HOME
MISSION
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
YOUTH CENTER
VOLUNTEERS
FRIENDS
FAQs
CONTACT US
What does DPYS stand for and what is it?
How did DPYS Start?
How can I make a donation to DPYS?
How can I find out more about the new plans for Danny's Place?
Who do I contact if I want to volunteer for one of the committess?
Why did the Danny's Place committee decide not to build a community or youth center?
What has been done so far to advance the new direction of Danny's Place?
How will Danny's Place be funded?
Who is on the Board of Directors and how often do they meet?
What will you do with the money already donated to Danny's Place?
Will tax payer funds be required to keep Danny's Place operational?
What are all the committees involved in running DPYS?
Who will be the Youth Director?
What will the Youth Director do?
How will the Youth Director interact with the school and community?
Who will supervise the kids?
Why was DPYS Community Programs?
Who can apply for grant funding?
What programs or activities will not be supported by Community Programs?
Where can I obtain a DPYS Grant Application?
What is the criteria upon which a Grant Application will be evaluated?
What if a program cannot be completed as originally described in the grant application?
What is the schedule for submitting Grant Applications??
Is there a maximum amount for which an applicant may apply?
If an applicant applies to Danny’s Place for funding, can the same applicant still seek funding elsewhere as well?
If an applicant’s event or activity originates in Acton or Boxborough but takes place in another town, is the applicant still eligible for funding?
Is an applicant eligible to apply more than once in a calendar year?
How and when will the applicant be notified if their application has been approved or rejected?
What is the Friends’ role in the new Danny’s Place Youth Services Model?
What events are planned?
How can I join the Friends?
What do volunteers do?
How much work is it to be on the Friends?
What are the fundraising goals of DPYS?
Other questions? Please email us  

What does DPYS stand for and what is it?
DPYS stands for Danny’s Place Youth Services. DPYS is a privately funded, non-profit local organization that runs an entertainmnet space for youth, called Danny's Place, and awards grants to community groups and individuals providing direct services to youth. Qualified applicants can apply for grants to run activities and programs in the areas of health and wellness, fun and entertainment, and coaching and mentoring for Acton and Boxborough youth in the 6th through 12th grades.

How did DPYS start?
Cindy and Jeff McCarthy wanted to create a living legacy to their 16-year old son, Danny, after he was killed in a car accident on April 10, 2003. They envisioned a teen center called "Danny's Place." Their friends and family started working with them to make their vision a reality.

How can I make a donation to DPYS?
You may send your tax-deductible contributions to the Daniel McCarthy Memorial Fund, PO Box 3088, Acton, MA 01720.

How can I find out more about the new plans for Danny’s Place?
Visit our web site at www.dannys-place.org, or contact us at 978-264-9754, send us an email at info@dannys-place.org, or send us regular mail at PO Box 3088, Acton, MA 01720-7088.

Who do I contact if I want to volunteer for one of the committees?
Either call 978-264-9754, send us an email at info@dannys-place.org, or send us regular mail at PO Box 3088, Acton, MA 01720-7088.

Why did the Danny’s Place committee decide not to build a community or youth center?
Over the last two years, the committee sought to find a successful business model that could ensure the long term success of a community center with dedicated space for youth. Information gathered indicated that it is very difficult to maintain such a program without local taxpayer support. To eliminate this unwanted dependency and to create a program with immediate impact, the committee formally voted to establish Danny’s Place Youth Services, which provides a dedicated entertainment space for youth and a community-wide, grant-based youth services organization. Our new direction does not preclude building a facility in the future.

What has been done so far to advance the new direction of Danny’s Place?
The committee has presented its plans for DPYS to the school administration, town officials, and the school committee. The committee has also scouted the area for open space in which to house Danny’s Place, an entertainment space for area youth. To implement the plan for DPYS, the committee obtained a supportive relationship with the Director of the North Andover Youth Services, a recognized leader in the area of youth centers. In addition, committee members have discussed the feasibility of the grant award program with established area youth service providers.

