Only organizations with annual budgets of $250,000 or less, or independent performers, are eligible.

The Barr Foundation is contributing an additional $250,000 to the program, making for a total of $1.75 million to be distributed across three years.

Allyson Esposito, the Boston Foundation‘s director of arts and culture, says the new fund will support “new work, culturally specific work, and avant-garde and contemporary work.”

“There’s a need to give artists and small organizations some wiggle room to create new works, to experiment,” she added. Those artist grants will be divided into awards of up to $1,000 distributed throughout the year, and fellowship-style grants of up to $10,000 intended to support artists’ work broadly.

EdVesters, the Boston-based philanthropy centered on bolstering public education, was expected to announce $650,000 in new grants for its program known as Boston Public School Arts Expansion; the city school system will also begin a revamp of its arts-education policy, which dates to the early 1990s.

Though the prospect looms as a long-term goal, neither the Boston Creates report nor the newly announced programs call for any specific mechanism to create a dedicated revenue stream that would fund efforts like these into the future something that would potentially be of much greater import than any initiative unveiled this week.

“I am committed to finding a sustainable public funding stream for arts and culture. A cultural facilities study is underway, but Walsh also announced a pilot program to encourage Boston organizations to make existing spaces available to performers.

Initial participants are the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, which will make an auditorium available in evening hours; the AT&T flagship store, with a balcony space suitable for rehearsals; and the Plummers & Gasfitters Local 12 union hall in Dorchester.

Though AT&T is involved in the rehearsal space pilot program and Eastern Bank has pledged new money to the Boston Cultural Council, other corporate support or corporate dollars does not appear to be a key component of the newly announced efforts.

When asked if the city reached out to General Electric which was lured to its planned headquarters in the Seaport District with help from a package of city and state incentives including $20 million in property tax breaks to contribute funds or otherwise participate, Joyce Linehan, the mayor’s chief of policy, said only that the city is “approaching any corporation that wants to talk to us about this plan.”

“Once corporations start to see the incredible investment of the city and of the philanthropic world, and the mayor gets up to use the bully pulpit to say ‘This is something that’s very important to me,’ as he’s said all along, then corporations will begin to come along,” Linehan said in an interview at City Hall.

In-kind donations from area museums include a pledge from the Museum of Fine Arts to assist the city with maintenance and preservation of publicly owned art.

Marlborough: Friends of Marlborough Seniors awarded $100K – News – MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA – Framingham, MA MARLBOROUGH – The Friends of the Marlborough Seniors was recently awarded a $100,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation for various programs that will enhance seniors lives.The grant was awarded as part of the Cummings Foundation’s “$100K for 100″ program which provides $100,000 grants to 100 community organizations across Greater Boston. More than 470 community organizations applied for the grant program.”Our organization is incredibly grateful to the Cummings Foundation for their continued support,” said Sean Nicholas Fay, president of the Friends of Marlborough Seniors. “Our ability to serve Marlborough’s seniors is due in large part to the generosity of the Cummings Foundation and this grant will allow us to enhance the lives of countless seniors in our community.”The funds will be used for transportation, dementia programs, subsidized meals and educational, cultural and recreational opportunities.”We are very proud of the proud of the programming we have for seniors,” said Mayor Arthur Vigeant. “Our beautiful new senior center is always bustling with activity and the Cummings Foundation grant will enable us to continue offering these great services to Marlborough seniors.”Vigeant and Council on Aging Director Trish Pope accepted the grant during a ceremony at TradeCenter 128 in Woburn last week.The $100K for 100 program supports nonprofit organizations that are not only based in but also primarily serve Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties. MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

As president of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, I recently signed 134 scholarship checks totaling $196,097. It is also humbling to know that all of these scholarships would not exist without the generosity of donors in this community over the last 63 years.Three of the checks I signed were for Colman Scholars. Each of those students received a $2,500 scholarship in their freshman year and $10,000 per year for the remaining three years of their undergraduate education.The Colman Scholars are students in engineering, computer science and technology. Louis and Violet Rubin endowment to match an equal amount raised by the colleges.Together, the $8 million in permanent scholarship endowments will make an additional $320,000 worth of scholarships available for local students every year. mainImageContainerInnerHTML += ”+htmlencode(mainImageData_caption)+”; mainImageContainerInnerHTML += ”+mainImageData_caption+”; mainImageContainerInnerHTML_sm += ”+mainImageData_credit+”; mainImageContainerInnerHTML_sm += ”+mainImageData_caption+”; $(‘#art-main-image-credit-container_sm’).css(‘width’,smimgwidth).css(‘padding’,’3px ‘+(mainImageData_leftPadding – 3)+’px 0 0’); $(‘#art-main-image-caption-container_sm’).css(‘width’,sm_img.width).css(‘padding’,’5px 0 0 ‘+(mainImageData_leftPadding + 3)+’px’); $(‘#art-main-image-caption-container’).css(‘width’,img.width).css(‘padding’,’5px 0 0 ‘+mainImageData_leftPadding+’px’); $(‘#art-main-image-credit-container’).css(‘width’,img.width).css(‘padding’,’5px ‘+(mainImageData_leftPadding)+’px 0 0’);

