In honor of International Grants Professionals Day (March 8, 2019) GPLH invited members to share their unique grant writing stories for a chance to win a free GPLH membership. Members were asked to tell us about a heartwarming grant story, or a success they were most proud of.

All of our members do great things, so choosing a winner was hard! Nevertheless, we are happy to share the winning entry from Maria Smith Dautruche:

As the Grants Officer at Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation (now New York Edge), I wrote 21st Century Community Learning Center grants to support out-of-school time funding in NYC public schools. Many were funded and renewed. What I didn't expect was the opportunity to make history - collaborating in writing the winning proposal for the first 21st CCLC grant to service a NYCHA residence.

Still, my greatest source of pride was winning grant funds to support much-needed out-of-school time funding for programs in my hometown of Mount Vernon, NY, renewable for up to 5 years -  expanding the organization's service area and serving families I knew personally.  To this day, seeing children on Gramatan Avenue or Lincoln Avenue wearing SASF t-shirts and knapsacks brings me such tremendous joy! We win grants that can really change the course of people's lives. I hope we find great fulfillment, motivation, and pride in that possibility and potential.

Congratulations to Maria on receiving her free GPLH membership! And congratulations to all of our members for the fantastic work they do every day!