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BURLINGTON, VT — A transgender training institute, a Burlington GLBTQ community center, and a traveling display on same-gender marriage are among the projects sharing more than $20,000 in funding from a Vermont philanthropic foundation.
The organizations behind the undertakings — which cover such areas as youth services, AIDS education and support, media development, community education, and community building — were all recipients of 1999 grants from the Samara Foundation of Vermont.
The eight winners were selected from among 18 proposals seeking more than $120,000 in support from Samara in its first regular grant cycle.
A $2,000 grant to Trans North Country will officially launch the Transgender Training Institute. Funds will support development of training materials and a free training regarding transgender issues for service providers and community members in central Vermont.
The Vermont Freedom To Marry Task Force received $4,165 for its statewide efforts to increase visibility and education about same-sex marriage and civil rights issues for gay and lesbian Vermonters. Grant funds will purchase two new portable displays for use at conferences and fairs around Vermont. "I think it is so great that there are people in our community who have taken on the unenviable task of raising money for our organizations and we are honored to be among those chosen," commented Beth Robinson, president of the Task Force board.
One funded project, Burlington RU12?, is a grassroots effort to create a community center in the Burlington area. Its $1,000 Samara award will help underwrite monthly substance-free coffee house events.
Three AIDS service organizations serving people with AIDS throughout Vermont — ACORN, based in the White River Junction area, the Brattleboro Area AIDS Project, and Vermont CARES, the state's largest ASO — received special project grants ranging from $1500 to $2,000. The Brattleboro Area AIDS Project funds will expand special services to the Bennington County area.
Two of the awards were designated as 'challenge grants.' Outright Vermont, an agency serving gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning youth statewide, and Mountain Pride Media each received $4000 to use as matching funds during regular fundraising activities.
Although Samara awarded four special inaugural grants totalling $10,500 in the fall of 1998, the 1999 grants are the results of its first annual grant cycle.
"We are pleased to be able to increase our financial support for the lesbian and gay communities throughout Vermont in 1999," commented Mary Hurlie, president of the Samara board of directors. "Samara is committed to the wellbeing of our communities in all parts of Vermont, and is pleased to award grants this year all across the state."
One of a network of gay & lesbian community foundations across the country, the Samara Foundation of Vermont's mission is "to support and strengthen Vermont's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities today and build an endowment for tomorrow."
Founded by Burlington attorney David Curtis and Bill Lippert, the current executive director, Samara received early support from the bequests of Robert Mundstock of Montpelier and the estate of Doug Howe and Frank Shivers of Hinesburg. Individual and corporate donors continue to make additional contributions and bequest commitments to increase Samara's current and future resources.
"We are deeply grateful to Doug Howe and Bob Mundstock, Samara's founding benefactors, and believe they would be proud of Samara's development," said Lippert. "Through their visionary bequests, they continue to support our community and inspire others today to add their support to fulfill Samara's mission."
