VCTF is in your community. We fund grants for quality children’s programs in all corners of Vermont. These stories feature the people and programs who help keep Vermont a great place to raise children.
Click the categories below to view info on our grantees. To view a list of all grantees by year, click here.
Thanks to Jessica Ackerman for her spectacular photographs.
In Recognition of our Grantees
The Lynne von Trapp Award For Exemplary Leadership in a Prevention Program for Children
This award is given annually by the Vermont Children's Trust Foundation in honor of Lynne von Trapp, founding benefactor, board member and first Executive Director of the Foundation. The recipient of this award will be selected each year from the recent grantees of the Vermont Children's Trust Fund. The $1,000 award will be given to a program selected by the Foundation and Lynne von Trapp.
The award recipient will have demonstrated s/he is:
- a driving force in establishing or moving the program or organization forward.
- responsive to and accurate in meeting the requirements of the Vermont Children's Trust Fund, including proposal submission, reporting and budget management.
- a good ambassador for the Vermont Children's Trust Fund, both personally and through the work done by the funded program.
- a positive and optimistic colleague to all.
Past Recipients:
2025 - Julia Skonicki, Lamoille Family Center
2024 - Brenda Stanley, Enosburgh Public Library
2023 - Elizabeth Chambers, Encore Afterschool and Summer Program
2022 - Natalie Philpot, Mountain Communities Supporting Education - The Collaborative
2021 - Genny Albert, The Arts Bus
2020 - Kimberley R. Diemond, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vermont
2019 - Maureen Burford, Creative Lives
2018 - Pam Quinn, Twinfield Together Mentoring
2017 - Stephanie Rubin, Capstone Community Action
2016 - Karen Prosciak, Winooski Family Center
2015 - Brian LaClair, The Hub Teen Center and Skatepark in Bristol
2014 - Alison Lamagna, Good Beginnings of Central Vermont
2013 - Laura Lawson Tucker, New England Youth Theatre
2012 - Deb Lyons, Puppets In Education, $5,000 VCTF 20th Anniversary Award
The Sally Fox Award For Outstanding Contributions to Child Well-Being in Vermont
This award is in honor of Sally Fox, who worked as an attorney and director of the Vermont Disabilities Law Project of Vermont Legal Aid before being elected in 1986 to the Vermont House of Representatives from the town of Essex. Sally loved the Vermont Legislature and serving the people of Vermont and she was a tenacious fighter for children's rights and other progressive causes. Among other initiatives she spearheaded on behalf of Vermont children, Sally led the effort to get the Vermont Children’s Trust Fund on the Vermont State Income Tax Return as a way to collect private donations for children’s prevention programs.
When Sally died in 2014, Vermont lost a powerful and effective advocate for children. In her memory, VCTF will present the Sally Fox Award annually to one Vermont non-profit, 501 (c) 3 organization that provides direct services of exceptional merit serving children ages birth to 18. The winner of the award will have demonstrated a commitment to promoting the well-being of children in Vermont, either through direct service, increasing public awareness, strengthening policies or creating new initiatives that promote prevention programs. Winners are selected from the Vermont Children's Trust Fund applicants and are notified in late May.
Past recipients:
2025 - Dad Guild, Dads & Kids
2024 - ONE Arts, ONE Arts, Inc.
2023 - King Street Center, Afterschool Excellence & Summer Camp Support
2022 - Inclusive Arts Vermont, Arts First
2021 - Sara Holbrook Community Center, Teen Center Youth Adventure Program
2020 - Milton Community Youth Coalition, Milton Peer to Peer Mentoring Program
2019 - Good Beginnings of Central Vermont, Parent/Caregiver Support Groups
2018 - Lamoille County Family Center, DULCE
2017 - Winooski Family Center, Preschool Family Involvement
2016 - Mary Johnson Children's Center, Weybridge After School Program
2015 - The Howard Center, Community Mentoring
2014 - Vermont Works for Women, ‘Janes of All Trades’