Buley Center, EDGE After-School: $30,000Shafer Leadership Academy, capacity support: $40,000

Continuing the foundationas ongoing support for health, wellnessA and the environment grant recipients include the James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association, which receivedA $100,000A for diabetes research and the Delaware County Soil andA Water Conservation District, which receivedA $50,000A for watershed projects.

Three grants are designed to strengthen the venues and programs of local arts and culture organizations:

Cornerstone Center for the Arts, upgrades and operating support: $200,000Muncie Symphony Orchestra, Together in Music Outreach: $50,000Music for All, 2016 Summer Symposium: $30,000

Other grants will support efforts to improve the quality of life in the city and county:

Ball State University, The Meth Project a A Community-Wide Education Initiative: $10,000City of Muncie Fire Department, turn-out gear: $19,371Delaware County Emergency medical service, chemical identification system: $83,600Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity, 2017 housing program: $100,000Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity, neighborhood revitalization in Thomas Park-Avondale/South Central: $50,000Sustainable Muncie Corporation, GearBox: Muncie: $250,000

Organizations that address human service needs within Delaware County and surrounding counties also received Ball Brothers Foundation support:

Indiana Youth Institute, organizational effectiveness grants: $62,000United Way of Delaware County, 2016 campaign matching funds: $100,000Youth Opportunity Center, behavioral health services, facilities and infrastructure, employee recruitment and retention: $250,000

The deadline for organizations interested in applying for general grant funding during the Ball Brothers Foundation‘s second and final grant-making round of the year is July 15.

In order to provide an opportunity to poor to have an access to dental care, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced an award of $1.75 million to five health centers in Oregon.

The grant is part of the $470 million that has been forwarded to clinics across the nation with an objective to improve oral health care for people who depend on federally funded health centers. In addition, Burwell has also announced $1.4 million in funding to support four health centers in Virginia.

The funding to health centers across the nation would expand the oral health care services and increase the number of patients being served. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded, the health centers across the nation will increase their oral health service capacity by hiring around 1,600 new dentists, dental hygienists, assistants, helpers and technicians.

It is very important to have proper access of dental check-up as the absence of routine dental care especially for underserved populations could result into dental conditions that might require more costly emergency dental treatment.

HRSA Acting Administrator Jim Macrae said, “HRSA will continue to explore ways to further integrate oral health services within primary care settings, and increase awareness of the connection between oral health and overall health”.

Currently, there are around 1,400 health centers at approximately 9,800 service delivery sites in every US state, DC, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Pacific Basin.

According to a report in Miami Herald by Daniel Chang, “The Obama administration this week announced nearly $10 million in grants for Florida health centers and organizations to expand oral health services and reduce the number of uninsured children in the state. Among the grant recipients were four Miami-Dade centers, which received $350,000 each, including Borinquen Health Care Center, Community Health South Florida, Jessie Trice Community Health Center and Miami Beach Community Health Center.

A report published in the Oregon Live News said, “The federal government announced Thursday it is awarding $1.75 million to five health centers in Oregon to give the poor greater access to dental care. Department of Health and Human Services is part of $470 million awarded to clinics nationwide to improve oral health care to patients who rely on federally funded health centers.”

“Oral health is an important part of our overall physical health and well-being,” Sylvia Burwell, Health and Human Services secretary, said in a statement.

