Makepeace Neighborhood Fund Announces Grants

May 13, 2009 | A.D. Makepeace | Linda Burke

Wareham – The Makepeace Neighborhood Fund has awarded $158,000 in grants to 32 local organizations. The awards were announced at a ceremony at the Tihonet Village Market, on the grounds of the A.D. Makepeace Company, on May 13.

“This is the largest grant round we have done since the Fund was created in 2005,” said Christopher Makepeace, chairman of the Makepeace Neighborhood Fund Board of Trustees. “In these difficult times, we’re pleased to be able to support so many worthy projects.”

The charitable foundation, created by the A.D. Makepeace Company, provides grants to non-profit organizations and municipal agencies for projects in education, historic preservation, community housing, health care, and the environment. Since its inception, the Fund has awarded 89 grants totaling $843,000.

This year, 82 proposals, requesting a total of more than $627,000, were received.

In announcing the awards and distributing ceremonial checks to participants, Michael P. Hogan, president and CEO of the A.D. Makepeace Company, noted that the Wareham Public Schools once again received four grants totaling more than $20,000 for equipment and enrichment programs.

Mr. Hogan singled out one grantee as being outstanding examples of the proposals received. The Carver Planning Department brought together Carver High School and the town’s new Cultural Council in a unique partnership that will allow the Council to tap into students’ artistic talents in promotional campaigns, while allowing students to fulfill community service requirements and learn about local issues.

“This project is a great example of how groups can benefit by working together,” Mr. Hogan said.

He also drew attention to the several programs designed to help atrisk youth navigate the school system then move on to the world of work. One program will help sixth graders make the transition to Wareham High School.Another will provide case management services to students at Plymouth North High School who are in danger of not graduating due to failing MCAS scores. A third will support job-seekers from throughout the region through a refurbished Career Center in Wareham.

The A.D. Makepeace Company, based in Wareham, is the world’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and land stewardship.

Grantees were:

  • Alzheimer's Association MA/NH Chapter, Education & Care for Patients and Families
  • Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Bedford/Wareham, Summer Fun at Camp Victory
  • Boys Scouts of America, Old Colony Council, Bldg Character for our Future Capital Campaign
  • Carver Office of Planning & Community Development, Pilot Project: Tapping the Artistic Skills
  • Carver Public Schools, Assistive Technology
  • Church of the Pilgrimage, Window Replacement
  • Community Nurse & Hospice Care, Inc, Home Care Services
  • Good Shepherd's Table, Health and Well-Being Forum
  • Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth, Inc, Carver Site Acquisition
  • Habitat for Humanity, Buzzards Bay Area, Rochester Land Acquisition
  • How On Earth, Farm to Table
  • Jenney Grist Mill Inc, John Jenney Scholarship Fund
  • Jordan Hospital dba Cranberry Hospice & Palliative, Integrating Palliative Arts & Complementary Therapy
  • Junior Achievement of Southern MA, "Seeds of Success: Growing Hope in Wareham & Roche"
  • Middleborough Conservation Commission, Stuart Morgan Conservation Area Signs
  • My TURN, Inc, School-To-Work Program at Plymouth North HS
  • New Directions Southcoast, Inc, Wareham Career Center Classroom Equipment
  • Plimoth Plantation, Foundation for Kids
  • Plymouth Community Intermediate School, Camp Bournedale
  • Plymouth DPW Environmental Management Division, River Restoration Projects
  • Robbins Museum of Archaeology/MAS, Clues in Content: Connecting Culture,Context & Cur
  • Rochester Memorial School, Get SMART in Rochester
  • South Shore Community Actional Council, Inc., Healthy Harvests
  • Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School, Engines for Education
  • Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless, Inc., Baby Point Program
  • Wareham Early Childhood Education & Development, Enrichment Program To Enhance Skills
  • Wareham Land Trust, Inc., Agawam River Conservation Project
  • WPS: Wareham High School, Summer Program to Assist At Risk HS Students
  • WPS: Wareham High School, Cameras, Scanners and Printers, Oh My!
  • WPS: Wareham High School/English Department, Core/Advisory Initiative
  • WPS: Wareham Middle School, Project Team
  • YMCA Old Colony Plymouth Branch, Plymouth YMCA Teen Center

Contact:

Linda Burke, 508-322-4103