Salem Scholarship Committee Awards 3 Education Fund Grants

SALEM, MA — Three awards totaling more than $2,300 were awarded to a trio of Salem school programs and local nonprofit educational organizations this past week.

The Salem School Committee voted at its last meeting to authorize the Scholarship and Education Committee to release the awards through its Education Fund to the Salem YMCA, Salem Public Schools early childhood program and The House of the Seven Gabes.

The Salem YMCA will use $1,000 to buy games and materials for social-emotional learning programs that serve 259 Salem students.

The Salem Public Schools' early childhood program will use $808 for books and equipment for water tables and sensory play activities for 194 preschool and pre-K students at three schools.

The House of the Seven Gables will use $500 for software, books and supplies for adult English as second language classes serving 40 Salem residents.

"These grant awards will help these worthwhile local schools and programs advance their missions to serve and educate Salem youth," Scholarship and Education Committee chair Tyler Carlton said. "The Scholarship and Education Committee is grateful to the many Salem residents who have donated to the fund, making these grant awards possible.

"I would like to encourage all our community's residents and businesses to consider a small donation to the Scholarship Fund or the Education Fund, so the Committee can continue to support these important efforts."

Those looking to contribute to the Education Fund to support future programs can do so here. The Fund is largely built on small donations made on city tax bills.

For 25 years, the Fund has provided scholarships and grants to Salem students, schools and nonprofits serving city residents.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)