How will Danny's Place be funded?
Danny’s Place will be privately funded. We plan on raising capital to cover the costs for Danny’s Place for a 5-year period. During the first 2 to 3 years, a minimum annual fee will be charged to attendees.

Who is on the Board of Directors and how often do they meet?
The Danny’s Place Board of Directors members are Rod Hodgman, Ian Moncrieff, Jeff McCarthy, Cindy McCarthy, and Dave Wilson. The Board meets formally a minimum of once per quarter.

What will you do with the money already donated to Danny’s Place?
The money in the Daniel McCarthy Memorial Fund held at the Middlesex Savings Bank will be used to pay for the operation of Danny’s Place.

Will tax payer funds be required to keep Danny’s Place operational?
No tax payer funds are expected to be required to keep Danny’s Place operational for the first 5 years. The Danny’s Place Business Plan projects private funding for the first 5 years. After that period of time, an evaluation will be made to determine the funds needed to keep Danny’s Place operational.

What are all the committees or boards involved in running DPYS?
Danny’s Place Youth Services is managed by a Board of Directors, to whom a DPYS Youth Director Reports. The Grant Review Committee manages the grant program. The Friends of DPYS committee plans, implements and runs all social and fundraising activities.

Who will be the Youth Director?
Danny’s Place will hire a youth director. The Youth Director will be an experienced, competent and caring person with a passion for the mission of Danny’s Place.

What will the Youth Director do?
The Youth Director will supervise the entertainment space called Danny’s Place and serve on the Grant Review Committee. The Youth Director will educate community youth services providers about the DPYS Grant Program. In addition, the Youth Director will actively and creatively promote the grant-funded activities and programs to youth who go to Danny’s Place. As the grant process matures and gaps are identified, the Director may propose, plan and implement Danny’s Place programs that are not currently offered by other organizations.

How will the Youth Director interact with the school and community?
The Youth Director will actively promote the grant program to community youth service providers, including town, independent, and faith-based groups. In addition, the Youth Director will communicate the availability of programs and events for youth to community schools.

Who will supervise the kids?
The Youth Director will supervise the kids at Danny’s Place. We also hope to involve parents, older students in the 11th and 12th grades, and seniors in volunteering their time to help out at Danny’s Place.

Why was Danny’s Place Youth Services Community Programs formed?
In the fall of 2004, the focus for Danny’s Place began to move from a building-oriented model to one that is more program-centric. This resulted in the former Danny’s Place Steering Committee forming an umbrella organization, one component of which is the Grant Program. The DPYS Grant Program was formed to support and enhance events and activities for youth by providing financial support to existing providers. This Program will offer financial support to individuals and groups who provide programs and activities that will benefit and enrich the lives of 6th through 12th grade Acton and Boxborough youth.

Who can apply for grant funding?
The DPYS Grant Review Committee welcomes grant applications from individuals, private non-profit organizations, faith-based youth organizations, and unincorporated associations offering programs and activities for Acton and Boxborough youth, grades 6 through 12 in the areas of health and wellness, fun and entertainment, and coaching and mentoring. The applicant or applicant team must have successfully implemented programs of a similar type and scale or must demonstrate the ability to implement the program as proposed.

What programs or activities will not be supported by Community Programs?
Grants will not be awarded to support programs funded by the school operating budget or by school support organizations, such as PTSOs; transfer agencies who raise funds to disperse to recipients or who transfer funds to a separate provider; national organizations; scholarships; perpetual funding or budgetary line items; or grants requesting retroactive funding.

Where can I obtain a DPYS Grant Application?
The application form and related documents are available at the Acton Memorial Library, Boxborough’s Sargent Memorial Library and on the Danny’s Place web site at www.dannys-place.org. If you have questions about the application process, please contact Joan Bauer at 978-263-0643 or email her at jrbauer@verizon.net.

