BURLINGTON/MIDDLEBURY — The Samara Foundation and the Vermont Community Foundation, acting as the Unity Project, at press time were expected to release the list of the project's final grants. According to sources on the UP Grants Committee, ten organizations will receive a total of $74,000 in this round of funding.
     Outright Vermont, the R.U.1.2? Queer Community Center, and Mountain Pride Media, publisher of Out in the Mountains, all located in Burlington, each received $12,500, $2,500 more than each had requested. The three groups are part of the Community Alliance Initiative and saw that proposal rejected by the grant committee earlier in the process (see OITM, September, "Community Alliance Initiative Phase 2 Denied Funding").
       Outright's grant is to "build capacity" for its mission of reaching under-served lgbt populations, to support its work in Vermont schools, and to fund a social marketing campaign.
      R.U.1.2?'s award is to help the center to develop materials and curriculum addressing the health care needs of queer elders, and support its ability to provide consultation for or collaboration with other lgbt organizations.
      Mountain Pride Media will use the funding to develop youth-focused information on the website and in OITM, including possibly, a youth page. The project will require both independent outreach and support for young writers, artists and photographers, and collaboration with Outright and other groups.
      The Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force was awarded $10,000 to fund the creation of two short films promoting acceptance of marriage equality in Vermont.
      The Unity Project funded SafeSpace's request for $6100 for a media awareness campaign. According to agency Director Kara DeLeonardis, the grant was unexpected, since the group's preliminary proposal for rural outreach had been rejected. In addition, Ghost Media of Brattleboro requested funds under SafeSpace’s nonprofit umbrella for a film on hate crimes. According to DeLeonardis, Ghost Media's proposal was rejected. The letter notifying SafeSpace of its grant, DeLeonardis said, suggested that the group was under no obligation to complete the project outlined in the preliminary proposal. SafeSpace will likely spend at least part of the money on a public awareness film.
      Faerie Camp Destiny received $5,000 toward construction of water and sewer systems. Vermont TransAction received $5,000 for community education about issues facing the trans community. PRIDE Vermont applied for and received $4,000 for its 2006 celebration.
       The Twin State Women's Network received $3,400 to support its "Peer Natural Leader Program" with respect to lesbians and gay men with Hepatitis C. And the Howard Center for Human Services received $3,000 to establish a support group for people with developmental disabilities who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
      In addition, two "Community Projects" were awarded "up to" $8500 each: the Bennington Pride Coalition for start-up funds for its Community Action project to reduce homophobia through education; and LGBT Windham County for the creation of a community center modeled on R.U.1.2?.
      The Unity Project has said it will disband after fulfilling its mandate to disburse all its funds.