We Are Grateful!

'Tis the season for grant-writing—and happily, also some grant-getting! I'd like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the organizations that support us. Grants and personal donations are what now enable us to offer such a wide range of programming to our Elizabethtown neighbors.

Have you noticed an uptick in programming over the last year? That's all possible because we added an Arts and Outreach Coordinator who dedicates themselves full-time to planning and executing events—and making sure you hear about them! We work hard to keep our events free or affordable, charging just a minimal fee to artists and educators who offer workshops through the Center.

Our caring Teen Rec staff provide a safe, supervised place for the teens to hang out and just be kids. We schedule trips and special events. Importantly, we prioritize keeping the Teen Rec program free —an incredibly rare resource for any area, much less a small, rural town like ours.

Let's be honest—programming isn't cheap. We're extraordinarily lucky to have an endowment that our founder, Cora Putnam Hale, had the foresight to create when she founded the Social Center in 1939. Interest from that endowment covers nearly 60% of our costs, but the remaining 40% comes from outside funding from people and organizations who believe in what we do. We can't do this without grants, private foundations and personal donations.

Over the next few months, check out our ongoing "News" section to get a peek at the organizations that support us and why they're inspired to give to our community. From Stewart's to the Cloudsplitter Foundation to the Essex County Arts Council—each one makes a huge difference in what we can offer you.

Words can't fully express the gratitude we feel when our work is recognized and supported.

Thank you, from all of us!