Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Northeast Dutchess Fund Awards $43K in Grants to Seventeen Nonprofit Groups

August 2, 2010

SHEFFIELD, MA—The Northeast Dutchess Fund announced today that it has awarded $43,250 in grants to seventeen nonprofit groups. A fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the Northeast Dutchess Fund awards grants to nonprofit organizations serving Amenia, Clinton Corners, Dover Plains, Millbrook, Millerton, North East, Pine Plains, Stanford, Washington, Wassaic and Wingdale.

The fund awarded the following grants:

Art East: $1,000 to develop promotional materials for a free open studio tour.

Council on Addiction Prevention and Education: $3,000 to subsidize the Marathon Project which empowers youth through a distance running program and culminates with participation in the Hartford Marathon.

Dutchess BOCES: $1,800 to educate students in sustainable agriculture and agribusiness through the development of a solar-powered, aquaponic laboratory.

Dutchess Community College Foundation: $5,000 for GED classes in English and Spanish.

Dutchess County Community Action Agency: $1,000 to develop a savings program for low-income families which provides matching 1:1 donations for savings deposits up to $500.

First Presbyterian Church of Millerton: $4,000 to expand the English as a Second Language program to promote quality of life for new immigrants.

Housatonic Valley Association: $1,400 to raise public awareness about the environmental health of the Swamp River and its watershed in Dover Plains and Pawling.

Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Inc.: $2,000 for an artist residency workshop series at Millbrook High School, including two productions of ‘Julius Caesar.’

Little Nine Partners Historical Society: $750 to restore basement access in the Little Nine Partners Historical Society building.

Millerton Adopt-A-Family: $3,000 for warm clothing and educational toys and materials for low-income families.

North East Community Council, Inc.: $5,000 for the Family Support Program which provides parenting support and education to local families.

Northeast–Millerton Library: $800 for a series of free musical performances.

Rural & Migrant Ministry: $3,000 for the Overnight Leadership Camp, a youth empowerment program for children of migrant workers.

St. Thomas Church Food of Life Pantry: $5,000 to increase distribution of food supplies, including fresh vegetables, dairy and meats.

Susie Reizod Foundation: $1,500 for New Shoes Donation Program to Children In Need which provides new shoes to low-income families.

Town of Amenia: $2,000 to provide free after-school dance instruction to youth in the Webutuck School district.

United Presbyterian Church of Amenia: $3,000 toward the purchase of a new furnace for the United Presbyterian Church building.

A committee of local residents reviews applications to the fund and awards grants based on excellence of the proposed project or service, its impact on the organization or community, and the ability of the organization to carry out the project. The next deadline to apply for Northeast Dutchess Fund will be Spring 2011. Applications are available here or by calling 413.229.0370.

To make a donation to the Northeast Dutchess Fund, or for more information, please contact Berkshire Taconic at info@berkshiretaconic.org, or 413.229.0370.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT. Berkshire Taconic connects donors with causes they care about by administering and investing their charitable funds. Thanks to its generous donors, in 2009 Berkshire Taconic distributed nearly $7 million in scholarships and grants for programs in the arts and education, health and human services, and environmental protection. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

###