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Polaroid Foundation Awards $847,000 to Local Nonprofit Organizations

Polaroid Foundation Awards $847,000 to Local Nonprofit Organizations

Published 06-29-00

Submitted by Polaroid Corporation

The Polaroid Foundation today awarded more than $847,000 to nonprofit organizations based largely in eastern and New Bedford, Massachusetts - the home to nearly 4,000 Polaroid Corporation employees.

The grants were awarded in a ceremony at the Polaroid Corporation headquarters to some 40 Massachusetts nonprofit organizations with programs to benefit adult basic education, literacy, work force development and self-sufficiency life skills.

"The Polaroid Foundation is privileged to support so many worthy causes dedicated to improving the quality of life in Massachusetts," said Donna Eidson, executive director of the Polaroid Foundation. "And it is important to us to deeply involve Polaroid employees in this work. Trained employee volunteers from throughout the company help to evaluate all grants made by the Foundation."

During the awards ceremony, Eidson praised the efforts of 16 Polaroid volunteers whose actions earned their respective organizations grants of $1,000 each. "These employees each spent at least 50 hours of their own time volunteering. They're carrying on a long-standing tradition of community service at Polaroid," Eidson said.

The Polaroid Fund supports Massachusetts' communities where Polaroid Corporation operates. Grants are made primarily in Greater Boston and Greater New Bedford, Massachusetts, with preference given to organizations in Boston, Cambridge, New Bedford and Waltham.

In 1997 Polaroid created the Polaroid Fund to ensure the company's long-term commitment to community service. Established with a $19 million gift to the Boston Foundation, the fund provides grants to help disadvantaged children and adults build skills that increase their ability to help themselves.

Polaroid Corporation (NYSE: PRD), with annual sales of approximately $2 billion, is the worldwide leader in instant imaging. Polaroid supplies instant photographic cameras and films; digital imaging hardware, software and media; secure identification systems; and sunglasses to markets worldwide. The company was recently cited by Business Ethics magazine as one of the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in the United States.

Partial List of Grant Recipients

Action for Boston Community Development, Boston, $15,000
For ESOL and job-readiness training for 20 immigrant residents of Boston.

Boston Employment Service, Inc./STRIVE, Boston, $30,000 over two years
For an intensive three-week attitude/job readiness training program for hard to employ and unemployed inner-city adults.

Carroll Center for the Blind, Inc., Newton, $20,000
For a comprehensive job training and placement program for visually impaired and blind clients in Greater Boston.

Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts, New Bedford, $15,000
To maintain ongoing functioning of the computer centers and to introduce new training programs to meet the changing needs of the community.

Community Workshops, Inc., Boston, $12,500
For Project Inclusion: a new vocational rehabilitation program designed to enhance employment and promote independence for persons challenged by physical, emotional, developmental, social or economic problems.

Cotting School, Inc., Lexington, $10,000
For start-up costs of Hope House: a residential program to teach young adults with disabilities how to live and work independently.

Dare Family Services, Inc., Roxbury, $15,000
For Teach Me 101: a program providing teens with the motivation and support to re-enter school and learn the tools that will enable them to become productive members of the community.

East Boston Adult Education Center, $20,000
For the Education for New Americans program providing English as a Second Language, office and computer skills training.

Helping Adults Learn Today (HALT), Mattapan, $15,000
To teach adult immigrants English skills and to assist them in adapting to a new culture.

Just A Start Corporation, Cambridge, $30,000 over two years
For the Cambridge Biomedical Careers Program: an intensive academic and lab-skills development program preparing 30 undereducated or underemployment individuals for entry-level jobs in the biotechnical and biomedical/lab industry.

The Literacy Connection, Brighton, $30,000 over two years
For a tutorial program that enables adult refugees and immigrants to become functionally literate.

Nemasket Group, Inc., Fairhaven, $20,000
For a school-to-work program for students with severe disabilities.

New Bedford Economic Development Council, Inc., New Bedford, $15,000
For the employment training and job placement component of the New Bedford Store Project, training eight to 12 economically disadvantaged individuals in retail operations and management.

Pine Street Inn, Inc., Boston, $10,000
For the STRIVE job-readiness program that meets the needs of homeless participants.

Project Image, Inc., Halifax, $15,000
To provide a set of interactive learning, living and working activities over a five-year period to needy individuals and families to help them improve their lifestyles and to secure and maintain employment.

Social Justice for Women, Inc., Boston, $15,000
To teach women graduating from the residential program the skills needed to live independently, remain sober, drug free and united with their children.

Somali Development Center, Boston, $10,000
For the English as a Second Language component of the job-training program for Somali refugees.

Stepping Stone, Inc., New Bedford, $18,000
To help 20 chemically dependent women develop skills leading to self-sufficient living.

United Front Child Development Program, New Bedford, $70,000 over three years
Toward expansion of services for teen parents to help ensure their success in moving toward self sufficiency.

United Way of Greater New Bedford, $10,000
For five $2,000 camperships for disadvantaged children.

United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Inc., Boston, $20,050
For final development of outcomes measurement training for nonprofit organizations.

Urban College of Boston, Boston, $20,000
To provide a wide-range of social supports and academic assistance to help students succeed and stay in college.

Walker Home and School, Needham, $10,000
For Community and School-Based Programs (CASP): to provide services to troubled students who need specialized approaches to succeed in school.

"Polaroid" is a registered trademark of Polaroid Corporation, Cambridge, MA 02139

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