Hands/Loving Hearts; Cape Verdean Recognition Committee, Inc.; Cove Street Neighborhood Association; FACE the Music; Fairhaven Heritage Center; Fairhaven Sustainability Committee; Family Nonviolence, Inc.; Far North End Neighborhood Association; Fort Taber Historical Association; Friends of Nasketucket; Greater New Bedford Garden Club; Helping Hands and Hooves; Holocaust Education Committee; Leroy L. Wood School PTO; MA Children’s Relief Project; MA COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR/SouthCoast; MOMS Club of Fairhaven; Neighborhoods United; New Bedford Ballet Foundation; Normandin Middle School PTO; O.R.P.H. Inc.-(Orpheum Rising Project Helpers); OLOA Healthy Connections; Onset-Wareham Community Crime Watch; Operation Clean Sweep; Oversoul Theatre Collective, Inc.; Partners in Recovery, Inc.; People Supporting Independent Living & Leisure; Safe Zones; Showstoppers Performing Arts, Inc.; South Central/South 1st Street Neighborhood Assoc.; Southcoast Fathers Support Group; Strong Foundation; Team Builders. Inc.; Tree City Committee; United Families for Peace; Urban Fusion; Visually Impaired Persons Support Group; Westport Knittens; Winslow Parent Teacher Organization.
For more information about the United Way Community Building Mini-Grants Program, call Claudia Kirk at 508-994-9625, ext. 13.
For Immediate Release
July 1, 2008
For more information contact:
Caroline Cuccia, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
United Way of Greater New Bedford
508-994-9625, ext. 15
United Way Welcomes Two New Board Members
United Way of Greater New Bedford is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to the organization’s Board of Directors.
Roland A. Giroux, Assistant General Counsel at Acushnet Company, and Dr. Vanessa M. F. Williams, Executive Director of the Mattapoisett Council on Aging, were recently voted in to serve a three year term.
“For many years, I have admired the United Way and the support they’ve provided to local agencies,” said Mr. Giroux. “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in a more direct way."
Mr. Giroux holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and an MBA in Finance from Long Island University. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the Pace University School of Law and is a member of the American Bar Association. Mr. Giroux lives in Dartmouth with his wife Tracey and their two children.
Dr. Williams, also a Dartmouth resident, attended Brandeis University and currently holds a Ph.D. in Social and Developmental Psychology. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Gerontological Society of America. Dr. Williams lives with her husband John.
“I'm excited and proud to serve an organization that strengthens the Greater New Bedford community in so many ways,” said Dr. Williams. “I look forward to contributing what I can to the diverse programs that reach so many in the area.”
United Way’s Board of Directors operates entirely in a volunteer capacity, directing the organization’s strategic plan as well as their policies and procedures.
“We are delighted that Roland and Vanessa have volunteered to serve in this capacity,” said Michelle N. Hantman, United Way President. “They both come to us with expansive knowledge and great enthusiasm, and I look forward to working with them as we take our organization to the next level.”
United Way of Greater New Bedford is a non-profit organization that was established in 1953. The United Way enables every member of the community to play an active role in local philanthropy by bringing together volunteers, donors, community leaders, and corporate partners to provide quality programs and initiatives that achieve positive results. Its service area has a population in excess of 200,000.
For Immediate Release
July 1, 2008
For more information contact:
Caroline Cuccia, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
United Way of Greater New Bedford
508-994-9625, ext. 15
Summer Fund Provides Opportunities for Kids in Need
United Way of Greater New Bedford is pleased to announce the distribution of nearly $27,000 in Summer Fund grants to 13 local organizations, in an effort to provide children with significant financial limitations or physical disabilities the opportunity to attend summer enrichment programs.
“Each year, Summer Fund becomes more and more important for the hundreds of children in our community who face a summer without any structure or positive influences,” said the program’s Chairman, State Senator Mark C.W. Montigny.
“The situation for youth these days isn’t getting any easier, when so many families are working just put food on the table or to keep their homes,” he added.
The Island Foundation and the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts – Acushnet Foundation Fund serve as the main contributors to Summer Fund. Numerous area businesses and residents made individual donations as well.
“I truly hope that the generous individuals, companies and foundations that support this program understand the impact that their gift can have on a young person’s life, and on our community as a whole,” said Michelle N. Hantman, United Way President.
The 13 organizations that were awarded grants from Summer Fund are:
ARC of Greater New Bedford; Artworks! Partners for Arts and the Community; Boy Scouts Narragansett Council; Community Boating Center; Dartmouth YMCA, Camp Metacomet; Girl Scout Council of Southeastern Massachusetts; Gleason Family YMCA, Wareham; Mattapoisett YMCA, Camp Massasoit; New Bedford Prevention Partnership; New Bedford Art Museum's artMOBILE; New Bedford YMCA, Camp Fredrick Douglas; Trips for Kids; YWCA of Southeastern Massachusetts.
United Way of Greater New Bedford is a non-profit organization that was established in 1953. United Way brings together volunteers, community leaders, and corporate partners to provide quality programs and initiatives that achieve positive results. Its service area, which has a population in excess of 200,000, includes the City of New Bedford and surrounding towns of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester and Wareham.
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