8 Local Organizations Share $858,000 in Champlin Grants

Seven local organizations, including Blithewold in Bristol and 2nd Story Theater and the Historic Warren Armory in Warren, are the recipients of almost $850,000 in Champlin Foundations grants for 2013.

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum received the largest grant, $400,000, in support of "Cultivating Blithewold: The Campaign for Blithewold."

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island got the next largest grant, $137,000, for improvements to the aquariums at its Environmental Education Center on Hope Street in Bristol. 

2nd Story Theater in Warren received $125,000 for improvements to the former Liberty Street school, which it purchased early in 2013 for use for storage, rehearsals and set building.

The cash will be used to replace the brick building’s 87 windows and exterior doors and to insulate the roof.

The Mount Hope Trust in Bristol received a grant of $80,575 for its continued restoration of the Governor Bradford House Country Inn on Metacome Avenue.

The Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol received a $54,000 grant for flooring.

The Historic Warren Armory is getting $46,750 to restore the building's 1896 Room.

The Community String Project in Bristol received an $8,000 grant to purchase instruments and related accessories.

The George Hail Library in Warren is replacing a copy machine with a $6,625 grant.