The Greenbelt Community Foundation (GCF) has announced that three local organizations have been awarded over $12,000 in total during its latest grant funding cycle.
The first project is $3,350 to the Greenbelt Arts Center (GAC) for its dressing room renovation. GAC provides fine and performing arts at an affordable price to the entire Greenbelt community. GAC strives to produce programming that involves a diverse array of volunteers and subject matter with recent programming including social justice and family friendly themes, popular musicals and more.
The dressing room renovation will enhance the functionality of the space and will improve the experience of the actors and volunteers. The work is expected to start soon, under the direction of Pamela Northrup, vice president of programs, and Winard Britt, president, and a staff of volunteers and a contractor who will all be observing social distancing guidelines.
The second grant recipient of this season is first-time grant recipient Higher Achievement: Bridging the Opportunity Gap for Middle School Scholars in Greenbelt, receiving $5,000. Higher Achievement serves Greenbelt Middle schoolers by providing year-round programming, mentoring and more.
This grant will allow Higher Achievement to provide academic support, small group mentoring and year-round engagement by a dedicated staff working in concert with the Middle School administration and teachers. Three programs will be available to students: Afterschool Academy, Summer Link and High School Placement.
The final grant recipient for Spring 2020 is The Space Free Art for All, Inc., a nonprofit focused on building community through art. The SPACE is receiving $4,943.75 to launch a program called STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Ahead. STEAM Ahead will build a cohort of diverse children, youth and adults who feel empowered to use STEAM to explore and create their worlds.
The purchasing of computers, digital cameras, software and hardware, made possible through this grant, will allow community members to experience STEAM for themselves. The SPACE is already planning virtual workshops and at-home tutorials for use during the COVID-19 related restrictions, and plans to launch the new STEAM Ahead in-person elements as soon as safely possible.
Since opening in 2018 and under the direction of founder and executive director Shaymar Higgs, The SPACE has hosted over 8,000 local residents and visitors in art-making experiences, such as sewing, painting, poetry, dancing and meditation workshops.
Grant applications are carefully considered based on viability, effect on the community and the funding available during the given grant cycle. To help support these and future projects, GCF encourages donations and promotion of the funded events or by volunteering to serve on one of the several governing committees.
GCF’s mission is to support worthwhile initiatives by local organizations benefiting the Greenbelt community. GCF has two grant cycles a year; grant awards range from $500 to $5,000 and are given to Greenbelt community groups, cooperatives and non-profit organizations. Interested groups may next apply for a grant on October 15, for new or existing projects.