Winooski Center receives $25,000 grant
Published: Tuesday, June 27, 2006
By Matt Sutkoski
Free Press Staff Writer
WINOOSKI -- The Winooski Family Center won $25,000 Monday and can pretty much do what it wants with the money.
The Family Center received the annual Turrell Fund S. Whitney Landon Memorial Award, which is given to Vermont organizations that grant administrators deem unusually effective and innovative in running programs for children age 12 and younger.
Family Center director Karen Prosciak said she doesn't know what she's going to do with the money. “I have to meet with my advisory board, and we're going to talk to other community members,” she said.
Prosciak said she'd like to extend Family Center programs but will make final decisions in the autumn, once she hears from residents and the board.
The Winooski Family Center has an annual budget of about $120,000, Prosciak said. The center offers Welcome Baby programs, preschool, playgroups, help for immigrants and refugees, and other services.
Winooski was doubly honored by the grant. The Winooski City Parks and Recreation Department was a runner-up in the competition and will receive $2,500.
Prosciak said she was pleased but not surprised that the parks and recreation department was recognized. The two organizations often collaborate on programs, she said. The other runner-up is the Arlington Area Childcare Center in Bennington County.
The family center collaborates with Winooski businesses, schools and service groups, Prosciak said.
The Vermont Children's Trust Foundation presented the award Monday. The grant money comes from the New Jersey-based Turrell Fund, founded in 1935 by Herbert and Margaret Turrell. The fund helps organizations geared toward helping youths.
The grant that went to the Family Center is named after S. Whitney Landon, a native of Burlington and an AT&T vice president who administered the fund for years. He died in 1995 at age 98. The Vermont Children's Trust Foundation pares grant applications for the award to three finalists, said Susan Kamp, executive director of the Vermont organization. The Turrell Fund then names the overall winner.
The Landon award favors small organizations that help children through prevention programs, Kamp said. “The Winooski Family Center is perfect because they are teeny-tiny but have so much to do,” Kamp said.
Contact Matt Sutkoski at 660-1846 or msutkosk@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com