Tufts Fund Gives to Grafton Schools for 'Pet Wellness Day'

Submitted by Katie Cinnamond, assistant director of public relations, Tufts University

The Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund (TNSF) committee recently awarded grants to five organizations in Grafton. TNSF collects donations from university employees throughout the year and then awards grants to community-based, charitable organizations that serve Tufts' host communities (Somerville, Medford, Grafton and Boston's Chinatown) and that actively engage Tufts volunteers in their work.

A committee comprised of Tufts administrators, faculty and staff meets annually to review proposals and select grant recipients. In 2012 there was a total of $20,380 available to distribute through TNSF. The committee received 49 proposals representing more than $74,000 in requests and selected 32 programs and projects for awards. Members of the TNSF committee base their decisions on a desire to address the most pressing needs in the communities, to assist programs with few other options for support, and to encourage expanded involvement of Tufts volunteers. 

The Grafton grant recipients for 2012 are:

• Community Harvest Project -- $500 towards the purchase of energy-efficient irrigation system upgrades.
• Grafton Public Schools -- $350 for the production of a “Pet Wellness Day” to take place at Grafton elementary schools.
• Grafton Senior Center -- $800 for two and a half months’ worth of transportation services for seniors and disabled persons in the community.
• St. James Church Outreach Program -- $1,850 to expand their emergency relief funds for community members who are in need of assistance.
• St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen Ministry -- $1,825 to extend their Market Sunday Ministry to include perishable foods for the community during winter months.

“Each year, the range of grant requests from community agencies is more diverse and more telling," said Barbara Rubel, director of community relations,
"meaning that the committee faces an increasingly more difficult decision.  This year’s grant proposals were thoughtful and compelling. We wish we could fund all of them. We hope the employee contributions to TNSF demonstrate how vital our host communities are to the university and we want to thank the Tufts volunteers, faculty, and staff who made this possible.”

Questions regarding the Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund can be directed to the Community Relations Office at Tufts University (617-627-3780).