The Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth Announces Grants to Support Bennington-Area Youth

The Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth at the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) recently awarded $35,166 in grants to support eight dynamic and innovative youth programs serving Bennington, North Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury, and Woodford. The VCF was pleased to engage community members who live and/or work with youth in these five towns as members of the review committee.

In 2025, the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth aimed to support spaces, activities, and opportunities for youth to gather, connect, and feel a sense of belonging. The four priority areas of the grant program include youth-led or youth-focused events, programs, or projects that:

• Bring youth together—especially those that introduce a new activity and/or have a low barrier to access. Examples include: 
  • Themed camps 
  • Festivals/celebrations 
  • Intramural sports 
  • Casual clubs or extracurriculars 
• Create, maintain, or expand spaces or places that allow youth to gather, connect, and share experiences in formal and informal ways 
• Provide opportunity and access for youth facing hardships 
• Encourage feelings of belonging and increase inclusion  

The fund was formed in 2018 with the goal of ensuring a permanent source of revenue for youth programs in the Bennington area. Growing the number and size of youth development programs can play a vital role in keeping families in the area and attracting families to the region. The program has awarded over $191,000 to youth-serving programs in the Bennington area since its launch in 2018.

Visit vermontcf.org/ofsy to learn more about the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth.

2025 Grant Recipients

• Alliance for Community Transformation received $5,000 for The Exchange, a student-centered resource hub at Mt. Anthony Union Middle School providing free access to clothing, hygiene items, food, and community connections in a welcoming, stigma-free space.
• Bennington STEMworks received $5,000 for an afterschool program where students will work together to build a project airplane in collaboration with local high schools.
• Center for Restorative Justice (CRJ) received $3,716 to recruit, train, and support young people to serve on CRJ’s youth restorative justice panel.
• Gallop to Success received $2,250 to provide scholarships for youth from high-risk backgrounds to participate in equine assisted activities and farm life.
• Paran Recreations received $3,450 for free community meals that bring youth volunteers and volunteer chefs together to host fun and lively community events.
• Sunrise Family Resource Center received $3,250 to offer cooking classes for youth focused on preparing healthy, nutritious meals to share with others.
• The DREAM Program received $7,500 to support year-round enrichment and mentoring programs that connect Bennington-area teens with one-on-one and group mentors, and prepare them to mentor younger peers.
• The Town of Bennington received $5,000 to create a forum where teens can engage with local government and community leaders around issues that matter to them—building leadership skills, fostering civic engagement, and ensuring youth perspectives help shape local decision-making.