Molinaro Announces $387,700 in Learn, Play, Create Grant Awards
Tenth round of grants in ongoing initiative to enhance lives of children and families adversely affected by COVID-19 pandemic
Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today announced the latest round of grant awards, totaling $387,700, as part of the County’s Learn, Play, Create: Supporting Our Kids grant program to fund 22 projects to local non-profit organizations that directly benefit children and families.
Announced in June as part of “Dutchess Invests,” the County Executive’s initiative to direct $57 million in one-time funding allocated to Dutchess County through the Federal Government’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) to areas the community has recognized as priorities, the Learn, Play, Create grant program provides $3 million in one-time grants to local non-profit youth organizations in the categories of expanded learning – arts, libraries and athletics – that were deprived of a year of fundraising or participation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
County Executive Molinaro said, “Our children have missed out on so much over the last 20 months, and Dutchess County is proud to offer Learn, Play, Create as a way to help our kids get back some of what the pandemic stole from them. The investments we make in our kids today not only help them overcome recent losses, but ensure their development continues, helping them grow into successful young adults. Together, Dutchess County will continue making a real impact in our children’s lives and invest in our future. I encourage youth organizations and libraries impacted by the pandemic to apply!”
Learn, Play, Create: Supporting Our Kids awards ($387,700 Total)
Boy Scouts of America Troop 3050 (Pleasant Valley), $10,000
2022 National Scouts Jamboree – Lower the required fundraising cost for Scouts to attend National Jamboree.
Boy Scout Troop 80 (Clinton), $20,000
Supplies for Scouts – Purchase camping and outdoor equipment, such as tents, canopies, water jugs, coolers, rope and stoves, as well as a travel trailer to store the equipment; offer scholarships to families who can’t afford scouting; create new programs and learning opportunities.
Christ Episcopal Church (City of Poughkeepsie), $19,700
Upgrading Camp Equipment for Fun, STEM Engagement and Social/Emotional Learning – Purchase permanent, in-ground basketball hoop; 10 Lego Robotics Spike Essentials kits, 10 iPads and upgraded WiFi connectivity in classrooms; floor seats, floor tables, pillows and carpets.
City of Poughkeepsie Youth Baseball/Softball League (City of Poughkeepsie), $20,000
Affordable, Low-Cost Youth Baseball and Softball for Our Community – One-time purchase of baseball, softball and field equipment; uniforms; low-cost registration fees for families; update/upgrade batting cages; offer discounted or free clinics for player development; purchase portable public-address system with generator to announce games at additional fields; update press box at Whitesell Field at Spratt Park.
Compass Arts Creativity Project, Inc. (Beacon), $20,000
Access to the Arts for Our Youth – Purchase arts and crafts materials, such as clay, paints, paper, wool; supplies to build sets/scenery for youth theater show; Chromebooks for animation, writing, design and editing; ukuleles for music program.
Dutchess County Deputy Sheriff’s PBA – Youth Law Enforcement Explorer Post 108, $20,000
Youth Program Equipment – Purchase equipment for youth program, such as duty belts and belt accessories, training handcuffs, duty holsters, safety vests, collar brass, uniforms; training non-operational replica guns.
East Fishkill Soccer Club (East Fishkill), $20,000
Player Uniforms – Purchase a new uniform kit for each of the club’s players for next season.
Empire State Huskies Softball (East Fishkill), $20,000
Training equipment for player development – Construction of outdoor batting cages at organization’s East Fishkill facility to help softball players develop their batting skills and have room for more players to be able to practice; purchase analytical machines for player development/college statistics.
Franklin D. Roosevelt High School Lacrosse Booster Club (Hyde Park), $15,000
Equipment, Training, Coaching and Tournaments – Purchase equipment; assist in being able to compete in travel games and tournaments; fund additional training and coaching.
Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum (City of Poughkeepsie), $20,000
Science Revealed: The new STEM exhibition – Purchase new hands-on science exhibits for the creation of new “Science Revealed” exhibition.
Mid-Hudson Valley National Pan Hellenic Council (Wappingers Falls), $10,000
School Supplies for Kids, Cultural Exposure to the Arts – Provide school supplies, such as bookbags and laptops, to school-aged children along with qualifying college-bound high school graduates; provide financial support to organization’s youth programs for cultural exposure.
Millerton Legion Post 178 (Millerton), $20,000
Shooting Sports Education & Safety – Materials, equipment and supplies for archery/shooting sports pop-up educational events throughout Dutchess County.
My Birthday Books (Poughquag), $15,000
Celebrating Birthdays Through Literacy – Purchase equipment and supplies needed to host pop-up birthday celebrations each month throughout Dutchess County.
Northern Dutchess Girls Youth Lacrosse Club (Hyde Park), $20,000
Increasing Participation in Girls Youth Lacrosse – Purchase new sticks, goggles and mouth guards for players; purchase several sets of goalie equipment for the club to use and keep; substantially lower registration costs for players and families.
Pawling Rotary Club (Pawling), $20,000
Teen Center Upgrades & Programming – Support the Pawling Interact Club’s efforts to provide teen activities, allowing creative expression and trade skill development; purchase technology equipment, stage lighting, kitchen upgrades and furnishings to create a shared, teen-driven space.
Pawling Youth Lacrosse (Pawling), $20,000
Lacrosse for Kids – Uniforms, lacrosse equipment, rebounders/training aids, balls, goal nets, enhanced coach training; provide scholarships and reduced fees for players in need.
Ramapo for Children (Rhinebeck), $20,000
Expansion of Day Camp to Meet Increased Community Need – One-time expenses, such as tents, tables, chairs, shelving/cabinets and storage containers, as well as supplies for arts and crafts and athletic activities for an expanded day camp.
Regional Science Fair of Dutchess County (LaGrange), $20,000
STEM Experiments to Promote Interest in Science and Engineering Careers – Waive all entry fees for students to participate in the Regional Science Fair of Dutchess County; one-time expenses to upgrade registration, judging and award processing software and hardware.
Rotary Club of Wappingers Falls (Wappingers Falls), $3,000
Touch A Truck – Expenses for Touch A Truck event, including, among others, bouncy houses, train ride, kid-friendly activities, portable toilets and advertising.
Silver Starlites (East Fishkill), $20,000
Confidence Building through Baton Twirling – Reduce registration fees for participants; purchase costumes, uniforms, equipment to make the sport more affordable for youth whose families were faced with a negative financial impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Fresh Air Fund (Fishkill), $15,000
Winter Day Trips – Pay the costs associated with transportation and per diem staff expenses to provide Winter Day trips to Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill for 13 third-grade classes from the City of Poughkeepsie’s six elementary schools.
Wappingers Crew Club (Wappinger), $20,000
Equipment for middle and high school students crew/rowing club – Repair equipment and purchase new equipment, such as boats, oars and cox boxes, for the Wappingers Crew Club.
Gregg Pulver, Chairman of the Dutchess County Legislature, said, “Our children are our next generation, and Dutchess County is proud to invest in the future of our kids to help them rebound from all they lost as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These Learn, Play, Create grant awards will provide countless kids throughout our county with the opportunities they need to continue to flourish.”
At its June board meeting, the Dutchess County Legislature adopted the Learn, Play, Create: Supporting Our Kids grant program, as part of the “Dutchess Invests” initiative.