BAYBORO | Pamlico County has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation to create an educational training pipeline from middle school through college to help create a workforce to fill local and regional jobs in science, technology, engineering and math jobs.Beth Bucksot, the county economic developer, said areas have been identified where present and future businesses in these fields have the potential to grow in Pamlico County.”Having this skilled workforce and customized training will aid in attracting new STEM-based businesses and creating the future jobs needed to give students and adults the opportunity to live and work in Pamlico County,” she said. “Regional students who attend Pamlico Community College and regional employers will benefit as well.”The program will include Pamlico County Middle School, Pamlico County High School, Arapahoe Charter school and Pamlico Community College.The grant was awarded through the county.Sherry Meador, the Pamlico Schools director for instructional services, said the grant is for three years, requires no local tax money and that future grants will be available upon the program’s results and growth.She said that the program will require teachers being trained and certified. That will involve science, math and career technical education teachers.Meador said the program’s budget meeting is later this month, with plans to initiate it in the middle school this fall and begin it at the high school level in the 2017-18 term.She said money will also be used to restructure classrooms for new equipment, which includes items such as computers, 3D printers, robotic kits and other specialized equipment.”We will use these modules and labs to model or mimic the projected jobs that we are expecting to have in Craven, Beaufort and Pamlico counties so that we don’t lose our young folks, and that they stay in the community and continue to build our workforce,” Meador said. “It is to provide an avenue for us to provide very strategic training.”She said this type program was overdue.”We were the only school district in Eastern North Carolina that did not have a STEM lab opportunity for the middle school students,” Meador said.She said the training is toward projected job opportunities in the region.”These sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade kids still have four more years after that before they actually get into the workforce,” she said, adding that the availability of trained workers will help Bucksot and the economic development efforts for the county.Page 2 of 2 – The areas of training will include engineering, alternative energy, architectural design, biotechnology, communications, construction, digital electronics, environmental, manufacturing and transportation technology, along with materials science and robotics and automation.Seed money from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the NC Connect Bond and in-kind contributions from the schools and college provided the matching funds.According to information from Bucksot, the labs at the community college will be used by college students, along with 11th- and 12th-grade dual enrollment students, returning adult workforce and allow customized training for businesses.It also will create networking, job exposure and mentorship between students and staff and local and regional businesses.The major contributors to the grant writing were Maria Fraser-Molina, Tammy Scott, Meador, Brandi McCullough, Shirley Holt, Tim Buck and Bucksot.A number of area entities and businesses are listed as providing input, support and future commitments to the program EAS Global.

Construction crews will be putting shovels in the ground the week after school ends to begin a 15-month renovation of the Lopez School buildings. The project will replace and refurbish building safety, electrical, heating, plumbing and septic systems as well as update the school’s technology infrastructure and refurbish classrooms, common areas, and building exteriors.

Over the past year, the district has been working to finalize the needs assessment, develop construction designs, secure available grant and construction match dollars, and complete the permit and bidding process.

School Board President John Helding commented, “Right now is a tough bidding environment with a number of new school and renovation projects vying for experienced general contractors and workable bid amounts. During the second summer science classrooms and labs will see significant renovation and major work will be performed on the school’s substandard kitchen along with a renovation of the multipurpose room.

Construction crews will be putting shovels in the ground the week after school ends to begin a 15-month renovation of the Lopez School buildings. The project will replace and refurbish building safety, electrical, heating, plumbing and septic systems as well as update the school’s technology infrastructure and refurbish classrooms, common areas, and building exteriors.

School Board President John Helding commented, “Right now is a tough bidding environment with a number of new school and renovation projects vying for experienced general contractors and workable bid amounts. During the second summer science classrooms and labs will see significant renovation and major work will be performed on the school’s substandard kitchen along with a renovation of the multipurpose room.

Initiative Foundation‘s president to move onInitiative Foundation‘s president to move on

Kathy Gaalswyk celebrates the yearlong participation and graduation of the Initiative Foundationas first cohort of Emerging Leaders.(Photo: Courtesy of the Initiative Foundation)

LITTLE FALLS aA The Initiative Foundation‘s first and only president and CEO Kathy GaalswykA announced Friday she’ll be moving on to other pursuits.

In her role, Gaalswyk has led the Foundation from its inception in 1986, aiming to increase theA resilience and vitality in Central Minnesota’s economy and communities.

During that time, the Initiative Foundation has distributed $80 million in grants to nonprofits and loans to businesses, secured 13,000 jobs and has accumulated $61 million in assets. She hopes to help a new leader transition into the position.