What is the criteria upon which a Grant Application will be evaluated?
The funding of an applicant’s request will be based on the applicant’s following the criteria of clearly defined goals, activities and outcomes consistent with Danny’s Place Youth Services, stated focus and target audience; a fiscally responsible budget; and impact on a significant number of students or on an under-served group or an under-served program area. Programs that demonstrate creativity and innovation are encouraged.

What if a program cannot be completed as originally described in the grant application?
If a program cannot be completed as originally described in the grant application, written notice must be given to the Grant Review Committee within the granting period. The Committee then reserves the right to withhold payment of the grant if these changes are unacceptable. Changes to the original application will be reviewed in writing on a case-by-case basis.

What is the schedule for submitting Grant Applications?
Grant applications will be accepted on or before the following dates for consideration: October 14, 2005, January 13, 2006, April 7, 2006, and July 7, 2006.

Is there a maximum amount for which an applicant may apply?
Over the four application cycles, the total anticipated budget for grants is approximately $20,000 or approximately $5,000 per cycle. Grant application requests must be justified by the rest of the application, specifically in the areas of the program budget. The Committee will decide to award full or partial funds based on the review and evaluation of the application as well as on the number of applications received.

If an applicant applies to Danny’s Place for funding, can the same applicant still seek funding elsewhere as well?
Applicants may seek multiple sources of funding but will be required to disclose any additional sources of funding on their DPYS Grant Application.

If an applicant’s event or activity originates in Acton or Boxborough but takes place in another town, is the applicant still eligible for funding?
This aspect of the application does not preclude funding as long as the beneficiaries are the target audience of Acton and Boxborough youth in the 6th through 12th grade.

Is an applicant eligible to apply more than once in a calendar year?
GApplicants may apply for funding in each grant application cycle for new or continuing programs that qualify. If the applicant is applying for a grant on a recurring activity or event, and the Grant Review Committee deemed that the initial program was successful, the applicant will not need to fill out a new form, but may submit an addendum noting any changes along with a copy of the original application.

How and when will the applicant be notified if their application has been approved or rejected?
The Grant Review Committee will review all proposals and notify all applicants in writing of their decision within 30 days of the proposal deadline. Note that the Committee may ask applicants to meet with them to discuss their application. All unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing of the decision with details about the request for reconsideration process.

Are grant funded activities restricted to the school calendar year only?
Qualified programs can take place throughout the calendar year, and summer programs are encouraged.

What is the Friends’ role in the new Danny’s Place Youth Services Model?
The role of the Friends of DPYS is to provide support through volunteer and fundraising efforts. The Friends organization creates and implements a calendar of events.

What events are planned?
Two Danny’s Place events have been held yearly and we intend to continue to hold them each year. We participate in Oktoberfest in West Acton each fall and hold the annual Danny’s Juice – Battle of the Bands each January. Other events are currently being considered. We will also hold annual fundraising activities including a Golf Tournament and Gala.

How can I join the Friends?
If you are interested in helping out with specific events or becoming a member of the Friends planning team, please submit your name, phone number and email address to www.dannys-place.org, or contact us at 978-264-9754, send us an email at info@dannys-place.org, or send us regular mail at PO Box 3088, Acton, MA 01720-7088, and we will get in touch with you. It will be helpful to know if you are interested in event planning, fundraising or overall volunteering.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers help run the Oktoberfest booth; plan, coordinate and chaperone Danny’s Juice, and play key roles in implementing major fundraising activities.

How much work is it to be on the Friends?
Individuals who would like to join the Friends may indicate how much time they would like to give to our efforts. We have jobs where volunteers can help out for one event or help in the planning and implementation of every event.

What are the fundraising goals of DPYS?
In order to raise funds for Danny’s Place Youth Services, we will be pursuing grants from foundations and charities, applying for donations from private and commercial donation programs, conducting private benefactor solicitations and will also be determining the feasibility of a future capital campaign.