World 061020

The Vermont Community Foundation Grants
$622,334 in Third and Largest Round from
VT COVID-19 Response Fund
The Vermont Community Foundation has
distributed its third and largest round of
grants totaling $622,334 from the VT
COVID-19 Response Fund. The latest grants
are designed to support the rapidly changing
landscape of relief efforts throughout the state
and are focused on youth and family centers,
mental and behavioral health services, housing
and legal services, and organizations that
work with communities of color, indigenous
people, and migrant workers. Among the
grants is a $60,000 award to the Vermont
Foodbank to purchase and process surplus
local milk for the charitable food system
through a partnership with the Vermont
Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets.
The Community Foundation also
announced that donations to the VT COVID-
19 Response Fund exceeded $5.19 million, a
testament to scale of the challenge posed by
the pandemic in Vermont, and to the generosity
of Vermonters and others determined to
see the state through the current crisis. The
Community Foundation established the
Response Fund to provide individuals, businesses,
and other grantmakers a one-stop
shop where donations are pooled and
deployed in a coordinated manner that can
quickly adapt to changing circumstances.
While recent rounds of grants have been
focused on immediate relief efforts, the
Community Foundation has earmarked a significant
portion of donations for the coming
recovery efforts to rebuild community services
in a way that gives more Vermonters the
opportunity to thrive.
“We are at the very beginning of what will
be a long process of rebuilding,” says
President & CEO Dan Smith. “As difficult as
that process will be, the real tragedy will be if
we don’t seize the opportunity to create
greater resilience for our communities and
the people who live here in the face of future
challenges. The hardest but most rewarding
work for Vermont is on the horizon.”
The Foundation gives out grants from the
VT COVID-19 Response Fund every few
weeks in consultation with an advisory committee
that provides insight into developing
needs throughout Vermont.
Since its inception, the VT COVID-19
Response Fund has distributed $1.67 million.
In addition, more than $2.2 million has been
granted by donors who have charitable funds
housed at the Community Foundation, an
amount that is expected to grow as the crisis
evolves.
“In the face of declining giving nationally,
we have seen a tremendous outpouring of
generosity from the Community Foundation’s
fundholders, both in their gifts to the
Response Fund as well as in their own distinct
grantmaking,” says Stacie Fagan, Vice
President for Philanthropy. “Our fundholders
are giving more, giving earlier, and giving
more flexibly. They walk down the same
main streets that you and I do. They know it
will take an unprecedented philanthropic
response to get communities back on their
feet after the immediate relief needs are
addressed, and they’re in this with us for the
long run.”
For the full list of grant recipients from the
third round of grantmaking, visit vtcovid19response.org/stories-and-announcements/
grants-3.
The Vermont Community Foundation
inspires giving and brings people and resources
together to make a difference in Vermont.
This includes helping to coordinate philanthropic
response in times of crisis and challenge.
The Foundation is committed to helping
Vermont communities that are impacted
by COVID-19 by responding to immediate
needs and long-term recovery efforts. Visit
VTCOVID19Response.org to learn more.
MKT-5894I-A-A1
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ready to listen and
navigate this together.
Matt A Calhoun, AAMS®
Financial Advisor
47 Court St Suite 1
Montpelier, VT 05602
802-223-2005
Member SIPC
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AOE, Vermont PBS Extend Partnership to DISH
Network, Expand Access for Vermont Students
The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE)
and Vermont PBS announced today a partnership
with DISH Network to distribute PBS
educational content to Vermont families
through the course of the COVID-19 pandemic
emergency. This partnership expands
access to the educational content jointly
developed by Vermont PBS and the AOE to
more families across most of Vermont. The
channels will be available to DISH subscribers
in the Burlington - Plattsburg media market.
“Our partnership with Vermont PBS is all
about prioritizing access to educational content
for all Vermont learners,” said Secretary
of Education Dan French. “Expanding this
programming to DISH customers supports
our effort to reach every learner in every
home.”
“The statewide broadcast, internet and
OTT distribution of valuable Vermont PBS
educational programs through the additional
distribution by DISH network will help this
collaboration reach more Vermont students
than ever and furthers our mission to serve
and support the education needs of all families
during this time of change and transition,”
said Holly Groschner, Vermont PBS
CEO. “We welcome this collaboration with
DISH to strengthen the Agency of Education
outreach.”
“The Vermont Department of Public
Service (PSD) worked to establish the needed
partnership that made it possible to get this
additional learning content out to students,”
said Commissioner Tierney.
“I want to express my gratitude to
Commissioner Tierney and her team,” said
Secretary French. “Public Service have been
wonderful partners to Vermont’s education
system in our pursuit of equity during
Continuity of Learning. They have helped us
with broadband access for Vermont students
and their assistance helped make this expansion
of our PBS partnership a reality.”
This expansion will add the PLUS and
Kids 24/7 channels to the DISH Network for
• • •
Funding Available for Organizations in the Northeast
Kingdom through the Northeast Kingdom Fund
Funding is now available for organizations
and projects in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans
counties through the Northeast Kingdom
Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation.
The fund awards grants up to $5,000 in support
of projects that benefit the people and
communities of the Northeast Kingdom.
Nonprofits, schools, and grassroots organizations
are encouraged to apply. Applications
• • •
the Burlington - Plattsburgh media market
(all of Vermont excluding Bennington and
Windham Counties), delivering Vermont PBS
educational content developed in partnership
with the AOE to more homes. This partnership
will last until October of 2020, with the
option to extend if needed.
Vermont PBS is using three statewide
channels to broadcast content across the age
spectrum from Pre-K through Grade 12.
Vermont PBS is also providing resources that
allow teachers and caregivers to access athome
curriculum that includes activities,
assignments and learning objectives, at vermontpbs.org/at-home-learning.
This Vermont PBS content can augment
the distance learning programs and tools
Vermont schools are launching statewide to
help students continue to learn during the
state’s COVID-19 response.
A full schedule of programming started
April 6, 2020 and includes paired lesson
resources for educators and students. Vermont
PBS will be offering this content through the
end of the school year to support the efforts of
school districts statewide in providing varied,
accessible, high-quality learning to all
Vermont students.
About the Vermont Agency of Education
The Agency of Education implements state
and federal laws, policies, and regulations to
ensure all Vermont learners have equitable
access to high-quality learning opportunities.
The Agency accomplishes this mission through
leadership, support and oversight of Vermont’s
public education system.
Connect with the Vermont Agency of
Education on Twitter, Facebook and the Web.
About Vermont PBS:
Vermont PBS connects neighbors through
stories that change lives. As Vermont’s only
statewide independent TV station, Vermont
PBS is a powerful catalyst that informs, educates
and inspires. When you support Vermont
PBS, you help all Vermonters learn, grow,
and contribute to our great state and the
world. Learn more at vermontpbs.org.
will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. Friday,
August 14, 2020.
The Northeast Kingdom Fund was established
in 2011 by the Community Foundation
and local partners as a permanent philanthropic
resource to support the people and
communities of Caledonia, Essex, and
Orleans counties. Visit vermontcf.org/nekfund
to learn more and apply.
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June 10, 2020 The WORLD page 3