CONCORD, NH (PRESS RELEASE) – The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation recently awarded 15 grants totaling $210,009 through its competitive application program.
Hikers exploring the Cohos Trail in Pittsburg will cross bogs using new bridges — and leave vegetation intact. The City of Berlin will update its master plan. Teachers in Colebrook will get the tools they need to support the social and emotional well-being of their students. And all 5th and 6th graders from across the North Country will have the opportunity to try a snow sport, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
Established in 2006, the Tillotson Fund is one of the largest permanent rural philanthropies in the country, distributing more than $3 million in grants annually to support projects that focus on community revitalization. Grants are awarded to municipal, educational and nonprofit organizations throughout northern New Hampshire and bordering communities in the United States and Canada.
Grants recommended by the volunteer Tillotson Fund Advisory Committee included $20,000 for the City of Berlin to update its master plan in 2020.
“The Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund’s support is critical in helping us distill a wealth of data and community input so we can use it to help hone our strategy for moving Berlin forward as we continue to transition away from our past to a new future,” said Pamela Laflamme, Community Development Director for the City of Berlin, NH. “Our hope is to create a more user-friendly instrument that will be more accessible and thereby used more frequently by all.”
Grants were awarded to the following organizations:
Affordable Housing, Education and Development, Inc., Littleton, NH received $20,000 to continue supporting the Centsible Families program.
Brighton Community Forum, Island Pond, VT received $20,000 to create an interactive digital marketing program highlighting Island Pond and the Destination Island Pond Event series.
City of Berlin, Berlin, NH received $20,000 to update the City of Berlin’s master plan in 2020.
Cohos Trail Association, Lancaster, NH received $11,937 to replace 480 feet of bog bridges on the Fourth Connecticut Lake Trail near Pittsburg, New Hampshire.
Cooperative de solidarite de Dixville, Dixville, Quebec received $14,500 to support general operations.
Foret Hereford, Inc., Coaticook, Quebec received $20,000 (over two years) to support recreational infrastructure and programming for youth and adults.
Municipalite de Sainte-Edwidge-de-Clifton, Sainte-Edwidge-de-Clifton, Quebec received $4,315 to support a cultural development planning process that engages community members.
Municipalite Regional de Comte de Coaticook, Coaticook, Quebec received $12,007 (over three years) to develop and implement a new 5th– and 6th-grade curriculum, “Teaching the Coaticook Region,” highlighting historic and cultural assets.
Northern Community Investment Corporation, St. Johnsbury, VT received $4,945 to develop marketing materials and support activities for the Androscoggin Valley Food Cooperative.
Ressourcerie des Frontieres, Coaticook, Quebec received $20,000 to support capital renovations.
School Administrative Unit #7, Colebrook, NH received $18,500 to support district-wide social and emotional learning practices, including coaches and tracking software.
Secret Sock Society, Franconia, NH received $2,120 to support scholarships for North Country 5th and 6th graders to participate in the Snow Sports Field Trip Program.
Vermont Energy Education Program, Montpelier, VT received $20,000 to continue providing STEM programming in 10 North Country schools.
Vermont Foodbank, Barre, VT received $10,000 to continue supporting the BackPack Program in Brighton and Lunenburg, Vermont.
White Mountain Science, Inc., Littleton, NH received $11,685 to support teachers and students to enhance their Computer Science knowledge through a Day of Code workshop for teachers and students from 13 schools in Coos County.
The next deadline for the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund is Thursday, January 16, 2020. A grant-seeker information session is scheduled for November 13 from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in Lancaster, NH. To register for the session, please contact Jean Clarke at Wrna.Pynexr@aups.bet or call 800-464-6641 ext. 238
Please visit our website for more information at www.nhcf.org/Tillotson.
About the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is New Hampshire’s statewide community foundation, founded in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire. The Foundation manages a growing collection of 1,900 funds created by generous individuals, families and businesses, and awards more than $40 million in grants and scholarships every year. The Foundation works with generous and visionary citizens to maximize the power of their giving, supports great work happening in our communities and leads and collaborates on high-impact initiatives. For more information, please visit www.nhcf.org or call 603-225-6641.
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