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.
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.
You may send your tax-deductible contributions to the Daniel McCarthy Memorial Fund,
PO Box 3088, Acton, MA 01720.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Applicants may seek multiple
sources of funding but will be required to disclose any additional sources of funding on their DPYS Grant
Application.
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.
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.
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.
Qualified programs can take place throughout the calendar year, and summer
programs are encouraged.
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.
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.
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.
Volunteers help
run the Oktoberfest booth; plan, coordinate and chaperone Danny’s Juice, and play key roles in implementing
major fundraising activities.
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.
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.
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