2006 GRANT RECIPIENTS

SAMARA FOUNDATION AWARDS $25,500

Organizations funded in Samara Foundation’s Year 2006 granting cycle benefit the Vermont gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities in a wide range of areas including HIV prevention, youth services, education, media development, health and community service, social service and initiatives to address same sex domestic violence.

HIV prevention outreach to men in Bennington County was the focus of a $1,500 grant awarded to the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont. As lead agency for the Vermont adoption consortium, Easter Seals Vermont received $1,300 to support the Northwestern Vermont Gay and Lesbian Foster and Adoptive Parent Group.

Mountain Pride Media, publishers of Out in the Mountains, was given a $4,000 challenge grant, which they successfully matched.  Expanded youth services for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning youth throughout Vermont was supported by a $6,000 grant to Outright Vermont.

Pride Vermont received $1,700 to support publication of a “Pride Guide and Directory” to be distributed at this year’s Pride Celebration.  A $2,750 grant was awarded to SafeSpace, a social change and social service organization working to end physical, sexual and emotional violence in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning people.

The R.U.1.2? Queer Community Center received $3,000 to support its general operations with a focus on LGBTQ elders. It also was awarded an additional $500 to help with transition expenses in its merger with SafeSpace.

Transgender Day of Remembrance received $1,250 to support its goal of building community awareness around transgender issues, creating opportunities to recognize and mourn transgender people lost to violence and discrimination, and to empower transgender community members and other members of the LGBT and general communities in drawing common linkages in fighting injustice and building a stronger community for everyone.

Vermont PWA (People with AIDS) Coalition received $2,500 to provide scholarships to a retreat/conference for people living with HIV, as well as scholarships for Vermont PWA’s Buyers’ Coop. WGDR 91.1 FM, Goddard College’s radio station, received $1,000 in support of its “Woman-Stirred Radio” program.