New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
As the snow starts to melt and spring approaches, families in Greater New Bedford begin planning for the summer, whether it is a vacation, camp or summer school. For many in our community, this is a difficult time; those struggling to just keep food on the table are worried about where their children will go while they are at work and if they will be safe throughout the summer months.
United Way of Greater New Bedford’s Summer Fund is once again seeking applications from non-profit agencies to provide youth ages 6-21 with youth employment, camperships and cultural enrichment experiences to disadvantaged youth in Greater New Bedford. The grants provide additional summer camperships for organizations to distribute to children in need or can be used to hire teens to work at summer programs helping both the organization and the teens that are hired. The cultural enrichment tract varies greatly, it has helped fund the ArtMobile, summer AHA! events and various program that help expand art and cultural offerings to local families.
“Summer Fund provides hundreds of youth with meaningful experiences,” said Victoria Grasela, coordinator of Summer Fund. “It also eases the minds of families that are not sure what their kids will do all summer, especially those families who cannot afford to even consider a summer program without the availability of financial aid or camp scholarships.”
Non-profits with a determined 501(c)(3) status are encouraged to apply for up to $5,000 in funding. Organizations must serve youth in Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Rochester and Wareham. Organizations interested in applying should visit www.unitedwayofgnb.org to access the guidelines and online application. Applications are due by Friday, April 3, 2015.
Last year, Summer Fund granted $104,000 to summer programming for youth in our community. Summer Fund grants are made possible through a pooled fund of contributions from a number of local foundations.
For more information about Summer Fund, please contact Victoria Grasela at 508-994-9625 x10 or vgrasela@unitedwayofgnb.org.
