Each year, the Alumni Association awards around $40,000 in grant funding to alumni, students, faculty and staff. In total, the Grants Program has invested nearly $400,000 across hundreds of individuals and organizations on campus over the past 10 years—an investment that has had far-reaching benefits for the University.
“Alumni Association grants support programs and services that advance the overall mission of Western New England University,” says Alison Castellano ’03, chair of the Grants Committee and vice president of the Alumni Association. “Through grant funding, many members of the University family have been able to attend conferences, competitions, and programs—both on and off campus—enhancing the quality of the Western New England University experience.”
Grants are funded by income from the Alumni Association’s partnerships with Liberty Mutual and Amazon.com. When alumni take advantage of exclusive discounts on insurance products, or make everyday purchases on Amazon.com, Western New England University receives a contribution. Funds raised through the programs have enabled the Grants Program to develop and flourish over the years, benefiting hundreds of applicants.
Each semester, the Alumni Association accepts applications from the campus community. The Grants Committee—composed of alumni volunteers—reviews applications, selecting those programs and projects that support the mission and values of the Alumni Association, and awards funding ranging from $500 to $2,500 per applicant.
Projects support many areas of the University, including campus programming, student conference attendance, community service projects, speaker series, athletics, performing arts, student publications, and more. Congratulations to the Fall 2017 Alumni Association Grant recipients.
“As a member of this committee for the past four years, I've been provided the opportunity to not only connect with other alumni, but also to help students, faculty/staff and alumni take part in a multitude of programs and experiences they may not have been able to do otherwise,” says Alison. “It has truly been a worthwhile experience to learn about and assist with new initiatives on campus, as well as growth opportunities off campus.”
If you are interested in learning more about the Alumni Association Grants Program, please contact Katie DeBeer at katie.debeer@wne.edu or (413)782-1478.
