Around Town

Watertown Helps Out Returns Bigger and Better in 2022

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Watertown’s day of community service has turned into a month of volunteering. After a two year hiatus, Watertown Community Foundation is bringing back Watertown Helps Out in May, and WHO22 will have multiple opportunities during the month to lend a hand to local organizations around the city. Watertown Helps Out started in 2014 as a way for Watertown community members to help support their neighbors after Watertown was touched by the marathon bombings, it has now become a mainstay and beloved springtime event. 

In 2022, WCF decided to expand to a month for a few different reasons, said Executive Director Jan Singer. “Having had to forgo WHO in 2020 and 2021, we wanted to give back in a bigger and better way,” Singer said. “Watertown Helps Out, an annual day of community service and volunteering on the first Saturday in May, has been a mainstay of WCF since 2014.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Seeks Applications for $125K in Spring Grants

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The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) announces two Spring 2022 grant programs to support local nonprofits, community-based organizations, programs, and projects.  Approximately $125,000 will be distributed. WCF’s Program Grants will support organizations that serve Watertown to develop new or continue existing programs with an educational focus (broadly defined) and do not involve Watertown’s public schools.  Eligible organizations may apply for grants of $500 up to $5,000. WCF’s Institutional Support Grants are designed to help institutions central to the Watertown community by providing funds to maintain critical programming, staff, and cover operating costs. Grants under this program impose neither restrictions on the use of funds nor any program requirements. Eligible organizations may apply for grants of up to $7,500.

Around Town

Four Youth Sports Organizations Receive Grants from Watertown Community Foundation

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The Watertown Community Foundation provided the following announcement:

Watertown Community Foundation is pleased to announce the grantees of this year’s Youth Sports Program League Grants. The WCF Youth Sports League Grant Program provides financial support to youth sports leagues to reduce costs as barriers to participation. With support from The Bilezikian Family Foundation and NESN, this year’s grantees include Watertown/Belmont Football and Cheerleading League, Watertown Youth Hockey, Watertown Youth Baseball, and a special grant to The Challenger Division of Little League, a program for developmentally and physically challenged youth (age 8-21), that helps them enjoy the full benefits of baseball in an athletic environment structured to their abilities. WCF aims to serve Watertown youth from kindergarten through high school, their families, and the volunteer coaches who run the leagues. Many children cannot participate in organized sports due to the cost and many coaches assume the added burden of paying players’ fees themselves.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Introduces New Board Members

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) announces the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors. Joining the board are Watertown residents Eileen Hsu-Balzer, Felicia Sullivan, and Donna Tuccinardi. “We are delighted to welcome our newest board members and partners as we broaden our reach into the community. Each brings experience, energy, and dedication to our mission of building and sustaining a vibrant, close-knit community,” said David Siegel, WCF co-president. Eileen Hsu-Balzer is a long time Watertown resident with deep ties and commitment to the community, including as a current board member of the Watertown Boys and Girls Club and Springwell, a 24 year tenure as a Watertown School Committee member, Co-founder and past-Producer of the Summer Concert Series and more.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Offering Grants for Youth Sports Leagues

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

Youth Sports League Grants will support team sports organizations that serve Watertown youth to help defray registration costs and increase participation. Examples of programs eligible for Youth Sports League Grants include:

Baseball/SoftballFootball/CheerleadingSoccerBasketballLacrosseHockey

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a Youth Sports League Grant, organizations must be public entities, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, or an organization that is affiliated with a 501(c)(3) organization. Organizations must:

Be based in Watertown and serve the town’s residents or, if based outside of Watertown, can document an existing partnership with an organization that directly serves Watertown residents ANDProvide a program or service to the community. Timeline:

February 14 : Call for Applications

March 4 : Applications due to WCF

March 11: Applicants Notified of Grant Decisions

December: Final Grantee Reports Due to WCF

Submission Instructions

Email or paper applications will not be accepted. Applications must be completed online at: https://forms.office.com/r/PfGniV36qRApplicants will receive an email confirmation after your proposal is received.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Seeking Deputy Director

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The Watertown Community Foundation has created a new Deputy Executive Director position and it seeks candidates for the position. The Foundation sent out the following information:

The Watertown Community Foundation works to build and sustain a vibrant, close-knit community in Watertown, Massachusetts—now and for future generations. Founded in 2003, WCF has steadily increased grant-making, fundraising, and programmatic impact, and now seeks a Deputy Executive Director (ED) to increase the capacity of the foundation and help lead and manage the current period of unprecedented pandemic related need, population growth and demographic change in the community.  

This 30 hour/week position offers the opportunity to collaborate and shape WCF’s impact in its core focus areas: essential needs, education, health, arts, and the environment. In partnership with the Executive Director and an engaged 20-member board, the Deputy ED will be both an external and internal co-leader of a dynamic and diverse community’s foremost philanthropy, will help craft WCF’s vision, and will oversee its implementation. 

For a complete job description and to apply:https://www.watertownfoundation.org/job-opportunities

Charity

Watertown Community Foundation Awards $35,000 in Educational Grants

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The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) in collaboration with Life Sciences Cares and four life science companies has awarded grants totaling $35,000 for Watertown Public Schools. The addition of the STEM Fund this year builds on Watertown Community Foundation’s annual school- based educational grants program and increases total funding for the foundation’s grants in support of funding science, technology, engineering, and math programming. “We are grateful for this new partnership and funding to expand our ability to support Watertown teachers through our annual education grant program. It truly helps transform our grant giving capacity and provides teachers and our schools with more resources to support students in the classroom.” said Eleanor Donato, Watertown Community Foundation School Grant co-chair. This collective giving program also allows companies, leaders, and employees in the burgeoning Watertown life sciences field to learn about Watertown Public Schools and forge deeper relationships with the school STEM community.

Around Town

Donation Drive & Free Store to be Hosted by Watertown Mutual Aid

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Watertown Mutual Aid announced it will host a Donation Drive and Free Store on Sunday, Nov. 7. The event will be at Ballroom in Boston, 100 Parker St. in Watertown. The Donation Drive will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Accepted items:

Winter coats (new/like-new)Cold-weather clothes for kids, newborn to young adult (new/like-new)Diapers and baby wipesMenstrual productsPersonal care items (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.)

Shop at the Free Store from 1-3 p.m. Free and open to all!