Red Rhino Fund

Founded in 2007, the Red Rhino Fund is an endowed, charitable fund run by a nine-member student board with faculty advisors. At its core, the Fund’s mission is an extension of the school motto, Not to be served, but to serve. The group works to create positive change in the Greater Waterbury (CT) community for children, by awarding nominal monetary grants and promoting local organizations in support of education, literacy, and the arts. Along the way, Taft students gain solid perspectives on the importance of philanthropic work, and develop fundamental knowledge, understanding, and skills to continue philanthropic, not-for-profit work later in life.

The board is charged with learning about not-for-profit trusteeship, growing the endowment through new and innovative fundraising initiatives, creating marketing strategies, and awarding grants to community organizations. Board membership is determined through a competitive application and interview process. Officers are elected each year.

Current Officers

2024-25 Red Rhino Fund Officers

  • President: Ellie Myles ’25
  • Vice President: Alexie Blake ’25
  • Treasurer: Andrew Pepper ’25
  • Grants Committee Chair: Serena Patel ’25
  • Marketing Committee Chair: Caroline Traina ’26
  • Special Events Committee Chair: Teniola Arole ’26
  • Diversity Committee Chair: Cece Chatterjee ’27
  • Nominating and Governance Chair: Oliver Lefkowitz ’26
  • Grants Committee Co-Chair: Julia Antonucci ’27
  • Marketing Committee Co-Chair: Cece Chatterjee ’27
  • Special Events Committee Co-Chair: Oliver Lefkowitz ’26
  • Diversity Committee Co-Chair: Julia Antonucci ’27
  • Advisors: Mr. Danaher, Mrs. Pulawski

Grant Distributions

Board members conduct detailed research and reviews of each grant applicant and proposal, which may include volunteer work with the organization to build personal connections and more fully understand the impact of their mission, general site visits, and participation in after-school activities. Grant monies are presented in February to the charities chosen by the Red Rhino Fund board.

Recent grant recipients include:

  • Boys & Girls Club of Greater Waterbury
  • Children's Community School
  • Police Activity League of Waterbury, Inc.
  • Rivera Memorial Foundation
  • United Way of Greater Waterbury
  • Waterbury Symphony Orchestra

Red Rhino Fund Grant Application
Red Rhino Fund DEI Statement

Donations

All gifts made to the Red Rhino Fund are tax deductible and may be sent to:

The Taft School Development Office
110 Woodbury Road
Watertown, CT 06795

Checks should be made payable to:
Taft School
Memo: Red Rhino Fund

For more information email: RedRhinoFund@taftschool.org

The Red Rhino Fund recently awarded grants totaling $13,200 to five area nonprofit organizations, click the link below to read more.