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Takoma Foundation announces
Spring Grants cycle
The Takoma Foundation is
accepting applications for a spring grants cycle. Takoma Foundation
grants are geared toward meeting the diverse needs of the
community, including cultural, civic, economic, environmental,
and educational activities that engage the community’s
residents, and surrounding neighborhoods.
According to Dan Parr, the Foundation’s president, "We
want to make sure that everyone can participate in community
life, whether it is a charitable activity, sports league,
parade, school, or faith-based community action. The Takoma
Foundation supports a dynamic, vibrant community that is inclusive,
accepting, supportive, and understanding."
The Foundation raises funds through membership and contributions
from individuals and businesses in the community. Last fall,
the Foundation awarded nine grants totaling $4,000 to elementary
and middle school PTA’s in the Takoma Park/Silver Spring
area.
The PTA’s used their $400 grants to fund special enrichment
and after school activities for youth.
The Takoma Park Middle School used its grant to finance scholarships
for field trips to students who could not afford it. Piney
Branch Elementary School is using its grant to finance its
"Year of the Writer" program to enhance students’
skill and interest in writing.
Established in 1988, the Takoma Foundation was active for
years promoting community-based activities through small grants.
In recent years the Foundation was dormant, but a committed
group of Takoma Park residents has revived the Foundation.
Meeting monthly throughout the fall, the Foundation board
has decided to focus on two activities: 1) making grants that
promote and facilitate the vibrant health of the greater Takoma
Park community, and 2) raising resources to furnish the city’s
new community center.
The Takoma Foundation is a public charity, operated as a
donor advised fund of the Montgomery County Community Foundation.
In an effort to be inclusive, the Foundation is interested
in supporting organizations that provide services and activities
to residents of Takoma Park, Maryland and surrounding neighborhoods.
"Our community is bigger than our city boundaries, and
we want the Foundation to have an impact on those adjacent
communities that we interact with daily", says Grant
Committee chair, Bruce Baker.
The Foundation is trying to make the application process
"community-friendly." Non-profit organizations and
other civic and charitable organizations can get application
forms and guidelines from the Foundation’s web site:
www.takomafoundation.org.
Application forms are also available at the city’s municipal
building and the Takoma Park library. For those who don’t
have web access, or if you have questions about eligibility,
you can email the Foundation at info@takomafoundation.org,
or call Bruce Baker at 301-589-3633. The deadline for applications
is Thursday, April 1. Grants will range between $400 and $2,000.
If you are interested in contributing money to the Foundation
to be granted in upcoming grant cycles, send your checks made
payable to the Takoma Foundation to: Takoma Foundation, c/o
Montgomery County Community Foundation, 8720 Georgia Avenue,
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
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