Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

We headed to Gloucester this afternoon, from Salem where we live, to do a bit of Christmas shopping.

As we neared Exit 14, there were several trees along the side of the road, which someone has decorated for the holidays.  Whomever took the time, thanks!  Such a great surprise.

As always, Gloucester shopping didn’t disappoint: the Island art & hobby shop, Local Colors, Toodleloos ….  all of Main St., always a pleasure.  Among the many reasons, just one of why we love Gloucester.

Judy B & Family

Hi Joey- I’m sure you are aware of this group but maybe not, but I’m proud to say I’m the newest Trustee of Awesome Gloucester and attended my first meeting last night at the Gloucester House.   Attached please find a press release about Awesome Gloucester.  There are no names of the 20 Trustees listed, honestly I haven’t met all the other 19 yet, but I was excited by the energy, enthusiasm and commitment to Gloucester that I felt in the room last night!  Simply Awesome.  I hope you will run something so that everyone knows that there is seed money available for all things that make Gloucester Awesome- no strings attached- and the application process is simple.  

Happy Holidays,

Grace Giambanco Numerosi

The Awesome Foundation Comes to Gloucester

Anyone who lives in Gloucester knows how awesome this town city is, but few know that a philanthropic group now exists to make Gloucester even more awesome. The name of this group is – as you might have guessed – Awesome Gloucester.

Awesome Gloucester is a local chapter of the Awesome Foundation, a global “experiment in community philanthropy” committed to giving out $1,000 micro-grants each month.  The group gives “no strings attached” micro-grants to applicants deemed to have the most awesome idea to enhance the community in some positive way.  The local chapter is made up of a board of twenty “trustees of awesome,” all of whom are members of the Gloucester community with an interest in supporting the positive aspirations of others and encouraging a spirit of open innovation in the city.

People of all ages are encouraged to enter project applications for consideration of these monthly micro-grants.  Awesome Gloucester is especially looking to fund projects that may not have any other avenue of funding, including project ideas that may be unconventional.  Though projects can be awesome in almost any way, Awesome Gloucester seeks to fund ideas that will be significantly enhanced with $1000 cash infusion. 

The group is also interested in supporting projects that fall into the following categories: (1) Innovation in Marine/Fishing Industry, (2) Preservation of Maritime Culture and Heritage and (3) and Community Appreciation and Togetherness.  Running through each category is a single concern: How is this idea, once implemented, going to make Gloucester more awesome?

To apply, interested teams and people need to fill out a very basic application online:
http://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/gloucester.  In a nutshell, to apply, applicants need to answer three main questions:

1.    Tell us about yourself.
2.    Tell us about your project.
3.    Tell us how you’ll use the money.

The deadline for applications is the 15th of each month.  From there, the process is pretty simple:  The twenty trustees will review and vote for their top three favorite projects. Then, three finalists will be invited to the Gloucester House restaurant for “Pitch Night,” or what some call “$1000 Thursday.”  (This happens the first Thursday evening of the next month). Next, the applicants each take a turn making their pitch to the trustees who then vote for the project they want to fund.  That night, a winner is announced and given $1,000 in cash on the spot!

The $1,000 micro-grant comes from the pockets of the 20 trustees who each donate $50 a month. As there are no strings attached to the grants, Awesome Gloucester simply wishes each winning applicant the best of luck without placing any demands on them once the money is awarded.  The group simply places faith in the goodness of people participating in the process.

Awesome Gloucester has already had its three successful pitch nights at which it awarded “Glosta Lobster”, Cape Ann Art Haven and Kestrel Educational Adventures each $1000.00 grant!  How cool is that?!

Find us at:

http://www.facebook.com/awesomegloucester
http://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/gloucester

With the need for toys at an all-time high for local children, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) and North Shore 104.9 will once again broadcast live all day from several locations on the North Shore to collect as many toys, gift cards, and monetary donations as possible to fulfill that need.

This year’s Holiday Toy Drive will take place on Thursday, December 12th from 6:00am to 6:00pm from ten locations on the North Shore. The live broadcast will feature local entertainment, school choirs and bands, great food, and interviews with local officials.  Even Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be lending a helping hand to support the cause!  The Paper Store has also partnered once again with Senator Tarr and North Shore 104.9 to present the 18th annual North Shore Holiday Toy Drive broadcast.

“The holiday season gives us all a chance to show just how much we care about our neighbors and the children in our communities,” said Senator Tarr.  “By joining together this year as we have in the past we can make a real difference in the lives of children who need to know that we think it’s important for them to have a happy holiday.  It’s about more than a toy; it’s about knowing they’re not forgotten.”

North Shore 104.9 President Todd Tanger stated, “We are thrilled to be a part of this wonderful event. The North Shore Holiday Toy Drive is such an exciting event that brings holiday joy to deserving children right here in the North Shore. We thank everyone for their overwhelming generosity and kind contributions, especially Bruce Tarr for his continued efforts and energy year after year. We appreciate listeners and clients allowing us to break from normal programming to broadcast this event and hope they help us bring some holiday joy to the lives of children on the North Shore this holiday season.”

The scheduled live broadcast locations, which are open to the public, are as follows (times are subject to change):

6:00am Capitol Diner 431 Union Street, Lynn, MA

Family & Children’s Service of Greater Lynn, Inc.

7:30am Devereux House, Marblehead 39 Lafayette Street, Marblehead, MA

Toys being collected for: Marblehead Counseling Center

8:15am The Paper Store, Swampscott 435 Paradise Road Swampscott, MA

Toys being collected for: Toys for Local Children (The Paper Store in Swampscott will only collect toys on December 12th.)

9:00am Flint Public Library, Middleton 1 South Main Street, Middleton, MA

Toys being collected for: Neighbors in Need

10:30am Dawson’s True Value Hardware 50 Enon Street, Beverly, MA

Toys being collected for: Beverly Bootstraps

12:00pm First Ipswich Bank 31 Market Street, Ipswich, MA

Toys being collected for: Action Inc./ Ipswich Caring

1:15pm Woodman’s of Essex 121 Main Street, Essex, MA

Toys being collected for: Action Inc.

2:00pm Manchester Athletic Club 8 Atwater Avenue, Manchester, MA

Toys being collected for: Pathways For Children

3:30pm Shalin Liu Performance Center 37 Main Street, Rockport, MA

Toys being collected for: Action Inc.

5:00pm Cape Ann Savings Bank 109 Main Street, Gloucester, MA

Toys being collected for: Action Inc.

In addition to the above broadcast locations, the below locations are welcoming any and all donations for the Annual North Shore Holiday Toy Drive. Please note that North Shore 104.9 will not be broadcasting from the below locations:

∗Wenham Museum

∗Cape Ann Savings Bank, Manchester

∗Marblehead Community/Aging Center

∗Abbott House, Lynn

∗Rosewood, Peabody

∗Align Credit Union, Danvers

∗First Ipswich Bank: Essex, Rowley, Gloucester

∗Honey Dew Donuts, Danvers

∗Delande Lighting, Salem

∗Beverly Chamber of Commerce

∗Additional toy donation locations listed at http://www.NorthShore1049.com.

Toys can be dropped off at any of these locations now through Friday, December 20th.  For further information, please call JoAnn Gillette at North Shore 104.9 at 978-927-1049 extension 19 or Senator Bruce Tarr at 617-722-1600.