The Rhode Island Foundation's Newport County Fund (NCF) today awarded $139K in 21 grants for projects addressing a range of arts, human services, and education needs across Newport County, the organization said this afternoon. The grants, which are aimed at projects "where a relatively small amount of money can be of strategic assistance" are recommended by an advisory panel of community leaders from Newport County municipalities.

"The Rhode Island Foundation's Newport County Fund helps to sustain local organizations that are working tirelessly to improve the quality of life for residents," the foundation's president Neil Steinberg said in a statement. "These grants are directly aligned with the Foundation's efforts to meet the state's most pressing challenges while inspiring and stewarding philanthropy."

This year's funded projects range from a youth mentoring program to environmental education programs to job training services. Nonprofit organizations, including municipal departments, operating in Newport County are eligible to apply for the grants that range from $1,000 to $10,000.

"Since establishing The Newport County Fund, we have seen a tremendous outpouring of support and interest in helping address critical needs within our community," said James Wright, chair of the Newport County Fund. "The breadth and quality of grant applications this year was tremendous, and I commend these organizations for their innovation and hard work."

Some of the grants awarded today include:

• Bridges, Inc. - $8,920. To create a pilot project music therapy program.
• Chamber Education Foundation - $6,000. Staffing support for a program coordinator for the Aquidneck Island Mentoring Program.
• East Bay Community Action Program - $10,000. To provide case management services for the Newport Skills Alliance.
• Island Moving Company - $8,000. For continued support of creative movement classes for 2nd and 3rd graders in Jamestown, Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton.
• Little Compton Historical Society - $7,500. To hire a project consultant, produce a publication, and transcribe and digitize research resources on the history of Sakonnet Point.
• Norman Bird Sanctuary - $10,000. For staffing support to hire a School Programs Coordinator and expand high-quality environmental education programs throughout Newport County.
• Salve Regina University - $4,000. To develop educational resource packets and provide teacher stipends to recruit additional teacher/student teams and expand water quality monitoring for the Aquidneck Island Watershed Survey.
• Visiting Nurses Services of Newport and Bristol Counties - $10,000. To expand existing health and wellness programming to the neediest senior residents in Newport County.

For more info:
NCF will seek applicants again next spring. Persons interested in applying should contact Joyce Botelho, philanthropy officer, Newport County Fund, at 401-848-2886, or visit www.rifoundation.org/newportcountyfund.

Other funding opportunities are detailed at the Nonprofits/Grant Opportunities section of the Foundation web site, www.rifoundation.org.

Editorial note: Written substantially from a press release.