MIDDLEBURY, VT - $241,959 was awarded to 31 organizations across the state as part of the Vermont Community Foundation’s Successful Communities grant round, which makes awards to organizations that support civic engagement; diversity and equity; and education.

The following organizations received grants:

Statewide
Brattleboro Community Justice Center was awarded $6,200 to support its Returning Prisoner Simulation workshops.

Chittenden Community Television was awarded $10,000 to support the Center for Media & Democracy’s skill-building workshops and events for nonprofits.

Common Ground Center was awarded $3,750 to host the second annual Camp Kaleidoscope, a retreat for families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Friends of Burlington Gardens, Inc. was awarded $10,000 to support a mini-grant and technical assistance program that will help establish 10 new community garden sites across Vermont.

Outright Vermont was awarded $10,000 to support the statewide Vermont Youth StandOUT Campaign.

Peace and Justice Center was awarded $10,000 to support its initiative to analyze and build awareness about the intersections between racial bias and economic justice in Vermont.

R.U.1.2.? Community Center was awarded $10,000 to support its Vermont Diversity Health Project.

Reach Out and Read Vermont was awarded $3,000 to support a literacy program that reaches children through pediatric practices.

Snelling Center for Government was awarded $10,000 to help strengthen its Vermont School Leadership Project.

Special Olympics Vermont was awarded $10,000 to support its multi-year initiative to shift the statewide structure to a regional, community-based model and provide year-round training and competitive events.

The DREAM Program, Inc. was awarded $8,863 to provide 20 summer DREAM camp scholarships for children of refugee and immigrant families.

Toxics Action Center was awarded $10,000 to support the Building Vibrant Communities Campaign to increase the capacity of three ad-hoc citizens groups to address environmental issues associated with gravel quarries in Moretown, Rochester, and Chester.

Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force was awarded $10,000 to support public education activities about the issues surrounding the freedom to marry for all Vermonters.

Vermont Humanities Council was awarded $10,000 to purchase books and hire facilitators for six new community book and discussion groups that emphasize historical and modern perspectives on social and racial equity, community identity, and war.

Vermont Women's History Project was awarded $1,000 for operational support.

Bennington County
Oak Hill Children's Center was awarded $5,500 to support professional development for staff leading to full accreditation of the Center.

Chittenden County
Center for Community and Neighborhoods was awarded $10,000 to support its new Inclusive Community Initiative.

Children's Literacy Foundation was awarded $4,750 to provide new, high-quality children's books to the library at the Burlington King Street Youth Center and the children in the program.

Fletcher Free Library was awarded $4,000 to support the establishment of two book clubs for teens that will include speakers and the purchase of books.

Joseph's House was awarded $2,800 to bring together new American refugees and immigrants with their neighbors.

Mobius, The Mentoring Movement was awarded $9,000 to establish community-based mentoring programs through the Sara Holbrook Center and the Boys and Girls Club in Burlington's North End.

Lamoille County
Lamoille Area Recreation Center was awarded $6,000 to help create a new computer learning lab, which will provide education opportunities for all ages.

Orange County
White River Craft Center was awarded $10,000 to hire a part-time program and community outreach coordinator.

Rutland County
Kids on the Move was awarded $6,096 to offer a summer camp style program with intense physical, occupational, and speech therapy to five special needs children ages four to five.

The Mentor Connector was awarded $10,000 to support its mission to increase adult-youth mentoring matches.

Washington County
Center for Whole Communities was awarded $10,000 to support ValleyFutures.net, a network for civic engagement around land development and conservation issues in Vermont’s Mad River Valley.

Central Vermont Adult Basic Education was awarded $10,000 to provide community-based basic education and literacy instruction to students aged 50 years and older in Washington, Orange, and Lamoille Counties.

Food Works was awarded $10,000 to support its Good Food-Good Medicine program that connects local farms with underserved communities.

Windham County
Vermont Independent Media was awarded $10,000 to support The Commons, a monthly community newspaper and the Media Mentoring Project, a participatory journalism program.

Windsor County
Upper Valley Trails Alliance was awarded $10,000 in operational support to strengthen and expand community engagement and financial support in the service area between Ryegate and Springfield.

Vermont Institute of Natural Science was awarded $1,000 for operational support.