Green Mountain RSVP Receives Stratton Foundation Grant
We are pleased to announce that we have just received a second grant from the Stratton Foundation to help us launch a new program called Seniors for Schools in the Northshire. We will be placing trained volunteers in 8 elementary schools to help students with reading. At the end of the year, we will hold a celebration congratulating all the young students who took part in the program. You may learn more about the Stratton Foundation on their website, www.strattonfoundation.org.
How does the Stratton Foundation help in area communities?
Since 1997, the Foundation has contributed just over $500,000 to non-profit organizations in support of projects that meet a documented need in one or more of the sixteen communities served. Foundation grants improve, enhance and expand projects in five areas; Fire and Safety, Health and Social Services, Recreation and the Environment, Education, and the Community and the Arts.
What is the Stratton Foundation?
The Stratton Foundation is not your typical foundation. Unlike conventional foundations, there is no endowment. Every dime given to the community is raised annually from the community. Individuals, area businesses, and service organizations give generously of their time, talent and financial resources to support the foundation mission. In addition, the foundation organizes four annual community-building events where people have a lot of fun together while raising additional funds for the community. A board of directors meets monthly. Many area residents assist the board through helping to organize activities. The Stratton Foundation is pure Vermont. The Foundation is all about people helping people: doing what they can to enrich the lives of all who live in the community.
GMRSVP News – Fall 2008
The constant action in all of our three offices never fails to amaze me. The spring was occupied with Recognition Luncheons in Bennington, Manchester, and in Springfield, which was held in a beautiful American Legion Hall in Chester. Each had a different flavor, but all were highly enjoyable and successful. Highlights were, the entertainment in Bennington from Kelly and Cindy, playing their guitars and singing songs from the ’60s. It was fun to watch everyone singing along and swaying to the melodies. The Manchester Luncheon is always a delight thanks to the delicious desserts prepared by Estelle Schwartz. She works for weeks preparing about 25 different choices, some without sugar, others without gluten, but all out of this world and delectable. In Chester a continuous slide show of previous luncheons, prepared by Tom Sabo, kept everyone’s attention as they watched themselves and their friends smiling and waving to the camera in years past.
Last month we had visitors from the New England office of the Corporation for National and Community Service. They conducted an audit of our files looking for the correct reporting of hours; the proper completion of required forms, and talked to us about recruiting more volunteers. We were pleased to note that we were, indeed, in compliance with the standards and requirements of the Corporation, our primary grantor.
Both the Springfield and Brattleboro offices are in the process of moving out of the Red Cross office buildings they occupied for many years. The Brattleboro office has just moved into a beautiful museum house and the office is situated in a comfortable space on the first floor. Their new address is 974 Western Avenue, West Brattleboro. We will keep you posted on the progress of the Springfield move. Linda will make a short move to the other end of the building from her present location. It will be will be late August before her office will be ready, but she remains open for business in a temporary space.
Once again, may I remind you to tell your friends about your volunteer experiences. Please encourage them to visit our beautiful new website at www.rsvpvt.org to learn more about RSVP, and give us a call at 447-1545.
Enjoy the beautiful Vermont fall colors and weather. Thank each and every one of you for all you do.
A Volunteer Job With Substance
Guardian Ad Litem – Advocate for children going through the court system. Extensive training and mileage reimbursement is provided. Background check required.
“You go into a courtroom and you see lawyers who know the law and have dozens of kids’ files, or you have social workers who know the regulations and have dozens of kids’ files. But, if a Guardian Ad Litem Volunteer is in the room, you will see they have just one file, and what they know is that one child. And that can make all the difference to a judge’s decision regarding how the rest of that child’s life is going to go.”
Anna Quindlen
The Vermont Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) Program’s mission -
To advocate on behalf of the best interests of children alleged to have been abused, neglected, or are beyond the control of their parents. The goals of the advocacy are to make certain these children and their families receive appropriate services in a timely manner; that case plans and court decisions are based on the child’ s best interests; and every child has a safe, stable, and permanent home within a reasonable period of time.
Call 447-1545 to learn more