The Foundation’s main granting season has passed, and it was a busy one! In 2019 we provided over $156,000 in grants, including $90,000 in local grants and $66,000 in grants through our ambassador network. Brief descriptions of our 2019 grants can be found here. We also awarded our first Ascienzo Family Foundation scholarship to a graduating RHHS student, and helped organize the second No Cost Farm Market as part of our Nourish Your Neighbor campaign.
Back row (L to R): Brenna Dolen, Tessa Rothwell, Sophie Laing, Elizabeth Ricci, Jonni Mills, Brittany Mosher. Front row (L to R): Iana Robitaille, Brita Brudvig, Mr. A. Photographer: Betsy Kirtland
On December 23, some of our ambassadors met up at the Elmendorph Inn for brunch. We had a wonderful time catching up on everyone’s various personal, academic, and volunteer endeavors. We talked about the future of the Foundation, and emphasized the importance of community building and sustainable programming. It was meaningful to hear from RHHS graduates at all stages of their lives- from those still in college, to those moving forward in their professional careers, to those in graduate school- who are investing in their communities but also still feel a connection to Red Hook. It was a great morning, and we couldn’t resist getting a selfie.