The SouthCoast Community Foundation awarded a total of $55,000 in August to 25 local nonprofit organizations for summer programs serving youth in the region.
The awards were made from the SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund, which the foundation established in March 2020 to support nonprofit organizations on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak. To date, the fund has raised more than $5.58 million and granted more than $4.78 million to nonprofits providing emergency support for vulnerable populations, including the homeless, immigrant families and those facing food insecurity in the region.
A wide range of corporations, foundations, and individuals have donated to the fund, responding to the Community Foundation’s call to come together on behalf of the community.
“Many of us have powerful memories of summers on Buzzards Bay and throughout the region, given the year we are all having, we owe it to our youth to help them create memories, make friends, breathe fresh air, learn a skill, and have a summer,” said John Vasconcellos, president of the SouthCoast Community Foundation.
Among the recipients of the summer program grants is Gnome Surf of Fall River.
“We are a 501c3 nonprofit Surf Therapy program that provides an alternate and innovative form of healthcare that addresses both physical and mental health as well as, emotional well-being. We aim to create a world where kindness, love, happiness, compassion and self-confidence are available to All Kids of All Abilities,” said Chris Antao, founder of Gnome Surf. “The SouthCoast Community Foundation has been instrumental in helping us to provide life altering services to over 750 families throughout Massachusetts. It has helped attract tourism and more support to small businesses in the area as well.”
Grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 were distributed to the following organizations:
- Attleboro Area Interfaith Collaborative
- Attleboro YMCA
- Bay Coast Rowing Center, Inc.
- Boys and Girls Club of Fall River
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Bedford/Wareham
- Boys & Girls Club of Plymouth
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South
- Brockton Area Multi-Services, Inc.
- Buzzards Bay Coalition
- Citizens for Citizens
- Community Boating Center
- Dennison Memorial Community Center
- Dream Out Loud Center
- Gnome Surf
- New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks!
- NorthStar Learning Centers
- Old Colony YMCA
- Old Dartmouth Historical Society
- On Stage Theatrical Productions, Inc.
- Our Sisters’ School
- PAACA
- United Neighbors of Fall River
- YMCA Southcoast
- Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Inc.
- YWCA of Southeastern MA
For general questions and inquiries about the fund, direct your inquiry to emergencyfund@southcoastcf.org. For any questions regarding making a donation, contact the Community Foundation’s Development Manager, Tricia Grime at pgrime@southcoastcf.org
