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Molinaro Announces More Than $263K in Learn, Play, Create Grant Awards
Second round of 2022 grants to enhance lives of children and families adversely affected by COVID-19 pandemic

Published: 10/24/2022

Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today announced the second round of 2022 funding awards, totaling $263,745, as part of the County’s Learn, Play, Create: Supporting Our Kids grant program, which will fund 16 projects for local non-profit organizations that directly benefit children and families. An additional 15 LPC awards will be announced in the coming weeks.

In 2022, $1 million in Learn, Play, Create (LPC) grants was available, split over two application rounds, the first of which was announced earlier this year. Grants of up to $20,000 were made available to non-profit organizations that directly serve youth in the areas of expanded learning, arts enrichment and sports engagement that were deprived of fundraising or participation due to the COVID-19 pandemic; last year, the LPC grant program provided $3 million in one-time grants to 147 similar local non-profit organizations.

To be eligible for this second round of awards, organizations needed to demonstrate how their use of funds meets one or more domains of the County’s Path to Promise, which ensures every child has access to the resources necessary to become successful young adults.

County Executive Molinaro said, “Dutchess County’s commitment to its young people is unparalleled, and the Learn, Play, Create grant program is the latest example of our pledge to help youth throughout our community reach their fullest potential. We have already seen programs funded through our LPC program make a real impact on thousands of kids of all ages and abilities, and we’re proud to support even more programs that will greatly impact local children and their families.”

Learn, Play, Create: Supporting Our Kids awards ($263,745 Total)

Arlington Lacrosse Developmental Club, Inc., $20,000
Let’s Get Our Kids back on the Lacrosse Fields!
– Purchase equipment and medical supplies, as well as provide skills clinics for players. 

Astor Services for Children & Families, $20,000
High-Quality Service Provision: Addressing Unmet Program Needs
– Purchase supplies, games and equipment to supplement therapeutic and technology gaps in programs.

BSA Troop 3042, $20,000
New Equipment and Outdoor Excursions for Scouts
– Replace old and damaged equipment, provide registration fees for scouts, as well as funding for camping and other outdoor activities.

Cardinal Hayes Home, $9,845
New Opportunities for Outdoor Adventures
– Purchase adaptive sports and recreational equipment for young people of all abilities.

Charlia Frank, $10,000
Each One, Teach One!
– Purchase equipment and supplies for creative writing and performing arts program, culminating in a youth-led production.

City of Poughkeepsie Youth Football League, $18,900
Flag Football for Youth
– Purchase equipment and uniforms, payment of registration fees, coaching and background checks, as well as an end-of-season awards banquet for the youth football league.

Cub Scout Pack 3040, $20,000
Scouting Leadership and Empowerment Development
– Purchase equipment and scouting supplies and uniforms, and provide four educational events for scouts.

FDR Cheerleading Booster Club, $12,500
Specialized Training/Coaching
– Funding for specialized coaching with choreographer and tumbling coach; purchase supplies for the cheerleading team.

Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson Troop 10221, $20,000
Girl Scout Troop 10221
– Purchase of camping equipment, supplies and site fees for Girl Scout outings.

It Takes a Village Dutchess Inc., $10,000
Cultural Inclusion Initiative Through Music, Art and Storytelling
– Purchase of educational supplies, equipment and rental space fees for cultural programming and events.

Love Holds Life, Inc., $10,000
Field Trips and Art Supplies
– Admissions and travel expense funding for trips to museums and purchase of art supplies for students.

Overlook School Cub Pack 100, $20,000
Scouting Equipment, Supplies, and Events
– Purchase scouting equipment, uniforms, and supplies and provide fees for events.

Poughkeepsie Rising, $20,000
Professional Community Production of “Ella the Ungovernable”
– Purchase theater production supplies and host skills building workshops for the production of “Ella the Ungovernable.”

Roy Community Foundation, $20,000
Innovative Urban Youth Football Program
– Provide equipment, uniforms, activities and field trips for an urban youth football program.

Southern Dutchess Patriots, $20,000
Safe and Secure Equipment Shed and Sled Refurbishment
– Replace equipment shed and refurbish current sleds.

The Growing STEMZ Foundation, $12,500
Adventures in STEM
– Provide youth with new technology for development of 21st-century skills and the opportunity to express themselves creatively using electronic and digital resources.

The Learn, Play, Create grant program was announced in June 2021 as part of “Dutchess Invests,” County Executive Molinaro’s initiative to direct $57 million in one-time funding allocated to Dutchess County through the Federal Government’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) to areas the community has recognized as priorities. Earlier this year, County Executive Molinaro announced nearly $700,000 in awards through the first round of 2022 LPC funding.

Legislator John Metzger said, “We have seen unparalleled success through our Learn, Play, Create grant program – funding programs of all sizes that benefit children and families throughout Dutchess County. I’m grateful to County Executive Molinaro for conceiving this beneficial program, as well as my legislative colleagues who supported both its initial launch and continuation.”

Organizations which received Learn, Play, Create funding in 2021, as well as school districts, private and religious schools, including school-funded clubs and/or programs, and municipal-funded/sponsored departments or clubs were not eligible to apply in 2022.