Around Town

Michael Schade Stepping Down from Community Foundation, New Directer Sought

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In the six years that the Watertown Community Foundation has been lead by Michael Schade, the non-profit has more than doubled the amount of grant money awarded and expanded the areas in which the money impacts. This week Schade announced he will be stepping down as executive director in June. “It has been an honor and privilege to partner with WCF’s dedicated volunteer Board of Directors on many endeavors to enhance the quality of life in Watertown,” Schade said. “Now, I am looking for the right opportunity to bring my management skills and creative experience to another organization or business in order to improve their results.”

Before becoming Executive Director, Schade spent 25 years designing and managing computer-based training programs and related projects for companies such as Xerox, General Motors, IBM, State Farm Insurance and Otis Elevator-Europe. He was also a public school teacher in Hawaii and Massachusetts.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Seeks Paid High School Summer Interns

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Again this summer, the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) is providing seven high school students who live in Watertown with the opportunity to have a paid summer internship with a local company or organization of their choice. This should help open doors for students to pursue opportunities with a variety of businesses, organizations, or agencies. It is a great way for high school kids to explore a career field of interest. Why?: Gain work experience, explore a potential career field, build your resume, network, make money, and have fun! What is the commitment?: A minimum of 20 hours per week for 6 weeks (more is OK).

Charity

Watertown Community Foundation Accepting Applications for Spring Grants

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The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) announces two Spring 2016 grant programs to support local nonprofits, programs and projects. Approximately $70,000 will be distributed. One: WCF’s Educational Program will award grants designed to help organizations that serve Watertown develop new or continue existing programs with an educational focus, broadly defined. Two: WCF’s Institutional Support is designed to help institutions central to the Watertown community by providing funds to maintain critical programming and retain paid staff. Grants under this program impose neither restrictions on the use of funds nor any program requirements.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Hands out $12K in Health Grants

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More than $12,000 in grants went to organizations working to make Watertown a healthier place, and will fund efforts to stop substance abuse, a school gardening program and more

The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) Board of Directors has awarded $12,550 in “Healthy Watertown” grants funded by Tufts Health Plan Foundation to the following organizations serving Watertown. Improbable Players: A grant to continue alcohol and drug abuse prevention education for the 6th grade students at Watertown Middle School. Watertown Health Department and Live Well Watertown: A grant to help implement an after school wellness program that prepares high school students to educate and empower middle school students to make healthy lifestyle choices when enter high school. Watertown Health Department and Watertown Police Department: A grant to help fund a substance abuse task force coordinator to raise awareness of substance use disorder in the community and further goals of prevention and education, and support, intervention, treatment and recovery. Watertown High School Counseling and Academic Program: A grant for transportation so WHS students with emotional and behavioral disabilities can attend tours at two nearby colleges.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Interns Gain Valuable Experience

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How do high schoolers get that critical first work experience? Last summer, the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) and the Watertown High School Guidance Department piloted an internship program for local teens. For meaningful summer work experience at a business or organization of their choice, students earned a modest stipend. The pilot was intended to cover four students, but the number of outstanding applications led WCF to increase funding and five were selected. “I learned so much from participating….

Aging

Discuss How to Make Watertown a Friendly Community for All Ages

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A set of Watertown organizations presents “Shaping an Age-Friendly Community for All Ages” at the Watertown Free Public Library on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 7-9 p.m.

Kara Cohen of AARP will speak about creating well-designed, livable communities than help sustain economic growth and make for happier, healthier residents – of all ages. Hear about the City of Boston, City of Salem, Berkshire County, and New Bedford and their progress since they officially became members of the AARP and World Health Organization (WHO) Network of Age-Friendly Communities. The event is presented by Watertown Community Foundation, WatertownTogether,
and the Marshall Home Fund. Join neighbors, friends, and community leaders to learn more about Watertown’s efforts to become one of the WHO Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Offering Grants for Health Programs

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Groups interested in applying for a grant of up to $2,500 for health-related programs in Watertown can attend the Watertown Community Foundation informational meeting. 
The Foundation sent out the following information:

The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) announces its health-related grant program to support local nonprofits, programs, and projects. The “Healthy Watertown” Program will award grants designed to help organizations that serve Watertown develop new or continue existing programs with a health focus, broadly defined. Eligible organizations may apply for grants up to $2,500. These grants are funded by a grant to WCF from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation. The application deadline is Oct.

Charity

Watertown Community Foundation Has Volunteer Opportunities

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If you’re interested in volunteering, or want to use your skills to help your community, check out these volunteer opportunities at the Watertown Community Foundation. If you’re interested in only some of the activities listed under a position, let us know — these can be split up among multiple people. Some are ongoing volunteer activities and others are one-time projects that may take a few weeks or a few months. Hours are flexible; you can volunteer whenever is convenient for you, except for occasional meetings that we will coordinate around everyone’s schedule. Webmaster/Social Media :

Maintain WCF website; perform weekly check to see if content is up to date and post updates and new content with input from board members
Manage WCF’s Facebook presence (and any other social media you’re interested in)
Estimated to be a 1-2 hour commitment per week

Information technology specialist(s):

Turn WCF’s donor and mailing list spreadsheets into a web-accessible database that is easy to update (Estimated commitment: 10-20 hours total)
Help with setup and rollout of Office 365; help us improve our team site and put together an education/training campaign for users (Estimated commitment: 10-30 hours total)
Ongoing maintenance of our Office 365 infrastructure (Estimated commitment: 4 hours per month)

If you’re interested or want to learn more, email info@watertownfoundation.org