The Taft School Red Rhino Fund recently awarded grants totaling $16,200 to six area nonprofit organizations.

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 monetary grants to local organizations, primarily those whose mission supports children through education, literacy, and the arts.

Through their work, Red Rhino Fund board members gain solid perspectives on the importance of philanthropic initiatives, and develop fundamental knowledge, understanding, and skills to continue philanthropic work later in life. Their charge includes 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.

In the late winter of each year—after a lengthy application and review process—the Red Rhino Fund awards grants to community organizations. This year, they awarded grants totaling $16,200 to six area nonprofits: the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Waterbury; Children’s Community School; Rivera Memorial Foundation; United Way of Greater Waterbury; the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra’s Bravo Waterbury! program; and, not pictured, the Police Activity League of Waterbury.

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Waterbury
For more than 125 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Waterbury has successfully opened doors and transformed lives. Their mission is to inspire and enable all young people—especially those who need the Club’s support the most—to have successful futures by realizing their full potential as responsible, caring citizens.

Children’s Community School
Established in 1969 by the Sisters of Mercy, Children’s Community School (CCS) began in the basement of the Berkeley Heights Housing Project. It blossomed through the active engagement of parents and community educators who shared concerns about the obstacles confronting Waterbury's inner-city children. CCS proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking half a century of empowering our students with essential tools for success and cherishing their unique stories. The school’s original mission remains its guiding principle today: as an independent non-profit institution to lay the foundation for urban students’ educational success by offering a robust curriculum and unique experiences, developing their individual character, and cultivating strong family involvement.

Police Activity League of Waterbury (not pictured)
PAL is a not-for-profit organization promoting partnerships between youth, law enforcement, and the community through educational, athletic, and recreational programs designed to encourage team building and foster positive relationships. Educational programming includes mentor and homework help programs, and partnership with Taft’s Summer Enrichment Academy. PAL also offers summer employment and programming for area youth. 

Rivera Memorial Foundation
Founded in 1990 after the passing of Waterbury firefighters Heriberto "Eddie" Rivera and Howard Hughes, the Rivera Memorial Foundation, Inc. has made a life-long impact on families and youth within the Waterbury community. The Foundation's core mission is to empower individuals by fostering their full potential. Through collaborative partnerships with staff, members, and the community, the Foundation offers a wide range of programs and activities at minimal or no cost. Offerings include after school programs, high school internships, summer enrichment programs, summer camp counselor development, athletic programming, babysitting and job training, scholarships, and more.

United Way of Greater Waterbury
United Way fights for the basic needs, education, and financial stability of each member of the community. By mobilizing individuals, corporate partners and the non-profit community, United Way provides a pivotal hand-up to those in need in the 10-town, Greater Waterbury region. They do so by amplifying resources and investing in approaches that advance equity and measurable outcomes, including a healthy food initiative that serves more than 7,000 people each month, and by funding local youth programs.

Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, Bravo Waterbury!
Bravo Waterbury! is an intensive after-school music education program for students at Children’s Community School in Waterbury, CT. The program is inspired by Venezuela’s “music education miracle” known as El Sistema, a program for social change started more than 30 years ago by politician and musician Jose Abreu. Bravo Waterbury! uses music education as a bridge between the arts sector and marginalized and under-served communities. The program teaches musical, social, and emotional skills aimed at helping students overcome challenging circumstances and become successful members of their communities.