“I’ve been blessed with the most incredible career,” she said.

aFollow Stephanie Dickrell on TwitterA @SctimesSteph, like her on Facebook atA www.facebook.com/sctimessteph,A call her at 255-8749 or find more stories atA www.sctimes.com/sdickrell.A

A few key events in Initiative Foundation history

1986: Incorporated as Central MinnesotaA Initiative Fund; first McKnight grant received.
1996: 10-year anniversary a total assets: $13.9 million,A 10 employees.
1999: Changed name to Initiative Foundation.
2000: Moved to current location inA Little Falls.
2003: Began Initiative Quarterly magazine.
2006: 20-year anniversary a total assets: $40.7 million,A 25 employees.
2009: Launched initiativeA for children of incarcerated parents.
2011: 25-year anniversary a total assets: $43.1 million,A 21 employees.
2012: Launched Thriving CommunitiesA Initiative program.
2016: 30-year anniversary a $61 million in assets;A 25 employees.

Source: Initiative Foundation.

Read or Share this story: http://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2016/06/17/initiative-foundations-president-move/86033110/

MDT June 17, 2016

Sisters Maureen Wicks, left, and Kerry Callahan Bronson stand with an older taxi at the Havana airport in Cuba.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Maureen Wicks)

Ole!

Great Falls community activist Kerry Callahan Bronson excitedly announced Friday that a Montana nonprofit has raised enough money to bring a stirring Cuban choir to Montana, although additional donations are still being sought.

The first Montana performance by the young adult choir, Cantores de Cienfuegos, will be a free concert on Monday, July 11, at Great Falls College-MSU Heritage Hall, 2100 16th Ave. Festival Director Anne Marie Brinkman invited the Cuban choir to participate in the July 13 to 16 festival, offering to cover food, lodging and travel expenses while the group is in Montana.

The Montana supporters set a goal of raising $46,000 to bring the 23-member choir to Montana through the Missoula Community Foundation, Callahan Bronson said.

aWe are happy to report recent success in securing the necessary travel permits and visas,a Callahan Bronson said, and in raising enough money, including a loan from a benefactor, for the project to go forward.

aWe still need to raise about $20,000 statewide,a she said, adding she hopes to raise about $6,000 from the Great Falls area.

aWe feel it is important to bring this amazing choir to Montana so they can share their culture and story with us, something no Cuban group has been able to do for decades,a Callahan Bronson said.

She said sheas seeking businesses or individuals to sponsor a choir member, at about $2,000 apiece, but would appreciate smaller $10 or $25 donations, too.

aSo many Americans are able to spend thousands of dollars to visit foreign countries, seeing fascinating places and meeting great people,a she added.

En Ka Society receives $100K from Cummings – Daily Times Chronicle: Winchester Pictured left to right are 2004-2006 En Ka President Robin Wortmann, 2006-2008 En Ka President Julie Doe, Joyce Cummings of the Cummings Foundation, 2010 a 2012 En Ka President Phyllis Gleason and current En Ka President Nancy Powers. The En Ka Society was originally founded in 1902.A A Membership currently includes nearly 250 women who volunteer over 10,000 hours annually to support local charitable, civic, and non-profit initiatives through the Societyas Gifts Committee, to provide funds to address critical individual needs through its Social Service Committee, and to support the direct service activities conducted by the En Ka Civic Committee. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Winchester.A With assets exceeding $1 billion, it is one of the largest foundations in New England.A The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including two New Horizons retirement communities in Marlborough and Woburn.A Its largest single commitment to date was $50 million to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.A Additional information is available atA www.CummingsFoundation.org.

WINCHESTER – The En Ka Society of Winchester has been chosen to receive a grant of $100,000 through Cummings Foundationas $100K for 100 program.

En Ka Society, founded in 1902, is a womenas volunteer organization in Winchester, whose mission is to provide services and funding to address the needs of students and youth, the elderly, the physically and mentally challenged, and non-profit organizations devoted to providing community enrichment, and health and social services.

aThe En Ka Society is thrilled to be a recipient of a Cummings Foundation $100Kfor100 grant. En Ka is so appreciative of Cummings Foundationas exceptional generosity,a said President Nancy Powers.

The $100,000 grant, to be distributed over three years, will enable En Ka to expand its food gift card program, increase the discretionary funds provided to each school, support camperships for childrenas recreational and enrichment programs, and provide additional emergency funding for those who need assistance with everyday expenses such as food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare. In addition, En Ka intends to solicit input to identify other programs that might be introduced to support those in financial need in Winchester.

aWe admire and very much appreciate the important work that nonprofit organizations like the En Ka Society are doing in the local communities where our colleagues and clients live and work,a said Joel Swets, Cummings Foundationas executive director.